The Alaska Department of Fish and Game plans to open the sport fishing season for king salmon slowly on the southern Kenai Peninsula.
Last year’s run was the second smallest on record and this year’s run is also expected to be small. In response, Fish and Game announced Monday that it won’t kick off the fishery on the weekend prior to Memorial Day, which is the typical opener. The department is also closing the fishery on five Wednesdays throughout the season and the last weekend the fishery typically remains open in June.
Both Deep Creek and the Ninilchik River won’t suffer any date closures this year, but anglers in Ninilchik will only be able to retain hatchery kings. All three systems on the southern Kenai will be restricted to one single, un-baited hook and the annual bag limit will be reduced from five kings over 20 inches to two fish of the same size.
That bag limit also applies to the salt waters from Bluff Point to just north of the Ninilchik River.
Anchor River closures:
- May 18-20
- May 22
- May 29
- June 5
- June 12
- June 15-17
- June 19