News

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game projects ‘average’ sockeye run for 2023 season

Annual projection and review of last season published last week

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka speaks to the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee during a meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game releases memo on Cook Inlet escapement goals

The information is intended to be used during a board work session next year

Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka speaks to the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee during a meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka speaks to the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee during a meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Panel sets fishing proposals, asks board to return to peninsula

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee met Tuesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to hold an election and discuss their proposals to the… Continue reading

Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka speaks to the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee during a meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory Committee to make proposals to change fishing regulation

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to hold an election and discuss… Continue reading

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The waters of Cook Inlet lap against Nikishka Beach in Nikiski, Alaska, where several local fish sites are located, on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Unprecedented closures threaten setnet way of life

Setnetters have been vocal about their opposition to the way their fishery is managed

The waters of Cook Inlet lap against Nikishka Beach in Nikiski, Alaska, where several local fish sites are located, on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Glen Trombley, a Kenai River personal use guide, testifies to the Alaska Board of Fisheries during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on March 10, 2023 at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)

Board of Fisheries approves regulation changes

Changes include simplified registration and new invasive species

Glen Trombley, a Kenai River personal use guide, testifies to the Alaska Board of Fisheries during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on March 10, 2023 at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)
The Alaska Board of Fisheries discusses three emergency petitions directed at Cook Inlet East Side Set Net closures during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)

Fisheries board rejects local anglers’ emergency petitions

Each of the petitions was rejected for failing to meet the board’s definition of an emergency

The Alaska Board of Fisheries discusses three emergency petitions directed at Cook Inlet East Side Set Net closures during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)
Glen Trombley, a Kenai River personal use guide, testifies to the Alaska Board of Fisheries during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on March 10, 2023 at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)

Locals weigh in on proposals at fisheries board meeting

Several anglers from the Kenai Peninsula testified against Proposals 163-167

Glen Trombley, a Kenai River personal use guide, testifies to the Alaska Board of Fisheries during the 2023 Statewide Finfish Meeting on March 10, 2023 at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska. (Screenshot)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

YouTube videos lead to citations for wintertime coho fishing

All three were cited for removing silver salmon from the water

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voices of the Peninsula: King salmon closures long overdue

Returns have progressively gone downhill since the early run was closed in June 2012

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dipnetters can be seen here fishing in the Kenai River on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Board of Fisheries to meet

March 10 through March 13, the board will meet at the Egan Civic Convention Center to discuss 19 proposals

Dipnetters can be seen here fishing in the Kenai River on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Low king salmon forecasts spur fishing restrictions

Most of the orders concern closures of various fisheries

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
David Lorring, left, helps Moriah Hodges, right, reel in her fish at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish education on ice

Nearly 700 local elementary school students are going to be out fishing next week in Soldotna and Homer. Students will be fishing at Sport Lake… Continue reading

David Lorring, left, helps Moriah Hodges, right, reel in her fish at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory council wraps up Fish and Game recommendations

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council met Thursday to discuss their position on the final set of proposals to the Board of Fish and… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory council wraps up Fish and Game recommendations

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council met Thursday to discuss their position on the final set of proposals to the Board of Fish and… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Northern Kenai Peninsula Area Manager Colton Lipka shares information with Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Council Chair Mike Crawford as the advisory council deliberates their position on a proposal to the Board of Fish during a meeting at Cook Inlet Aquaculture in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mike Crawford, Chair of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee, writes the language of an amendment to Board of Game Proposal 105, passed unanimously by the committee during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory committee votes on recommendations for Board of Game meeting

Proposals discussed Monday included those related to hunting ducks, sheep, goats, moose and ptarmigan on the Kenai Peninsula

Mike Crawford, Chair of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee, writes the language of an amendment to Board of Game Proposal 105, passed unanimously by the committee during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game taking public comment on stocking plan for local waters

The 2023 Stocking Plan outlines the locations, numbers, sizes and life stages for each species of fish that will be stocked

A rainbow trout is released in a restocking event at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)

State to update public on Kasilof boat retrieval

Alaska State Parks has acquired two lots on Williamson Drive in Kasilof for the project

The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. (Clarion file)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fish retention prohibited in Mackey and Derks lakes

Retention of all fish from three Soldotna lakes will remain prohibited in 2023, the State Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Sport Fish announced… Continue reading

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Bag limit imposed on arctic char and Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake

A bag and possession limit will be imposed on arctic char and Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake throughout 2023, the State Department of Fish and… Continue reading

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)