A restriction on the bag limit for coho salmon is being reimplemented on the Kenai River starting Thursday, Sept. 19, the State Department of Fish and Game announced on Tuesday.
In all waters of the Kenai River open to fishing for coho salmon, an advisory announcement reads, the bag limit for coho salmon 16 inches or longer will be reduced from two to one fish per day starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday and effective through the end of the year. The new emergency order also prohibits the use of bait and restricts gear to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure from the river’s mouth upstream to the regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake.
The restrictions, per the announcement, are motivated by “weak runs” of coho salmon “throughout Cook Inlet.” The department doesn’t count coho salmon like they do sockeye or king salmon, and the determination is made based on “assessment and reports.” A similar restriction was implemented in July, and the reinstatement brings the Kenai River in line with other nearby waters like the Kasilof River and Northern Cook Inlet.
“The department has continued to assess coho salmon runs and faced with continued weak performance determined additional restrictions were necessary,” the announcement reads.
Coho fishing on the Russian River is closed after Sept. 30. Coho fishing on the Kenai River upstream of Bing’s Landing to the outlet of Kenai Lake is closed after Oct. 31. Coho fishing on the mouth of the Kenai upstream to Bings’ Landing is closed after Nov. 30.
For more information about fishing regulations and opportunity, visit adfg.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
