Division of Sport Fish
Israel Payton, 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: June 28, 2023 - Expired: July 31, 2023)

CONTACT: Jenny Gates
Acting Area Management Biologist
(907) 262-9368

Kasilof River Late-Run King Salmon Fishery Starting July 1 Limited to Hatchery Fish and No Bait

(Soldotna) - To ensure healthy returns of king salmon to Alaska’s rivers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restriction on the Kasilof River effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023. The bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is one hatchery-produced fish. Hatchery-produced king salmon are recognizable by a healed adipose fin-clip scar. Naturally-produced king salmon of any size may not be possessed or retained and are distinguishable by an intact adipose fin, a small fleshy fin on the back of the fish just ahead of the tail. Naturally-produced king salmon that are caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Additionally, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point.

“King salmon runs across Southcentral have experienced an extended period of low abundance,” stated Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates. “The late-run king salmon fishery on the Kenai River was closed in March. This closure will likely result in an increase in the sport fishing effort and catch of king salmon in the Kasilof River. In order to minimize the effects of conservation actions for the Kenai River, it is warranted to prohibit retention of naturally-produced king salmon on the Kasilof River to ensure adequate escapement of Kasilof River late-run king salmon and protect late arriving early-run naturally-produced fish destined for Crooked Creek.”

In conjunction with this restriction, emergency order 2-KS-1-11-23 was issued on
March 2, 2023; closing the sport fishery for king salmon on the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake.

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

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