Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
PDF of Summary, which includes tables of Escapement Goals and Escapements (2013-2022).
The outlook for the early-run of Kenai River king salmon in 2022 was below average, with a large fish (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length or approximately >34 inches in total length) forecast of ~4,200 fish. The 2022 forecasted total run was within the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 3,900 – 6,600 large fish which allows the fishery to be opened under general regulation. The total estimated passage through June 30, 2022, at the river mile 14 sonar was 2,051 large king salmon. ADF&G applies harvest and catchand- release mortality estimates of king salmon above the sonar to generate a preliminary spawning escapement estimate of 2,047 large early-run king salmon and a total inriver run estimate of 2,052 large fish. The return is below the 5-year average of 4,258 large fish. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 15 which is 4 days late when compared to the historical mid-point.
Preliminary age composition estimates from length groups show a noticeable low presence of 4-ocean fish but overall, there was a low abundance of all age classes.
Neither the OEG nor the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) were achieved. The SEG has been achieved or exceeded in four of the last six years. The OEG has been achieved or exceeded in three of the last six years.
On June 1, 2022, king salmon fishing was restricted to catch and release from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until June 7.
On June 8, 2022, king salmon fishing was closed from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until June 30. The closure continued through July 31 in waters from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.
Netting (preliminary)
Approximately 66% were large fish or >75 cm in total length.
Sex ratio of large fish >75 cm was 47% male and 53% female.
King salmon of all sizes sampled were predominately ocean-age 2 fish (41%) followed by ocean-age 3 fish (27%), ocean-age 4 (20%), ocean-age 1 fish (11%).
Harvest (preliminary)
5 large king salmon were harvested in the early-run sport fishery (includes catch-and-release mortality).
| Escapement Goal Range | 3,900 - 6,600 large king salmon (> 75 cm) |
| Total Catcha | 66 |
| Total Harvesta | Below sonar = 1; Above sonar = 4; Total = 5 |
| Sonar Estimate In-River | 2,052 |
| Preliminary Escapement | ∼ 2,047 |
| a Lower River (below Soldotna Bridge) | |
The outlook for the late-run of Kenai River king salmon in 2022 was well below average, with a large king salmon (>75 cm mid eye to tail fork length) forecast of approximately 16,000 fish. Although the forecasted total run of large fish was within the large fish OEG of 15,000 – 30,000 fish, historical harvest data indicated the OEG would not be met without restricting fisheries. The total estimated passage through August 19, 2022, at the river mile 14 sonar was 13,425 large king salmon. ADF&G applies harvest and catch and release mortality estimates and spawning downstream of the sonar estimates to generate a preliminary spawning escapement estimate of 13,952 large king salmon and a total run estimate of 13,994 large fish. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 27 which is on the mean historical mid-point.
Preliminary age composition estimates indicate a greater proportion of ocean-age 3 fish and fewer oceanage 4 than expected. The predominate age classes for all sizes of fish are the ocean-age 3 (43%), ocean-age 4 (34%), ocean-age 2 fish (18%), and ocean-age 1 (6%). The low abundance of both predominate large fish age classes (ocean-age 3 and 4) indicates poor production from 2016 and 2017 parent years and corresponds with the overall low abundance of the 2022 return.
The OEG was not achieved and the SEG was achieved in 2022. The SEG has been achieved in three of the last six years. The lower bound of the OEG has not been achieved since establishment in 2020.
On July 1, 2022, the retention of king salmon of all sizes was prohibited from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure was allowed. From an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake remained closed to king salmon fishing through July 31. In conjunction with the freshwater restrictions king salmon sport fishing was closed in the marine waters of Cook Inlet north of Bluff Point within 1-mile of shore and the annual limit was reduced from five to two king salmon.
On July 17, 2022, king salmon fishing was closed from the Kenai River mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until July 31, 2022. The use of bait and multiple hooks were also prohibited while fishing for other species. Additionally, fishing for king salmon was closed in Cook Inlet marine waters north of Bluff Point.
On August 1, 2022, bait and multiple hooks were prohibited from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake until August 15 to reduce incidental catches of king salmon while fishing for other species.
Netting (preliminary)
Approximately 63% of king salmon were >75 cm in total length.
Sex ratios for large fish >75 cm was 50% male and 50% female.
King salmon of all sizes sampled were predominately ocean-age 3 fish (43%) followed by ocean-age 4 fish (34%), ocean-age 2 fish (18%), ocean-age 1 (6%).
Harvest (preliminary)
17 large king salmon were harvested in the sport fishery (includes catch-and-release mortality).
32 Kenai stock large king salmon were harvested in the East Side Set Net commercial fishery.
| Escapement Goal Range | 15,000 - 30,000 large king salmon (>75 cm) |
| Total Catcha | 234 |
| Total Inriver Harvesta | Below sonar = 7; Above sonar = 10; Total = 17 |
| Sonar Estimate In-River | 13,425 |
| Preliminary Escapementb | Approximately 12,176 |
|
a Lower River (below Soldotna Bridge). b Includes estimate of kings that spawn downstream of sonar. | |
This spring, approximately 97,562 king salmon smolt were successfully 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 735 fish. The egg take goal for future stocking of Crooked Creek was 33 pairs of naturally-produced king salmon of which 20 pairs were spawned in 2022.
On May 1, 2022, 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.
On June 8, 2022, bait and multiple hooks were prohibited from the mouth of the Kasilof River upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge.
On July 15, 2022, the retention of king salmon was prohibited from the mouth of the Kasilof River upstream to Tustumena Lake. Bait and multiple hooks continued to be prohibited.
On July 17, 2022, fishing for king salmon of any size downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge closed through July 31, 2022. Bait and multiple hooks continued to be prohibited.
The Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) sockeye salmon forecast projected a total run of 4.97 million fish: 2.9 million fish in the Kenai River, 941,000 fish in 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 25, 2022, ADF&G projected the total Kenai River sockeye salmon run to be 3.6 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 1,567,750 sockeye salmon. Subtracting the recent 10-year average harvest upstream of the sonar (304,570 fish) produces a preliminary escapement estimate of 1,263,180 sockeye salmon. Final estimates will be available when the 2022 Statewide Harvest Survey is completed in the fall of 2023.
On July 22, 2022, 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, 2022, was 61,098 sockeye salmon and exceeded the BEG.
On June 22, 2022, the Russian River Sanctuary Area opened early for sport fishing.
On June 25, 2022, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to six per day and twelve in possession for the Russian River and a section of the mainstem Upper Kenai River downstream of the confluence with the Russian River.
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 08, 2022, was 124,561 sockeye salmon and exceeded the SEG.
On August 2, 2022, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to six per day and twelve in possessions for the Russian River and a section of the mainstem Upper Kenai River downstream of the confluence with the Russian River.
The forecast for Kasilof River sockeye salmon was 941,000 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 15, 2022, with a preliminary estimate of 971,604 fish.
On July 7, 2022, sockeye salmon limits were increased in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing to six per day and 12 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 good through August and fair to good into September. September reports generally indicated a mix of angler success from day to day with an overall trend that was an average run and an improvement from 2020 and 2021.
On August 1, 2022, 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.
Harvest and participation information for the 2022 season are currently being compiled and will be available this coming winter. The Kasilof River set net fishery opened under restricted hours from June 15 through June 24, 2022. The Kasilof River dipnet fishery opened by regulation from June 25 through August 7, 2022. The area open to dipnetting was expanded for the Kasilof fishery on July 3. 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. The historical mean for reporting of Upper Cook Inlet personal use permits is approximately 80% under the previous reporting system. Estimates of total harvest will be available in January 2023.ï€
On June 15, 2022, the Kasilof River personal use set gillnet fishery was restricted by reducing the fishing time by 11-hours daily. Set netting was allowed from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from June 15 through June 24, 2022.
On July 7, 2022, 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, 2022, retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery was prohibited.
