Division of Sport Fish
Dave Rutz, Director

Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner

P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Advisory Announcement
(Released: July 02, 2021 - Expired: August 07, 2021)

CONTACT: Colton Lipka
Area Management Biologist
(907) 262-9368

Kasilof River Dipnetting Area Expanded

(Soldotna) - In an effort to allow dipnetters more opportunity to harvest their household limits of sockeye salmon on the Kasilof River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is expanding the Kasilof River personal use dipnetting area.

Personal use dipnetting from the shore will be allowed in an expanded area from ADF&G markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge on the Kasilof River. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to ADF&G markers at approximately river mile 3 of the Kasilof River. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 3 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 7, 2021.

An Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a 2021 resident sport fishing license are required to participate. Dipnetting on the Kasilof River is allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only Alaska residents can participate. King salmon or non-salmon species may not be kept in the Kasilof River personal use salmon fishery. Any king salmon, Dolly Varden, or rainbow/steelhead trout caught while dipnetting must be released immediately unharmed to the water.

"Not only will the increased area allow dipnetters a greater chance to harvest their household limits," stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka. "But it gives people more room to spread out and take advantage of another good run of sockeye to the Kasilof."

The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000-320,000 sockeye salmon. As of July 1, 2021, a total of 113,484 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.

In addtional to expanding the Kasilof River personal use area, ADF&G issued emergency order number 2-RS-1-35-21 increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon to six fish per day and twelve fish in possession; however, no more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. These provisions are effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 3 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka at (907) 262-9368.

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