The bag limit for sockeye salmon on the Kasilof River is doubled starting Wednesday, effective for the remainder of the season, the State Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday.

Sport fishers on the Kasilof can harvest six sockeye per day and have 12 in possession once the change is effective.

The change is motivated by high passage of sockeye salmon on the river, projected to exceed the department’s biological escapement goal for the species.

Fish counts available from the department show that nearly 100,000 sockeye salmon have been counted on the river so far this year — 12,000 counted on Tuesday alone. The escapement goal for the species, counted through Aug. 27, is between 140,000 and 320,000 fish.

“Increasing the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon allows anglers an opportunity to harvest additional sockeye salmon on what is shaping up to be a strong run,” Area Management Biologist Phill Stacey said in the announcement.

For more information on fishing regulations and availability, visit adfg.alaska.gov.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.