The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery will expand its open hours to 24 hours a day starting Friday, the State Department of Fish and Game announced Wednesday.

Per Emergency Order 2-RS-1-48-23, the fishery, which was previously only open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, will be open at all times from Friday, July 21, until July 31.

An advisory announcement from the department says that the open area and other restrictions remain in place. King salmon may not be retained, and must be released immediately without being removed from the water.

The change comes as a result of strong projections for the late run of sockeye salmon in the Kenai River. The escapement goal for the species is between 750,000 and 1.3 million. The department is projecting a run greater than 2.3 million. As of Tuesday, around 256,000 sockeye salmon have been counted by sonar on the Kenai River, exceeding counts at the same time in the last two years.

Only Alaska residents can participate in a state fishery, and they need to have a current sport fishing license and an Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit before participating.

Harvest and participation must be reported online, even if the permit wasn’t used or if no salmon were caught, by Aug. 15. Those who fail to report will be denied a permit next year and may be fined.

More information about fish counts, regulations and availability can be found at adfg.alaska.gov.

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