News

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association offices in Soldotna, Alaska, are seen on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KRSA debuts community-wide river cleanup

For years, the organization has hosted the Kid’s Kenai River Clean-Up but muddy conditions led to that event’s cancellation this year

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association offices in Soldotna, Alaska, are seen on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)

NOAA to hear public comment about Cook Inlet salmon management

The hearing will be held online as a webinar May 18

Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)
The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishing for steelhead trout and Pacific halibut ‘just beginning’

The first Northern Kenai Fishing Report of 2023 was released Friday

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’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Local fishers speak up for buyback bill

S.B. 82, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, would create the voluntary program

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
University of Alaska Fairbanks Associate Professor Dr. Peter Westley, Department of Fish and Game Biologist Adam Reimer, and Cook Inletkeeper Science Director Sue Mauger listen to a question during a panel discussion for the Kenai Peninsula College Showcase "State of the Salmon" on Wednesday, April 20, 2023, at KPC in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Showcase paints a grim picture for future of salmon

Warming waters, more numerous predators, bycatch, parasites, increased competition all point to tremendous difficulty in species resurgence

University of Alaska Fairbanks Associate Professor Dr. Peter Westley, Department of Fish and Game Biologist Adam Reimer, and Cook Inletkeeper Science Director Sue Mauger listen to a question during a panel discussion for the Kenai Peninsula College Showcase "State of the Salmon" on Wednesday, April 20, 2023, at KPC in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Beyond counting fish

Salmon panel set for next KPC Showcase

The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)

Rockfish limits in Cook Inlet, Resurrection Bay reduced

The change is being implemented in response to substantial increases of rockfish harvest in those areas

Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March 2018. (Staff/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)

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)