The bad news on this year’s king salmon runs continues.
Joining the MatSu Valley and Southeast Alaska, the popular streams on the Kenai Peninsula have been closed to king salmon fishing until late summer.
Here’s the official ADF&G release:
(Homer) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and increased fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation closures on the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers and Deep Creek drainages effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 2, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 15, 2018, to sport fishing.
As of May 29, 2018, only 90 king salmon have been counted using a combination of sonar and video weirs on the Anchor River. The sustainable escapement goal (SEG) for Anchor River king salmon is 3,800-7,600 fish, and based on 2009-2014 average run timing ADF&G is projecting the SEG will not be achieved. By this same date when runs were weak (2009-2014), escapement averaged 301 king salmon. The final escapement for these years ranged between 2,497 in 2014 to 4,509 in 2012.
“During the weak run years, inriver and nearby marine fisheries were managed conservatively using a combination of restrictions and closures,” stated Area Management Biologist Carol Kerkvliet. “The Anchor River king salmon escapement failed to achieve the SEG from 2009-2011 and 2014 despite restrictions including closures. To minimize the shifting of effort due to conservation actions for the Anchor River, it is warranted to restrict sport fishing on the Ninilchik River and Deep Creek as well.”
In conjunction with this closure, a sport fishing regulation restriction was issued pertaining to king salmon fishing (including catch-and-release) in marine waters within 1-mile of shore from Bluff Point to the Ninilchik River in response to the weak inseason run projection for Anchor River king salmon.
For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Carol Kerkvliet or Assistant Area Management Biologist Mike Booz at (907) 235-8191.
