Contact:
George Pappas
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

Anglers are reminded that the sport fishery for sockeye salmon is closed in all waters of the Kenai River open to salmon fishing except in the Russian River and the Kenai River “fly-fishing-only waters” at the confluence of the Russian River, including that portion of the Kenai River from ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing downstream to the power line. This closure prohibits the targeting of sockeye salmon for catch-and-release fishing. Any sockeye salmon accidentally hooked while fishing for other species in the area closed to sockeye salmon fishing must be released immediately.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will continue to monitor the run with all tools available in upper Cook Inlet, including, but not limited to, sonar projects, test fishing, and harvest monitoring. Information from these projects helps guide the Department’s management actions on Kenai River late-run sockeye salmon. In general, sockeye salmon stocks throughout Alaska have been returning later than normal and the Department hopes that the Kenai River sockeye salmon run is also late, rather than as weak as it currently looks. If the run strength unexpectedly and significantly increases, management options may include the lifting of certain restrictions in the commercial, sport, personal use, and educational fisheries. If not, management actions may include continued restrictions to the commercial, sport, personal use, and educational fisheries.