Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing vessels are moored near the mouth of the Kenai River on July 10, 2020.

Trends: Peninsula fishermen to enter a defining year

The peninsula’s commercial fishers are entering a time of unknowns.

Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing vessels are moored near the mouth of the Kenai River on July 10, 2020.
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, assembly urge US Commerce Secretary to veto EEZ closure

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to reccomend the closure last December.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A boarding team member from Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur holds up an allegedly illegally-retained halibut aboard vessel Currency about 12 miles west of Cape Barnabas, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Chandeleur’s boarding team discovered a total of eight allegedly illegally-retained halibut aboard the boat, seized them, and handed them over to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration representative in Kodiak. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Cutter Chandeleur)

Coast Guard issues violation to Homer fishermen for catching halibut out of season

Homer boat was fishing for Pacific cod when Coast Guard patrol found halibut on board

A boarding team member from Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur holds up an allegedly illegally-retained halibut aboard vessel Currency about 12 miles west of Cape Barnabas, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Chandeleur’s boarding team discovered a total of eight allegedly illegally-retained halibut aboard the boat, seized them, and handed them over to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration representative in Kodiak. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Cutter Chandeleur)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishery council closes federal waters in Cook Inlet to commercial salmon fishing

Fishermen, processors, elected officials warn of devastation to the fishery.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ice chokes the Homer Harbor on Jan. 9, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. North Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled to take final action on a fishery management plan for commercial fishing in Upper Cook Inlet this week. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Cook Inlet salmon fishery issue to be decided by North Pacific Fishery Management Council

Fishermen, processors take issue with option to close waters to commercial fishing

Ice chokes the Homer Harbor on Jan. 9, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. North Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled to take final action on a fishery management plan for commercial fishing in Upper Cook Inlet this week. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Christine Cunningham, Assistant to the Kenai City Manager, shows off a silver salmon she caught for the 4th annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby in this undated photo. (Courtesy Christine Cunningham)

Kenai derby wraps up successful tournament

The derby sold 136 tickets and received 13 company sponsorships

Christine Cunningham, Assistant to the Kenai City Manager, shows off a silver salmon she caught for the 4th annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby in this undated photo. (Courtesy Christine Cunningham)
Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Nick wraps up his summer fishing column

It was a short, strange, summer but it looks like the season for doubling the layers of my rain gear has finally arrived. Soon the… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reece Tousignant, 15, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, poses with a pink salmon he caught on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, Alsaka. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Reeling ‘Em In: Nick offers tips for catching those cohos

I’m still receiving complaints that the smug silvers are continuing to drive some of you nuts at the Fishing Hole. Remember, they are fish and… Continue reading

Reece Tousignant, 15, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, poses with a pink salmon he caught on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, Alsaka. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Anglers practice social distancing on the upper Kenai River in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in late June 2020. (Photo provided by Nick Longobardi/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Kenai River fishing rules tightened

Only unbaited single hooks and artificial lures will be allowed.

Anglers practice social distancing on the upper Kenai River in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in late June 2020. (Photo provided by Nick Longobardi/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery

Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery

Closure for Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial set net fishery, all Kenai River king salmon sport fishing.

Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery
Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)

96 seafood workers in Seward test positive for COVID-19

The outbreak was identified when an employee at OBI Seafoods tested positive on Sunday.

Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Limiting the catch

Kenai Peninsula seafood industry sees relatively few out-of-state COVID cases

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Kings fishing further restricted

Officials say king salmon runs have significantly underperformed preseason expectations.

Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnetting opens in Kenai

Dipnetters see quiet 1st day, with moderate catch

Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)

Dipnetters banned from retaining kings

Dipnetting on the Kenai River opens Friday.

In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)

City announces health and safety measures for dipnet fishery

Dipnetters should socially distance, wear face coverings when needed and wash hands and surfaces.

In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Fish and Game announces more restrictions on king fishing

The restrictions are out of concern for Kenai River and the Kasilof River king salmon populations.

Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

More king fishing closures on Kenai River

Subsistence rod-and-reel fishing for king salmon on the Kenai River will be prohibited.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

Kings sport fishing closed on Kenai River, limited on Kasilof River

The returning king salmon population has been lower than what ADFG biologists had forecast for this year.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire