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The sockeye salmon bag and possession limit will be reduced to one fish upstream of the Kenai River sonar counter located at river mile 19, effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 6. The Kenai River sonar counter is located approximately two river miles below the Sterling Highway Bridge crossing of the Kenai River in Soldotna. Sport fishing for sockeye salmon below the river mile 19 sonar counter remains closed.
The bag and possession limit of sockeye salmon in the Russian River and Kenai River “fly-fishing-only waters” at the confluence of the Russian River, including that portion of the Kenai River from ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing downstream to the power line are not affected by this action and remain at three fish. See page 51 of the Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet for a map of this area.
The department is taking measures to reduce the harvest of Kenai River sockeye salmon. This restriction is part of an effort by the department which also includes a reduction in commercial fishing to achieve an optimal escapement goal of 500,000 – 1,000,000 spawning sockeye salmon. The department is closely monitoring the run and will take further management actions as necessary to meet the optimum escapement goal. These management actions may include further restrictions with short notice, or, if the run strength significantly increases, management actions could include rescinding the restrictions placed on the fisheries.
