(Soldotna) - To protect king salmon bound for the Kasilof River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following personal use fishing regulation restrictions for the Kasilof River set gillnet fishery effective 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 15 through 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023. The daily fishing hours in the personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River will be reduced to 6-hours per day. The fishery will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily from Thursday, June 15 through Sunday, June 18 and fishery hours will be 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Monday, June 19 through Saturday, June 24. The revised fishery opening hours are scheduled to provide fishing opportunity around high tide.

ADF&G manages Kasilof River early-run king salmon to achieve a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 700-1,400 naturally-produced king salmon, measured at the Crooked Creek Facility weir. King salmon runs across Cook Inlet are at record low levels and are not showing signs of improvement. Without further reductions in potential harvest, it is likely the escapement goal will not be achieved.

This gillnet fishery is managed in conjunction with the Upper Cook Inlet personal use fisheries on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Susitna Rivers, and Fish Creek and the total salmon household limit applies to a combination from all four fisheries. A 2023 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a resident sport fishing license are required and must be in your possession while participating in the fishery. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery.

For additional information, please contact Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368.

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