Alaska Department of Fish and Game

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Two state lawsuits hold national implications

The state of Alaska is caught up in two fish and wildlife-related lawsuits in federal courts that could set precedents around the nation for years… Continue reading

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Kenai River silver salmon derby a go

The Kenai River silver salmon derby is set to go in two weeks after a long back-and-forth between the state and the two groups hosting… Continue reading

Two anglers work together to land a silver salmon from the steps on the fishing platform near the Soldotna Visitors Center on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The silver salmon fishing has been reportedly good throughout the Kenai River since early August, and silver salmon continue to enter the river throughout the fall. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Silver fishing keeps up quality on Kenai River

A draft morning schedule for a silver salmon angler: 4 a.m.: Alarm goes off. Pat self on back for packing tackle the evening before. 4:30… Continue reading

Two anglers work together to land a silver salmon from the steps on the fishing platform near the Soldotna Visitors Center on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. The silver salmon fishing has been reportedly good throughout the Kenai River since early August, and silver salmon continue to enter the river throughout the fall. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game asks fishermen to report Atlantic salmon catches

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is asking that fishermen around the state report any Atlantic salmon they catch. Damage to a salmon farm… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten (left) and Board of Fisheries member Reed Morisky (right) testify during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, hosted by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Sullivan hosts field hearing on Magnuson-Stevens in Soldotna

Sportfishing groups and advocates want to see the federal government separate the management of sport and commercial fishing in the upcoming renewal of the Magnuson-Stevens… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten (left) and Board of Fisheries member Reed Morisky (right) testify during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, hosted by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su

Upper Cook Inlet’s drift gillnet and east side set gillnet commercial fishermen saw a larger harvest of coho than in recent years this season. Not… Continue reading

Larger commercial coho harvest sparks concern in Mat-Su
A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Conclusion reached in UCIDA lawsuit

The United Cook Inlet Drift Association’s lawsuit against the federal government has finally reached its conclusion, though its repercussions are far from over. Alaska U.S.… Continue reading

A drift boat rests at anchor in this July 2016 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A salmon leaps above the surface of the Kenai River as it makes its way upstream near Centennial Park on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Silvers hit Kenai Peninsula rivers, fishing improves

Despite the sunshine, the surface of Resurrection Creek was dark — an enormous school of pink and silver salmon headed up the creek colored the… Continue reading

A salmon leaps above the surface of the Kenai River as it makes its way upstream near Centennial Park on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing boats sit anchored near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Commercialset gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen were able to go out for a fishing period Saturday after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened an additional period from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Most commercial fishing ends Monday

Most commercial fishing in Upper Cook Inlet ended Monday, with the set gillnet fishermen in the Kasilof section getting one extra day Tuesday. The east… Continue reading

Commercial fishing boats sit anchored near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Commercialset gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen were able to go out for a fishing period Saturday after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened an additional period from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A young goat explores the land at Karluk Acres in Kenai on July 12. The Office of the State Veterinarian is looking for owners of sheep and goats to take part in a study on the prevalence of a pneumonia inducing bacterium in Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

State vet asking for goats and sheep for study

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct name of the bacterium and the correct sponsor of the study. The Office of the… Continue reading

A young goat explores the land at Karluk Acres in Kenai on July 12. The Office of the State Veterinarian is looking for owners of sheep and goats to take part in a study on the prevalence of a pneumonia inducing bacterium in Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Jordan Goldthwaite, 15, caught this 75 pound halibut Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 while fishing out of Homer, Alaska on his fathers boat, Dad’s Dream. (Photo courtesy Frank Goldthwaite)

Fishing report: River traffic quiets as sockeye taper off, silvers begin

The crowds on the Kenai River fishing docks have thinned out for the time being as the river’s salmon runs transition from red to silver.… Continue reading

Jordan Goldthwaite, 15, caught this 75 pound halibut Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 while fishing out of Homer, Alaska on his fathers boat, Dad’s Dream. (Photo courtesy Frank Goldthwaite)

Commercial fishermen see more pinks, chums than expected

It’s been an oddly large year for chum and pink salmon in Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial fisheries. Odd-numbered years are usually pretty thin ones for… Continue reading

An angler flips for sockeye salmon from the bank of the Kenai River near its confluence with Soldotna Creek on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing report: Reds still running, some silvers showing

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to show that the bag and possession limit has been increased to 25 fish in the China Poot… Continue reading

An angler flips for sockeye salmon from the bank of the Kenai River near its confluence with Soldotna Creek on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Commercial fishermen harvest 1.8M sockeye so far, no fishing Tuesday

Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial drift gillnet commercial fishermen got to fish throughout the waters of the central district during their regular period Monday. It’s the… Continue reading

A drift gillnet fishing vessel makes its way into the Kenai River on Friday in Kenai. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 2016 photo, a commercial drift gillnet boat makes its way out of the Kenai River early in the morning in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Kenai sockeye run late, biologists say

Cook Inlet east side set gillnet fishermen and drift gillnet fishermen will get their first chance to fish in more than a week on Saturday.… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, a commercial drift gillnet boat makes its way out of the Kenai River early in the morning in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Fish waste accumulates along the tide line at the Kenai River’s north beach on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai rakes the waste out to ocean every night and local groups contribute to cleanup efforts, but the waste still builds up on the tideline when the water washes it back in. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Properly get rid of your fish waste this weekend

The final weekend of the Kenai River personal-use dipnet fishery kicks off Friday. With sockeye salmon passage increasing into the Kenai River — nearly 72,000… Continue reading

Fish waste accumulates along the tide line at the Kenai River’s north beach on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. The City of Kenai rakes the waste out to ocean every night and local groups contribute to cleanup efforts, but the waste still builds up on the tideline when the water washes it back in. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

East side setnets, drifters closed again Thursday

Commercial fishermen in Upper Cook Inlet’s central district will stay on the beaches again Thursday to allow more sockeye to enter the Kenai River. The… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, anglers cast their lines into the Kenai River from the bank above the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Sportfishing licenses jump in 2016

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sold nearly 50,000 more sportfishing licenses and stamps and hunting licenses in 2016 than it did in 2015,… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, anglers cast their lines into the Kenai River from the bank above the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Commercial fishermen to fish Thursday

Commercial fishermen in Upper Cook Inlet will head out as usual Thursday, but with restricted area for the drift fleet and restricted gear in the… Continue reading

Managers reining back Upper Cook Inlet commercial fishing

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to show that 2017's Kenai River inriver goal is 900,000–1.1 million sockeye salmon. Commercial fishing managers in Upper… Continue reading