Region 2-Southcentral News Release
(Released: June 17, 2005)
Contact:
George Pappas
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368
June 17, 2005
Thanks to a good in-river return of early-run king salmon, combined with below-average angler effort and harvests, sport fish anglers may now use bait in the Kenai River mainstem from its mouth upstream to a point 100 yards downstream of the confluence of the Moose River and Kenai River, effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, June 18.
All other Kenai River special provisions, methods and means, and bag and possession limits remain in effect. Anglers may use only one single-pointed hook. Anglers may keep only those king salmon that are less than 44 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length. All other king salmon must be immediately released.
The “Kenai River and Kasilof River Early Run Chinook Salmon Conservation Management Plan” directs the Department to achieve a spawning escapement range of 5,300-9,000 king salmon. To date, total in-river return is estimated to be approximately 8,400 king salmon. Total harvest is estimated to be approximately 1,800 king salmon. Harvest rates have been good, but angler effort has been very low compared past years. We can now confidently project a total return of early run king salmon of approximately 13,000 – 15,000 fish and a spawning escapement in excess of the upper range goal of 9,000 fish.
