A Northern Kenai Fishing Report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says there are still plenty of opportunities for sport fishing around the central Kenai Peninsula.
Freshwater Fishing
Kenai Lake, the Kenai River and its tributaries are open for fishing for all species other than king salmon. Fishers are saying that sockeye fishing is good, according to the report. The sockeye bag limit from the mouth of the Kenai River to Skilak Lake is six per day and 12 in possession until Aug. 15
The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery is closed. Online reporting must be completed by Aug. 15, even if the permit was left unused or no fish were caught, or fishers may be unable to get a permit next year.
Nearly 1.7 million sockeye salmon have been counted by sonar on the Kenai River during the late run. This year’s count far outpaces each of the last four years. The escapement goal for the species on the river is 750,000 to 1.3 million and has been exceeded.
The Kenai River’s late-run of king salmon, which cannot be retained or removed from the water, has as of Wednesday only seen 3,900 large kings, half as many as were counted at this time last year and far below the optimal escapement goal for the species of 15,000 to 30,000 fish.
Russian River and the Russian River sanctuary area are open to sockeye fishing. Sockeye are “showing up,” the report says. The daily limit for sockeye salmon on the Russian River and in Russian River sanctuary is three and the possession limit is six. No coho have been reported yet.
On the Russian River, nearly 17,000 sockeye have been counted as of Wednesday in the late run. That’s more than were counted last year at this time.
The Kasilof River is closed by emergency order to all king salmon fishing, including catch and release and for hatchery salmon. Nearly 1 million sockeye have been counted on the river, and the report says “Kasilof River sockeye salmon continue to arrive.”
The escapement goal for Kasilof sockeye is 140,000 to 370,000, exceeded on July 9.
Saltwater Fishing
Fishers have been successful shore fishing for both halibut and cod at local beaches, the report says.
Local Lakes
Fishing on local lakes “has been good.”
Emergency Orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
NEW: Emergency Order 2-KS-1-44-24 closes the Kasilof River to bait and restricts gear to single hook only through Sept. 15.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-26-24 expands the personal use salmon dipnet fishing area on the Kasilof River. Salmon may be harvested from the shore from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-27-24 order increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per day and 12 in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-09-24 closes the Kenai River to fishing for king salmon and prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake from 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15.
The 2024 sport fishing license can be purchased through the Alaska Department of Fish and game mobile app, or at their website, adfg.alaska.gov.
