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Sockeye salmon carcasses line the shore at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. The daily number of sockeye salmon counted by sonar in the Kenai River surpassed 100,000 for the first time this year on Tuesday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River dipnetting ends Monday, reporting due by Aug. 15

As of Thursday, around 906,000 sockeye have been counted in the Kenai River’s late run

Sockeye salmon carcasses line the shore at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. The daily number of sockeye salmon counted by sonar in the Kenai River surpassed 100,000 for the first time this year on Tuesday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Fishing gear restricted on Kenai River starting Tuesday

The use of gear on the Kenai River will be restricted to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure starting next week, the State Department of Fish… Continue reading

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing ‘has picked up’

Northern Kenai fishing report

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sockeye salmon carcasses line the shore at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. The daily number of sockeye salmon counted by sonar in the Kenai River surpassed 100,000 for the first time this year on Tuesday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River sees 1st day with more than 100,000 sockeye counted

Daily counts jump from 18,000 to 120,000 in three days

Sockeye salmon carcasses line the shore at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. The daily number of sockeye salmon counted by sonar in the Kenai River surpassed 100,000 for the first time this year on Tuesday. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Gary Hollier pulls a sockeye salmon from a set gillnet at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Setnetters see opportunity in shallower nets

State targets sockeye in Kenai test of selective harvest gear

Gary Hollier pulls a sockeye salmon from a set gillnet at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

After last week’s spike, sockeye counts lag recent years

Since the start of the late run on July 1, around 393,000 sockeye have been counted by sonar

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
James Wardlow shows off a salmon filet ready to be hung and dried during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

To fillet a fish

Youth workshop showcases ways of preparing salmon

James Wardlow shows off a salmon filet ready to be hung and dried during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai river sockeye ‘good’, should continue to improve

Northern Kenai Fishing Report for July 28

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Kenai River sockeye bag limits to increase Friday

The change is motivated by a strong forecast of sockeye in the late run for the Kenai River

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula 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)

Kenai River dipnetting to open 24 hours a day starting Friday

The change comes as a result of strong projections for the late run of sockeye salmon in the Kenai River

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye salmon counts spike in Kenai and Kasilof rivers

To date, around 140,000 sockeye have been counted on the Kenai

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Northern Kenai Fishing Report for July 23: Kenai River still slow, expected to improve

A Northern Kenai Fishing report published by the Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says little has changed since last week. Fishing on the… Continue reading

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jacob Cook, of Wasilla, stands in the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet extended on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River dipnetting off to slow start

Monday marked the first day of dipnetting on the Kenai River, but shortly after the opening’s first high tide, few could be seen with nets… Continue reading

Jacob Cook, of Wasilla, stands in the mouth of the Kenai River with a dipnet extended on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Kenai Beach 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)

Fish and Game says local setnet study may ‘solve decades-long struggle’

A study of setnet harvest selectivity for sockeye and king salmon will be conducted by the Department of Fish and Game on a Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

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)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Fishing report for July 6: Sockeye to improve on Kenai River, slow on Russian River

A Northern Kenai fishing report published by the Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says that sockeye fishing will improve on the Kenai River… Continue reading

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula 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)

Kenai River dipnetting starts Monday

The Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnetting fishery will open at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 10. Dipnetting will be allowed from 6 a.m.… 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)
A young girl digs in pursuit of razor clams under watchful eyes at the Ninilchik Beach in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, July 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Limited’ razor clam opening returns shovels to Ninilchik beach

For the first time in eight years, a local razor clam fishery was opened for four days in Ninilchik on Saturday, drawing hundreds of anglers… Continue reading

A young girl digs in pursuit of razor clams under watchful eyes at the Ninilchik Beach in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, July 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/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 fishing slows in Russian River, still ‘fair’

Northern Kenai Fishing Report for June 29, 2023

Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Low king salmon counts spur continued restrictions

An emergency order issued by the Department of Fish and Game on Wednesday will continue a restriction on king salmon fishing in the Kasilof River… Continue reading

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye limits upped on Kasilof River

The limits for sockeye salmon fishing on the Kasilof River will increase to six per day and 12 in possession Friday. The increase will be… Continue reading

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)