Salmon harvested in Cook Inlet are preserved in a cooler on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Commercial fishing sees jump in salmon harvest this season

When compared to the period between 1975 to 2020, this season is the third-highest on record for both total salmon and total pounds harvested.

Salmon harvested in Cook Inlet are preserved in a cooler on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Ben Mohr watches Kenai River Junior Classic participants head out to fish on the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Mohr resigns as director of KRSA

He has been the executive director of KRSA for nearly three years.

Ben Mohr watches Kenai River Junior Classic participants head out to fish on the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Amber Kraxberger-Linson, a member of Trout Unlimited and streamwatch coordinator for the Chugach National Forest, works in the field in this undated photo. Kraxberger-Linson will be discussing at the Saturday, Oct. 23 International Fly Fishing Film Festival the organization’s educational programming for next summer. (Photo provided by Trout Unlimited)

Out on the water — and on the screen

Trout Unlimited to host fly fishing film festival Saturday.

Amber Kraxberger-Linson, a member of Trout Unlimited and streamwatch coordinator for the Chugach National Forest, works in the field in this undated photo. Kraxberger-Linson will be discussing at the Saturday, Oct. 23 International Fly Fishing Film Festival the organization’s educational programming for next summer. (Photo provided by Trout Unlimited)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tshibaka cited for commercial fishing violation

Troopers opened an investigation on July 21 in response to a social media video that showed commercial fishing activity.

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)

New access to Barbara Lake

The lake is about 30 miles north of Kenai.

Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Taking the final spin

Silver salmon derby wraps up with magic number draw.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins the magic wheel to determine the winners of this year’s silver salmon derby at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Catch the magic silver

Silver salmon derby kicks off next week

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The "gofishak" application, zoomed in to the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)

Find fishing spots with new app

“Gofishak” allows users to filter fishing locations by category, species and access.

The "gofishak" application, zoomed in to the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)
A bathymetric map shows the depth of John Hedberg Lake in Nikiski. (Photo from Alaska Lake Database)

John Hedberg Lake to be stocked with rainbow trout

The state announced last month it was considering stocking the Nikiski lake with trout.

A bathymetric map shows the depth of John Hedberg Lake in Nikiski. (Photo from Alaska Lake Database)
Dipnetters camp on North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnetting season ‘generally productive’ for city

The total revenue for the season, which was open from July 10-31, was about $485,600.

Dipnetters camp on North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Participants in the Kenai River Junior Classic head down the Kenai River near Big Eddy Road in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Juniors get hooked fishing the Kenai

The annual event teaches kids about summer river recreation, fish habitat and water safety.

Participants in the Kenai River Junior Classic head down the Kenai River near Big Eddy Road in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Sockeye limits increased on Upper Kenai and Russian rivers

The new limits are six per day and 12 in possession.

Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Salmon are preserved in a cooler by dipnetters on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye bag and posession limits increased

The new limits are six per day and 12 in possession.

Salmon are preserved in a cooler by dipnetters on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Setnets are packed up on the Kasilof River on June 25, 2021, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

East side setnetters denied fishery reopening

The Alaska Board of Fisheries held an emergency meeting Monday after eastside setnetters submitted petitions to reopen the fishery. In the end the board voted… Continue reading

Setnets are packed up on the Kasilof River on June 25, 2021, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon hang on a wall on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
King salmon hang on a wall on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game imposes lure restriction on Kenai River

King salmon projected to not meet minimum escapement

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Upper Cook Inlet Economic Exclusion Zone can be seen highlighted in red. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Kenai OKs objection to EEZ closure

The Kenai City Council unanimously passed legislation during their July 7 meeting stating their opposition to the closure.

The Upper Cook Inlet Economic Exclusion Zone can be seen highlighted in red. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Kasilof kings limited to catch and release

Kings are passing through the Kenai River at a lower rate than needed to attain the escapement goal.

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A dipnetter wrangles a salmon North Kenai Beach on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

It’s that time again

Weekend rain didn’t stop dipnetters

A dipnetter wrangles a salmon North Kenai Beach on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Fishers dipnet on the North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Dipnet fishery opens Saturday on the Kenai

Dipnetting is only available to Alaska residents with a current Upper Cook Inlet personal-use permit and a sport fishing license.

Fishers dipnet on the North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion/file)