Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
The 2024 outlook for early-run Kenai River king salmon was below average, with a large fish (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length or greater than about 34 inches in total length) forecast of 2,630 fish. The 2024 forecasted total run was less than the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 3,900–6,600 large fish, which resulted in preseason closures to the sport fishery. The total estimated passage through June 30, 2024, at the river mile 14 sonar was 1,365 large king salmon, and because of the fishery closure, preliminary spawning escapement and total run estimates are both 1,365 large early-run king salmon. The run exhibited generally low abundance across all age classes and is the second lowest run in the historical data set. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 14, which is two days late when compared to the historical mid-point.
Preliminary age composition estimates from length groups show a noticeably low presence of ocean-age-four fish but overall, there was a low abundance of all age classes.
Neither the OEG of 3,900–6,600 large fish nor the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 2,800–5,600 large fish were achieved in 2024. However, the SEG has been achieved or exceeded in four of the last seven years, and the OEG has been achieved or exceeded in three of the last seven years.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until June 30.
River mile 8.6 netting assessment (preliminary)
Approximately 34% were large fish or ≥75 cm in total length.
Sex ratio of large fish ≥75 cm was 26% male and 74% female.
Sampled king salmon of all sizes were predominately ocean-age 2 fish (49%), followed by ocean-age 3 fish (31%), ocean-age 1 (14%), and ocean-age 4 fish (6%).
The outlook for late-run Kenai River king salmon in 2024 was well below average, with a large king salmon (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length) forecast of approximately 13,639 fish. The 2024 forecasted total run was less than the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 15,000–30,000 fish so the fishery started closed. The total estimated passage through August 19, 2024, at the river mile 14 sonar was 6,984 large king salmon, and the preliminary escapement is 6,959 large fish (accounts for spawning downriver of the sonar). The mid-point of the run occurred on July 29, which is two days later than the mean historical mid-point.
The predominate age class for all sizes of Kenai River late-run king salmon are ocean-age 2 (39.5%), followed by ocean-age 3 (29.8%), ocean-age 4 fish (20.2%), and ocean-age 1 (10.5%). The low abundance of large fish age classes (ocean ages 3 and 4) indicates poor production from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 parent years and corresponds with the overall low abundance of the 2024 return.
The OEG of 15,000–30,000 large fish and SEG of 13,500–27,000 large fish were not achieved in 2024. The SEG has been achieved in one of the last seven years and the OEG has not been achieved since it was created in 2020. Additionally, Kenai River late-run king salmon were designated a Stock of Concern at the Alaska Board of Fisheries March 2024 meeting. The action plan developed to recover Kenai River late-run king salmon includes a recovery goal of 14,250–30,000 large king salmon that is the department’s management objective until the stock recovers. The recovery goal was not achieved in 2024.
A preseason emergency order effective July 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.
On August 12, 2024 multiple hooks were prohibited from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the Moose River confluence to reduce incidental catches of king salmon while fishing for other species.
On August 16, 2023 the prohibition of bait and multiple hooks was extended from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake to reduce incidental catches of king salmon while fishing for other species.
River mile 8.6 netting assessment (preliminary)
Approximately 46% of king salmon were >75 cm in total length.
Sex ratios for large fish >75 cm was 77% male and 23% female.
| Escapement Goal Range | 15,000 - 30,000 large king salmon (>75 cm) |
| Total Catcha | 0 |
| Total Inriver Harvesta | Below sonar = 0; Above sonar = 0; Total = 0 |
| Sonar Estimate In-River | 6,630 |
| Preliminary Escapementb | Approximately 6,959 |
|
a Lower River (below Soldotna Bridge). b Includes estimate of kings that spawn downstream of sonar. | |
In June 2024, approximately 98,436 king salmon smolt were stocked into Crooked Creek to enhance recreational sport fishing opportunity in the Kasilof River. The naturally-produced (non-adipose finclipped) component of the Crooked Creek early-run king salmon run is managed to achieve a SEG of 700–1,400 king salmon. The estimated escapement of naturally-produced king salmon was 550 fish for the 2024 season. The egg take goal for future stocking of Crooked Creek was 25 pairs of naturally-produced king salmon of which 20 pairs were spawned in 2024.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, prohibited the retention of naturally-produced king salmon and the use of multiple hooks.
A pre-season emergency order effective May 1, 2024, restricted the use of bait until May 16, 2024.
June 19, 2024, an emergency order was issued to restrict gear to single hook, artificial lure, or fly from the Kasilof River’s mouth to the outlet of Tustumena Lake. The emergency order also reduced the bag limit of hatchery-produced king salmon to one from July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024.
July 11, 2024, an emergency order was issued to close the king salmon fishery on the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway bridge effective July 15, 2024.
July, 31, 2024, an emergency order was issued prohibiting the use of bait and restricting to single-hook, artificial lure or fly from the river’s mouth to the outlet of Tustumena lake.
The 2024 Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) sockeye salmon forecast projected a total run of 5.72 million fish: 3.38 million fish to the Kenai River, 1.12 million fish to the Kasilof River, with the remaining fish comprising stocks from Susitna River, Fish Creek, and unmonitored systems. Based on the preseason forecast, the sockeye salmon run was managed on the middle tier for runs of 2.3–4.6 million Kenai River sockeye salmon, with an inriver goal of 1.1–1.4 million sockeye salmon. On July 27, 2024, ADF&G projected the total Kenai River sockeye salmon run to be 2.96 million fish and the department continued to manage for the middle tier with an inriver goal of 1.1–1.4 million sockeye salmon. The preliminary inriver sonar passage estimate was 1,926,350 sockeye salmon. Subtracting the recent 10-year average harvest upstream of the sonar (387,757 fish) produces a preliminary escapement estimate of 1,538,593 sockeye salmon, which exceeds the sockeye salmon SEG 750,000–1.30 million fish. Final estimates will be available when the 2024 Statewide Harvest Survey is completed in the fall of 2025.
General regulations adopted a bag limit of 6 fish per day, 12 fish in possession for sockeye salmon from June 20 to August 15, 2024.
The escapement goal for Russian River early-run sockeye salmon is a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 22,000–42,000 fish. The weir count on July 14, 2024, was 34,697 sockeye salmon.
On June 1, 2024, the Russian River Sanctuary Area opened early for sport fishing.
The escapement goal for Russian River late-run sockeye salmon is an SEG of 44,000–85,000 fish. The final Russian River weir count on September 3, 2024, was 70,009 sockeye salmon.
No in season management actions were taken during the Russian River sockeye salmon late run 2024.
The forecast for Kasilof River sockeye salmon was 1,115,161 fish. Kasilof River sockeye salmon are managed to achieve an OEG of 140,000–370,000 fish. The sockeye salmon sonar enumerated salmon passage through August 22, 2024, with a preliminary estimate of 1,048,092 fish.
On June 25, 2024, sockeye salmon limits were increased in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing to six per day, twelve in possession.
Kenai River coho salmon are not monitored for abundance in season and are managed through angler reporting, observations, and conservative general regulation. Angler reports indicated that coho salmon were entering the river in the beginning of August but the abundance seemed poor based on success rates. September reports indicated a mix of angler success but generally, the abundance seemed to remain low in the Kenai River.
On August 21, 2024, an emergency order was issued to reduce the limit for coho salmon in the Kenai River to a bag and possession limit of one fish, effective Saturday, August 24, through Saturday, August 31, 2024; and a bag and possession limit of two coho salmon Sunday, September 1 through Saturday, November 30, 2024.
On September 17, 2024, an emergency order was issued to reduce the bag and possession limit for coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length in the Kenai River to one fish; and restrict gear to one unbaited, single hook, artificial lure in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake.
Harvest and participation information for the 2024 season are currently being compiled and will be available this coming winter. The Kasilof River set gill net personal use fishery was delayed by emergency order to reduce mortality of Kenai River bound king salmon from June 11, 2024 to June 19, 2024. The Kasilof River dipnet fishery was open by regulation from June 25 through August 7, 2024. The area open to dipnetting was expanded for the Kasilof fishery on June 25. The Kenai River dipnet fishery opened by regulation on July 10 through July 31, with no retention of king salmon allowed by regulation.
Beginning in 2024 harvest reporting was required to be submitted online by August 31, 2024
On June 11, 2024, the Kasilof River personal use set gillnet fishery was closed until June 19, 2024.
On June 25, 2024, the Kasilof River personal use dipnetting area was expanded. Dipnetting from shore was allowed from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to ADF&G markers at approximately river mile four of the Kasilof River.
On July 16, 2024, The Kenai River Personal Use Dip Net fishery was opened 24 hours per day until the season closure.