Division of Sport Fish
Dave Rutz, Director

Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner

P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Advisory Announcement
(Released: July 19, 2021 - Expired: July 31, 2021)

CONTACT: Mike Booz
Area Management Biologist
(907) 235-8191

King Salmon Sport Fishing Closure in Cook Inlet Saltwaters

(Homer) - In favor of protecting returning Kenai River late-run king salmon and ensuring sport fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release, in all Cook Inlet saltwaters north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.) This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 21 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021.

ADF&G manages Kenai River late-run king salmon under guidelines provided in the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan to ensure adequate escapement of late-run king salmon into the Kenai River system. The optimal escapement goal (OEG) for late-run king salmon is 15,000 to 30,000 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer. The plan includes the king salmon sport fishery in Cook Inlet saltwaters north of Bluff Point and specifies that both sport fisheries, king salmon fishing in the Kenai River and king salmon fishing in Cook Inlet saltwaters north of Bluff Point must close when the run is projected to be less than 15,000 king salmon greater than 34 inches total length.

Through July 18, 2021, approximately 2,872 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer have passed the river mile 13.7 king salmon sonar. Inseason projections estimate an escapement of approximately 10,068 large king salmon under the current management strategy. Therefore, consistent with the management plan, it is warranted to close king salmon sport fishing in Cook Inlet saltwater north of Bluff Point. ADF&G is also implementing restrictions and closures to the commercial fisheries.

“This closure allows late-run Kenai River king salmon to migrate through Cook Inlet saltwaters without being targeted by anglers” stated Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “Anglers will still be able to sport fish for king salmon in lower Cook Inlet since there are no restrictions to the fishery south of Bluff Point, and anglers will also be able to still sport fish north of Bluff Point for other species such as halibut.”

In conjunction with this restriction, an emergency order was issued closing king salmon sport fishing on the Kenai River. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing for other species in the Kenai River. In addition, an emergency order was issued closing king salmon sport fishing on the Kasilof River. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing for other species in the Kasilof River.

For more information, please contact Area Management Biologist Mike Booz or Assistant Area Management Biologist Holly Dickson at 907-235-8191.

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