Kenai Chinook Estimates, Indices and Inseason Run Summaries


Location: Kenai River (Chinook)
Species: Chinook - Early Run
Method: Sonar

The selected years are color-coded in the graphs below:

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
Daily Counts
Cumulative

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 (Graphed above)
Optimal Escapement Goal for Chinook - Late Run: 15,000 - 30,000

Contact: Upper Cook Inlet Area Management Biologist,
(907) 262-9368

Weekly Sportfish Fishing Report for this area

46 records returned for the years selected. Dashes indicate days with no count.
[Export results in Excel format or JSON format]

Date
2023
Count
2023
Cumulative
2023
Cumulative
2022
Cumulative
2021
Cumulative
2020
Cumulative
2019
Notes for
2023
Jun-30 - 263 2,051 4,131 2,444 4,186  
Jun-29 - 263 2,004 4,033 2,390 4,119  
Jun-28 - 263 1,980 3,930 2,317 4,024  
Jun-27 - 263 1,934 3,861 2,250 3,975  
Jun-26 - 263 1,906 3,807 2,201 3,878  
Jun-25 - 263 1,864 3,728 2,158 3,775  
Jun-24 - 263 1,768 3,649 2,116 3,657  
Jun-23 - 263 1,719 3,551 2,086 3,554  
Jun-22 - 263 1,625 3,424 1,995 3,463  
Jun-21 - 263 1,564 3,303 1,922 3,390  
Jun-20 - 263 1,491 3,195 1,837 3,323  
Jun-19 - 263 1,400 3,104 1,734 3,176  
Jun-18 - 263 1,276 3,000 1,667 3,085  
Jun-17 - 263 1,188 2,915 1,419 3,011  
Jun-16 - 263 1,103 2,745 1,274 2,944  
Jun-15 - 263 1,030 2,654 1,165 2,901  
Jun-14 - 263 909 2,479 1,141 2,774  
Jun-13 - 263 830 2,279 1,049 2,671  
Jun-12 - 263 708 2,109 989 2,453  
Jun-11 - 263 599 1,951 916 2,332  
Jun-10 - 263 530 1,836 892 2,126  
Jun-09 - 263 463 1,702 777 1,981  
Jun-08 30 263 398 1,544 668 1,818  
Jun-07 12 233 356 1,283 583 1,661  
Jun-06 48 221 307 1,077 528 1,524  
Jun-05 24 173 265 913 449 1,304  
Jun-04 12 149 235 768 358 1,074  
Jun-03 31 137 187 574 272 898  
Jun-02 6 106 169 465 236 699  
Jun-01 54 100 120 374 194 584  
May-31 10 46 96 326 176 457  
May-30 12 36 84 290 109 409  
May-29 0 24 72 271 85 343  
May-28 0 24 42 235 60 283  
May-27 6 24 30 217 48 203  
May-26 0 18 12 144 48 156  
May-25 0 18 12 102 48 120  
May-24 0 18 0 96 30 84  
May-23 0 18 0 84 12 48  
May-22 -6 18 0 78 0 24  
May-21 6 24 0 72 0 18  
May-20 12 18 0 60 0 0  
May-19 0 6 0 54 0 6  
May-18 0 6 0 48 0 0  
May-17 0 6 0 18 0 0  
May-16 6 6 0 0 0 0  

Non-Sonar Tools

Early 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.


Early 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.

Early 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


Early Run Kenai River Chinook Inseason Summary for Thu. Jun 8

KENAI RIVER EARLY-RUN KING SALMON SUMMARY #04 - 6/8/2023

King Salmon Run Update:

The Kenai River King salmon sonar began counting on May 16, 2023.  The cumulative estimated passage as of June 7 is 233 large king salmon (greater than 34” in length). The historic midpoint of the run is June 12. Current passage rates are significantly below historical averages and indicate a weak run that is not likely to achieve the   optimal escapement goal of 3,900–6,600 large fish. The inseason projection of escapement ranges from approximately 683 large fish with average run timing to 1,026 large fish on three days late run timing.

In response to a preseason forecast and inseason projections of escapement, From May 1 through June 30, fishing for king salmon of any size, including catch-and-release, is closed in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake. King salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. In addition, on March 2, 2023, the Division of Sport Fish issued Emergency Order 2-KS-1-11-23 closing the Kenai River to Fishing for king salmon and prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks from its mouth upstream to the ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake from July 1 through July 31, 2023.  

Index Projects Update:

The ADF&G creel survey is suspended due to fishery closure. The ADF&G netting program began operations on May 16. The netting program indicates significantly below average presence of large and all sized king salmon when compared to historical catch per unit effort indexes.  

The preseason outlook for the 2023 early-run can be found at:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/sport/byarea/southcentral/2023KenaiEarlyRunOutlook.pdf

This information was compiled based on raw and historical data for inseason management purposes.

Final data is subject to change.