(Southcentral) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restrictions for the flowing fresh waters of the Kenai Peninsula (excluding the Kenai River) effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 24 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The bag and possession limits for coho salmon 16” or greater in length will be reduced from two to one fish, the use of bait will be prohibited, and gear will be restricted to single-hook, artificial lure. This regulation change does not affect any Kenai Peninsula lakes. The bag limit reduction includes the Kasilof River but the use of bait is not restricted below the Sterling Highway bridge. Please see Emergency Order 2-SS-1-54-24 for changes to the Kasilof sport fishing gear regulations.

Based on the performance indicators of both freshwater and saltwater sport fisheries from throughout Southcentral Alaska, this year’s coho salmon run is well below average and restrictions or closures have already been issued for the Northern Cook Inlet area, Anchorage Bowl Area, and Valdez. Coho salmon stock assessment on the Kenai Peninsula is limited to a radio telemetry project on the Kenai River and a few escapement monitoring projects. Currently, there are no escapement goals for any coho salmon stocks on the Kenai Peninsula. On the Anchor River, coho salmon escapement has been fully enumerated intermittently since the late 1980’s and consistently in recent years since 2019. Through August 20, the 2024 Anchor River coho salmon cumulative count is 580 which is approximately 61% below the historical average count and 26% below the recent 5-year average count for this date. Given the lack of additional information, a precautionary approach is warranted for the remainder of the coho salmon run.

In conjunction with this emergency order, the department has also issued EO 2-SS-2-55-24 to reduce the coho salmon bag limit in the Kenai River, EO 2-SS-2-54-24 to reduce the coho salmon bag limit in the Kasilof River, EO 2-SS-2-58-24 to reduce the coho salmon bag limit in Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay salt waters, EO 2-SS-8-59-24 to reduce the Resurrection Bay Terminal Harvest Area, and EO 2-SS-6-60-24 to reduce the coho salmon bag limit in Prince William Sound salt waters. Please review these emergency orders and advisory announcements in their entirety for the specific regulatory changes.

“Unfortunately, coho salmon seem to be experiencing a downward trend in productivity similar to king salmon,” stated area manager Mike Booz. “Given this trend and uncertainty in coho salmon escapement for most of the Kenai Peninsula, restricting the harvest for the remainder of the season will reduce any potential negative impacts to these stocks.”

For additional information, please contact Homer Area Management Biologist Mike Booz at (907) 235-8191 or the Anchorage Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth at (907) 267-2186.

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