Anglers looking to catch king salmon this May will be facing restrictions on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The department announced Thursday that Kenai River early run king salmon will be catch and release only. On the Kasilof River, anglers will only be able to retain one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length.

The department said that the restrictions are being implemented in hopes of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future.

Restrictons in the Kenai River drainage downstream of the Skilak Lake outlet will run from May 1 to July 31.

From May 1 to June 30, no king salmon of any size can be retained from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.

Starting July 1, anglers will be able to retain king salmon from the mouth of the Kenai River up to a Fish & Game marker located about 300 yards downstream from Slikok Creek. Anglers may also use bait in this section, but only on a single hook lure or fly. Fishing will remain catch and release from the marker up to the Skilak Lake outlet.

“In an effort to protect our king salmon fishery resources, which are important to anglers and our fishery managers, and ensure our fishery management is consistent with the regulatory management plan, the early king salmon run on the Kenai River is restricted to non-retention in an effort to meet our 2019 early-run escapement goal,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka. “Anglers have noticed that the Kenai River king salmon and other king salmon stocks throughout Cook Inlet are experiencing an extended period of low productivity and restricting the fishery preseason is warranted.”

On the Kasilof River from May 1 to June 30, anglers are only allowed to retain one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater. A hatchery fish is recognizable by the healed adipose fin-clip scar. The adipose fin is the small, fleshy fin located just ahead of the fish’s tail. Naturally produced king salmon have an intact adipose fin and may not be kept. Naturally produced king salmon that are caught cannot be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Kasilof River will also see bait restrictions, limiting anglers to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lures from the mouth of the Kasilof to the Sterling Highway bridge.

“It’s important to our staff and anglers that we continue our efforts to protect and rebuild our wild king salmon stocks,” Lipka said. “ADF&G does anticipate an increase in angler effort on the Kasilof River due to early run king salmon restrictions on the Kenai River and we have to manage accordingly with restrictions only allowing hatchery king salmon to be retained on the Kasilof River.”

Fish & Game is forecasting 3,168 early-run Kenai River king salmon equal or greater than 34 inches, which is less than the optimum escapement goal of 3,900 to 6,600 fish. If realized, this year’s run would rank as the fourth lowest across 34 years.

Reach Kat Sorensen at ksorensen@peninsulaclarion.com.