(Homer) –Consistent with the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River king salmon sport fishery management plan, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is prohibiting the use of bait on the Ninilchik River in the lower 2 river miles for all days open to fishing from May 24 through July 15. The intention of this restriction is an effort to achieve the Ninilchik River sustainable escapement goal (SEG), which has not been achieved in the last three consecutive years. Sport fishing in the Ninilchik River is open during the Memorial Day weekend (May 24 – 26, 2025), and the following two weekends and the Monday following each weekend (May 31 – June 2 and June 7 – 9), a youth only fishery on June 4, and 7 days a week from June 16 through July 15 for king salmon. All other Ninilchik River king salmon fishing regulations remain in effect through July 15, including: naturally-produced king salmon may not be retained, must be released immediately, and may not be removed from the water; gear is unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures and flies; the hatchery king salmon bag limit for fish 20” and greater is two per day and two in possession; the limits for hatchery king salmon less than 20” is 10 per day and 10 in possession; if you retain a hatchery king salmon 20” or greater, you must immediately record harvest; Ninilchik hatchery king salmon 20” or greater are included into the Cook Inlet annual limit of 5; and after harvesting two hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, anglers may not sport fish in the Ninilchik River for the rest of that day.

The Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River king salmon sport fishery management plan (5 AAC 56.130) was adopted at the November 2023 Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting. This management plan specifies that the commissioner may, by emergency order, restrict the Ninilchik River hatchery king salmon sport fishery to achieve the SEG and broodstock collection goals. The Ninilchik River sustainable escapement goal (SEG) was updated in 2023 to 900–1,600 king salmon, but the SEG was not achieved in 2022, 2023, or 2024. Removing the use of bait will reduce the catch and catch-and-release mortality of naturally-produced king salmon when fishing for hatchery king salmon.

In conjunction with this closure, Emergency Order 2-KS-7-7-25 closes the Anchor River and Deep Creek to all sport fishing through July 15, Emergency Order 2-KS-1-2-25 closes the Kenai River early-run king salmon fishery, and Emergency Order 2-KS-2-6-25 closes the Deshka River to king salmon fishing. Additional emergency orders close king salmon sport fishing in all Northern and West Cook Inlet streams. Please review these emergency orders and advisory announcements in their entirety for the specific regulatory changes.

“Since we’ve missed the Ninilchik River king salmon escapement goal for the last three years in a row, we are taking a more precautionary approach with the start of this season,” stated Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “We will be monitoring this year’s run very closely and will further adjust the regulations inseason, if necessary.”

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Mike Booz or Assistant Area Management Biologist Holly Dickson at (907) 235-8191.

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