Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

Fish, Game Advisory Committees meet this month
 A number of Alaska Fish & Game advisory committees are meeting this week and next, to discuss pending and possible changes in fishing and hunting regulations.  These meetings are always open to the public and sportsmen are encouraged to attend, to learn and comment on issues of concern. With... Read more
KRSA calling for Board of Fish to stop pink salmon stockings
The Kenai River Sportfishing Association is leading a number of Alaska outdoor groups in calling for public comment to urge the Alaska Board of Fish to not approve additional pink salmon hatchery stockings in Prince William Sound. In an era of struggling salmon runs across Alaska–most king salmon runs... Read more
Kenai closed to sockeye fishing
The unthinkable has happened for Southcentral Alaska fishermen. Fishing for sockeye salmon on most of the Kenai River has been closed effective Saturday.  State officials are taking this almost unprecedented action thanks to a disastrously low sockeye return. Here’s the official release today: “To protect returning sockeye salmon and... Read more
Kenai sockeye limit cut to one fish
Turn out the lights–the party’s over for this year’s Kenai River sockeye fishermen and dipnetters. Thursday afternoon the state slashed bag limits for sport fishermen to one sockeye per day and closed the personal use/dipnet fishery, effective Monday. Here’s the complete release: “To protect returning sockeye salmon and increase... Read more
Board of Fish lets pink salmon stocking plan proceed; commercial fishing supporters celebrate
The Alaska Board of Fish voted 4-3 Tuesday afternoon to let a planned additional stocking of hatchery pink salmon in Prince William Sound go forward. The board did not take public comment. It was standing room only at the Egan Center in Anchorage to hear the Board of Fish... Read more
Board of Fish meeting in Anchorage July 17 to consider additional pink stocking
The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) will meet at 1 p.m., July 17 at the Egan Civic and Convention Center, 555 West 3rd, Anchorage, Alaska. The purpose of the special meeting is to address an emergency petition from the Kenai River Sportfishing Association received May 16, regarding additional hatchery production in... Read more
Kenai dip netting opens July 10 but no kings may be kept
The popular personal use dipnet fishery on the lower Kenai opens July 10, but any king salmon that winds up in the nets must be released, per a new ADF&G order. It’s the latest attempt to protect every returning king salmon for the river’s struggling king run, which is... Read more
Search on for bear that killed hiker, mauled searcher
Editor’s note:  The huge volume of traffic to this story yesterday overloaded and shut down our website for a few hours.  Thanks for your patience. Authorities are searching today in Eagle River for the brown bear that killed one hiker and mauled a member of search party looking for... Read more
Update: Kenai now closed to king fishing
Given the low returns so far this year, it’s not a surprise that ADF&G has now closed all sport fishing for king salmon on the Kenai River until July on the lower river, for the year on the upper river. Anglers fishing the Kenai have had decent success despite... Read more
KRSA withdraws from Walker’s Cook Inlet Salmon Advisory Task Force
By Lee Leschper Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) has announced it is withdrawing from a group Gov. Bill Walker formed outside normal fisheries management procedures, which some are suggesting may be an election year tactic to gather support for Walker in the suddenly crowded gubernatorial race. The Cook Inlet... Read more