Kenai Chinook Estimates, Indices and Inseason Run Summaries
See also the prior Final Early Run Chinook Inseason Summary
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Location: Kenai River (Chinook) |
The selected years are color-coded in the graphs below:
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Daily Counts
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Cumulative
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Description: In 2015 the department began managing Kenai River king salmon runs using an ARIS sonar station located at river mile 14. In 2017 the Department modified the Kenai River king salmon escapement goals from goals based on king salmon of all sizes, to escapement goals based on large king salmon (fish over 34 inches) only. The early-run king salmon optimal escapement goal range is 3,900 to 6,600 large king salmon (> 34 inches). In 2020 the late-run king salmon escapement goal was modified to an optimal escapement goal range is 15,000 to 30,000 large king salmon (> 34 inches). The ARIS sonar counts found on this page are the daily and seasonal cumulative passage estimates of the number of large king salmon passing the sonar site. Additionally, the past years counts displayed on this page have been converted to large fish counts for comparison. These estimated numbers of large king salmon passing the sonar site are the primary tool for the Kenai River king salmon assessment program that also includes a sport angler harvest survey, and a netting program. The data gathered in these assessments are used together to determine king salmon run strength. This data in conjunction with Fishery Management Plans, allows fishery managers to determine if emergency order regulation changes to the fisheries are needed during the season to help ensure that the escapement goals are achieved. These abundance assessments as well as information about the status of the run and inseason management actions can be viewed via this website on the above tabs. Information is also available by telephone at (907)262-9097.
Optimal Escapement Goal for Chinook - Early Run:
3,900 - 6,600
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Contact:
Upper Cook Inlet Area Management Biologist, | |
58 records returned for the years selected. Dashes indicate days with no count.
[Export results in Excel format or JSON format]
| Date 2024 |
Count 2024 |
Cumulative 2024 |
Cumulative 2023 |
Cumulative 2022 |
Cumulative 2021 |
Cumulative 2020 |
Notes for 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug-27 | - | 0 | 13,922 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-26 | - | 0 | 13,776 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-25 | - | 0 | 13,679 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-24 | - | 0 | 13,612 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-21 | - | 0 | 13,436 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-20 | - | 0 | 13,257 | 13,425 | 11,832 | 11,499 | |
| Aug-19 | - | 0 | 13,111 | 13,425 | 11,754 | 11,486 | |
| Aug-18 | - | 0 | 12,911 | 13,338 | 11,656 | 11,413 | |
| Aug-17 | - | 0 | 12,747 | 13,253 | 11,486 | 11,292 | |
| Aug-16 | - | 0 | 12,552 | 13,124 | 11,419 | 11,062 | |
| Aug-15 | - | 0 | 12,381 | 12,961 | 11,279 | 10,813 | |
| Aug-14 | - | 0 | 12,161 | 12,779 | 11,151 | 10,491 | |
| Aug-13 | - | 0 | 12,045 | 12,567 | 10,884 | 10,254 | |
| Aug-12 | - | 0 | 11,814 | 12,257 | 10,684 | 10,066 | |
| Aug-11 | - | 0 | 11,559 | 11,887 | 10,491 | 9,867 | |
| Aug-10 | - | 0 | 11,347 | 11,626 | 10,303 | 9,719 | |
| Aug-09 | - | 0 | 11,111 | 11,407 | 9,757 | 9,616 | |
| Aug-08 | - | 0 | 10,844 | 11,270 | 9,248 | 9,483 | |
| Aug-07 | - | 0 | 10,424 | 11,124 | 8,872 | 9,325 | |
| Aug-06 | - | 0 | 9,677 | 10,875 | 8,419 | 9,185 | |
| Aug-05 | - | 0 | 9,313 | 10,487 | 8,064 | 8,827 | |
| Aug-04 | - | 0 | 9,058 | 10,024 | 7,747 | 8,494 | |
| Aug-03 | - | 0 | 8,889 | 9,711 | 7,504 | 8,089 | |
| Aug-02 | - | 0 | 8,555 | 9,377 | 6,729 | 7,932 | |
| Aug-01 | - | 0 | 7,960 | 9,001 | 6,420 | 7,647 | |
| Jul-31 | - | 0 | 7,582 | 8,686 | 6,189 | 7,465 | |
| Jul-30 | - | 0 | 7,260 | 8,189 | 5,818 | 7,112 | |
| Jul-29 | - | 0 | 6,980 | 7,825 | 5,636 | 6,681 | |
| Jul-28 | - | 0 | 6,725 | 7,394 | 5,296 | 6,456 | |
| Jul-27 | - | 0 | 6,481 | 7,077 | 5,077 | 6,019 | |
| Jul-26 | - | 0 | 6,250 | 6,531 | 4,864 | 5,692 | |
| Jul-25 | - | 0 | 5,880 | 6,136 | 4,610 | 5,438 | |
| Jul-24 | - | 0 | 5,467 | 5,675 | 4,452 | 5,146 | |
| Jul-23 | - | 0 | 5,036 | 5,329 | 4,270 | 4,970 | |
| Jul-22 | - | 0 | 4,600 | 4,927 | 4,142 | 4,787 | |
| Jul-21 | - | 0 | 4,309 | 4,539 | 3,953 | 4,520 | |
| Jul-20 | - | 0 | 4,114 | 4,142 | 3,717 | 4,164 | |
| Jul-19 | - | 0 | 3,811 | 3,832 | 3,207 | 3,879 | |
| Jul-18 | - | 0 | 3,708 | 3,419 | 2,872 | 3,615 | |
| Jul-17 | - | 0 | 3,544 | 2,982 | 2,581 | 3,404 | |
| Jul-16 | - | 0 | 3,016 | 2,655 | 2,363 | 3,153 | |
| Jul-15 | - | 0 | 2,469 | 2,352 | 2,113 | 2,941 | |
| Jul-14 | - | 0 | 2,244 | 2,147 | 1,871 | 2,680 | |
| Jul-13 | - | 0 | 1,886 | 1,890 | 1,714 | 2,220 | |
| Jul-12 | - | 0 | 1,654 | 1,751 | 1,538 | 1,699 | |
| Jul-11 | - | 0 | 1,369 | 1,597 | 1,423 | 1,407 | |
| Jul-10 | - | 0 | 1,163 | 1,475 | 1,303 | 1,249 | |
| Jul-09 | - | 0 | 1,018 | 1,162 | 1,121 | 989 | |
| Jul-08 | - | 0 | 733 | 950 | 994 | 831 | |
| Jul-07 | - | 0 | 575 | 731 | 812 | 728 | |
| Jul-06 | - | 0 | 484 | 537 | 709 | 583 | |
| Jul-05 | - | 0 | 393 | 404 | 606 | 407 | |
| Jul-04 | - | 0 | 314 | 307 | 515 | 304 | |
| Jul-03 | - | 0 | 211 | 222 | 369 | 219 | |
| Jul-02 | - | 0 | 120 | 172 | 253 | 146 | |
| Jul-01 | - | 0 | 60 | 123 | 140 | 73 |
Non-Sonar Tools
Late Run Netting Project CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at river mile 8.6.
Late Run Sport CPUE Index
The Sport Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon in the lower Kenai River and is based on the success rate of anglers fishing downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge Crossing in Soldotna.
Late Run Netting Project Large Fish CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at the sonar station located at river mile 8.6.
Late Run Netting Project CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at river mile 8.6.
Late Run Sport CPUE Index
The Sport Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon in the lower Kenai River and is based on the success rate of anglers fishing downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge Crossing in Soldotna.
Late Run Netting Project Large Fish CPUE Index
The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at the sonar station located at river mile 8.6.
Weekly Sportfish Fishing Report for this area
Final Late Run Kenai River Chinook Inseason Summary
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018
King Salmon Run Update:
The late-run king salmon sustainable escapement goal (SEG) range of 13,500 to 27,000 large king salmon (> 34 inches) has been achieved. The preliminary estimate of king salmon passage at the river mile 14 ARIS sonar site was 16,957. Factoring estimated upriver harvest and spawning below the sonar provides an escapement estimate of 17,340 late run king salmon. Based on the estimated mean of the mid-point for 2013-2017 runs of July 27, the 2018 run was one day late. The final day of sonar counts was August 20.
Fishery Harvest:
The preliminary creel survey estimate of king salmon sport fish harvest (including catch-and-release mortality) downstream of the sonar at river mile 14 was approximately 65 fish. The preliminary estimate of sport fish harvest (including catch-and-release mortality) upstream of the sonar was 308 fish. By summation of harvest estimates upstream and downstream of Soldotna results in a preliminary estimate of total inriver sport fish harvest for 2018 of 373 Chinook salmon. Inriver harvest estimates will be refined upon publication of the 2018 Statewide Harvest Survey and 2018 Freshwater Sport Fish Guide Logbook data during September of 2018. The inriver sport fishery for king salmon was restricted beginning July 1 by prohibiting the use of bait, and the retention of king salmon in the personal use dip net fishery. On July 13, about the quarter point, the retention of king salmon was prohibited from the mouth of the Kenai upriver to Slikok Creek and remained closed from Slikok upstream to Skilak Lake; and only allowed one unbaited single hook artificial lure. These regulations remained in effect until the Kenai River king salmon sport fishery closed July 31
The preliminary estimated commercial eastside set net harvest of large Kenai River king salmon was 790 fish. The commercial eastside set net fishery was restricted during the fishing season as restrictions were placed on the inriver sport fishery consistent with and operated as outlined in the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan. Post-season analysis of tissue samples collected from king salmon harvested in the eastside set net fishery will be used to estimate the component of Kenai River king salmon.
The preliminary personal use harvest was 0. Retention of king salmon was prohibited by emergency order the entire season.
Additional Information:
The netting project at river mile 8.6 captured a total of 217 king salmon, approximately 66% were large. Of the large king salmon captured 57% were female. Compared to last year, the crew captured a total of 339 king salmon (92% large) of which 53% of the large king salmon were female. Using METF length as a proxy for age, a majority (46%) of the 2018 late-run king salmon were age-1.4, followed by 29% age-1.2, 16% age-1.3, 8% age-1.5, and 1% age-1.1’s.
Scales from both the netting project and the creel survey are being processed and final estimates of the age, sex and length composition of late-run king salmon are still forthcoming.
This information was compiled based on raw and historical data for inseason management purposes.
Final data is subject to change.