Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
The outlook for the early-run of Kenai River king salmon in 2023 was below average, with a large fish (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length or approximately >34 inches in total length) forecast of 2,914 fish. The 2023 forecasted total run was less than the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 3,900 - 6,600 large fish which starts the sport fishery closed. The total estimated passage through June 30, 2023 at the river mile 14 sonar was 1,975 large king salmon and the preliminary spawning escapement estimate and total inriver run estimate was 1,975 large early-run king salmon.. The run exhibited generally low abundance across all age classes and is preliminarily the second lowest run in the historical data set. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 18 which is 6 days late when compared to the historical mid-point.
Preliminary age composition estimates from length groups show a noticeable low presence of 2-ocean fish but overall, there was a low abundance of all age classes.
Neither the OEG nor the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) were achieved in 2023. The SEG has been achieved or exceeded in four of the last seven years. The OEG has been achieved or exceeded in three of the last seven years.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2023, king salmon fishing was closed from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until June 30.
Netting (preliminary)
Approximately 51% were large fish or >75 cm in total length.
Sex ratio of large fish >75 cm was 61% male and 39% female.
King salmon of all sizes sampled were predominately by ocean-age 3 fish (39%), ocean-age 1 (29%), ocean-age 4 fish (20%), and ocean-age 2 fish (12%).
| Escapement Goal Range | 3,900 - 6,600 large king salmon (> 75 cm) |
| Total Catcha | 0 |
| Total Harvesta | Below sonar = 0; Above sonar = 0; Total = 0 |
| Sonar Estimate In-River | 1,975 |
| Preliminary Escapement | ∼ 1,975 |
| a Lower River (below Soldotna Bridge) | |
The outlook for the late-run of Kenai River king salmon in 2023 was well below average, with a large king salmon (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length) forecast of approximately 13,630 fish. The 2023 forecasted total run was less than the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 15,000 - 30,000 fish and the fishery started closed. The total estimated passage through August 27, 2023, at the river mile 14 sonar was 13,922 large king salmon and the preliminary escapement is 14,502 large fish. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 27 which is on the mean historical mid-point.
The predominate age classes for all sizes of fish are the ocean-age 4 (38%), ocean-age 3 (24%), ocean-age 1 fish (21%), ocean-age 2 (16%), and ocean-age 5 (1%). The low abundance of both predominate large fish age classes (ocean-age 3 and 4) indicates poor production from 2017 and 2018 parent years and corresponds with the overall low abundance of the 2023 return.
The OEG was not achieved and the SEG was achieved in 2023. The SEG has been achieved in four of the last seven years. The lower bound of the OEG has not been achieved since it was created in 2020.
A preseason emergency order effective July 1, 2023, king salmon fishing was closed from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.
On August 1, 2023 bait and multiple hooks were prohibited from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake to reduce incidental catches of king salmon while fishing for other species.
On August 16, 2023 the prohibition of bait and multiple hooks was extended from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake to reduce incidental catches of king salmon while fishing for other species.
Netting (preliminary)
Approximately 56% of king salmon were >75 cm in total length.
Sex ratios for large fish >75 cm was 51% male and 49% female.
King salmon of all sizes sampled were predominately ocean-age 4 fish (38%) followed by ocean-age 3 fish (24%), ocean-age 1 fish (21%), ocean-age 2 (16%) and ocean-age 5 (1%).
| Escapement Goal Range | 15,000 - 30,000 large king salmon (>75 cm) |
| Total Catcha | 234 |
| Total Inriver Harvesta | Below sonar = 0; Above sonar = 0; Total = 0 |
| Sonar Estimate In-River | 13,922 |
| Preliminary Escapementb | Approximately 14,502 |
|
a Lower River (below Soldotna Bridge). b Includes estimate of kings that spawn downstream of sonar. | |
In June 2023, approximately 91,801 king salmon smolt were stocked into Crooked Creek to augment natural production and enhance recreational sport fishing opportunity in the Kasilof River. The wild component of the Crooked Creek early-run king salmon return is managed to achieve a SEG of 700 – 1,400 king salmon. The estimated escapement of wild (naturally-produced) king salmon was 500 fish. The egg take goal for future stocking of Crooked Creek was 33 pairs of naturally-produced king salmon of which 22 pairs were spawned in 2023.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2023, the early-run king salmon bag and possession limits were restricted to two hatchery-produced fish, 20 inches or greater in length in the Kasilof River drainage. The retention of naturally-produced king salmon was prohibited. The use of bait and multiple hooks was prohibited downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge until May 16 when bait is allowed by regulation. Multiple hooks continued to be prohibited.
On July 1, 2023, the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length was one hatchery-produced fish only, and bait and multiple hooks were prohibited from the mouth of the Kasilof River upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge.
The 2023 Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) sockeye salmon forecast projected a total run of 5.12 million fish: 2.82 million fish to the Kenai River, 1.13 million fish to the Kasilof River, with the remaining fish being comprised of Susitna River, Fish Creek, and unmonitored systems. Based on the preseason forecast, the sockeye salmon run was managed on the middle tier for runs of 2.3 - 4.6 million Kenai River sockeye salmon, with an inriver goal of 1.1 - 1.4 million sockeye salmon. On July 27, 2023, ADF&G projected the total Kenai River sockeye salmon run to be 3.4 million fish and the department continued to manage for the middle tier with an inriver goal of 1.1 - 1.4 million sockeye salmon. The preliminary inriver sonar passage estimate was 2,351,009 sockeye salmon. Subtracting the recent 10-year average harvest upstream of the sonar (304,570 fish) produces a preliminary escapement estimate of 2,046,439 sockeye salmon, which exceeds the sockeye salmon SEG 750,000-1.30 million fish. Final estimates will be available when the 2023 Statewide Harvest Survey is completed in the fall of 2024.
On July 21, 2023, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to six per day and twelve in possession.
The escapement goal for Russian River early-run sockeye salmon is a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 22,000 - 42,000 fish. The weir count on July 14, 2023, was 66,818 sockeye salmon and exceeded the BEG.
On June 14, 2023, the Russian River Sanctuary Area opened early for sport fishing.
On June 18, 2023, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to six per day and twelve in from Skilak Lake upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing (including the Russian River Sanctuary Area) and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls.
On June 24, 2023, the sockeye bag and possession limits were increased to nine per day, eighteen in possession from Skilak Lake upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing (including the Russian River Sanctuary Area) and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls.
The escapement goal for Russian River late-run sockeye salmon is an SEG of 44,000 - 85,000 fish. The final Russian River weir count on September 10, 2023, was 160,430 sockeye salmon and exceeded the SEG.
On August 9, 2023, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to six per day and twelve in possession from Skilak Lake upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing (including the Russian River Sanctuary Area) and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls.
The forecast for Kasilof River sockeye salmon was 1,126,000 fish. Kasilof River sockeye salmon are managed for a BEG of 140,000 - 320,000 salmon, and an OEG of 140,000 - 370,000 fish. The sockeye salmon sonar enumerated salmon passage through August 27, 2023, with a preliminary estimate of 932,896 fish.
On June 30, 2023, sockeye salmon limits were increased in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing to six per day and twelve in possession.
Kenai River coho salmon are not monitored for abundance inseason and are managed through angler reporting, observations, and conservative general regulation. Angler reports indicate that coho salmon were showing up in the harvest during the last week of July and catches were reported as fair to good through August and fair into September. September reports generally indicated a mix of angler success from day to day.
On August 1, 2023, bait and multiple hooks were prohibited in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to Skilak Lake to minimize incidental catch of late-run king salmon and was effective through August 15.
On August 16, 2023, bait and multiple hooks were prohibited in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to Skilak Lake to minimize incidental catch of late-run king salmon and was effective through August 30.
Harvest and participation information for the 2023 season are currently being compiled and will be available this coming winter. The Kasilof River set gill net personal use fishery was closed by emergency order to reduce mortality of Kenai River bound king salmon. The Kasilof River dipnet fishery was open by regulation from June 25 through August 7, 2023. The area open to dipnetting was expanded for the Kasilof fishery on June 25. The Kenai River dipnet fishery opened by regulation on July 10 through July 31, with no retention of king salmon allowed by emergency order.
Beginning in 2022 harvest reporting was required to be done online by August 15. Reminder letters were mailed to permit holders who have not yet returned their harvest record. Estimates of total harvest will be available in January 2024.
On June 15, 2023, the Kasilof River personal use set gillnet fishery was closed.
On June 25, 2023, the Kasilof River personal use dipnetting area was expanded. Dipnetting from the shore was allowed from ADF&G markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge and dipnetting from a boat was allowed from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to ADF&G markers at approximately river mile 3 of the Kasilof River.
On July 10, 2023, retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery was prohibited.