(Homer) - To protect returning king salmon and ensure sport fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing restrictions in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 22 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Sport fishing gear is restricted to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure during the dates open to king salmon fishing. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point. These streams are only open to sport fishing on the dates outlined in the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet (available March 2021).

“Restricting the gear will likely reduce the harvest of king salmon, but still provides anglers the opportunity to fish for king salmon in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages,” stated Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “Anglers that prefer to use bait will be able to do so in the Ninilchik River for hatchery king salmon.”

In conjunction with this restriction, emergency order 2-KS-7-08-21 reduces the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from five to two fish in the Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point from April 1 through July 15, 2021. In addition, emergency order 2-KS-7-10-21 restricts the bag and possession limit in the Ninilchik River drainage to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length during the Memorial Day weekend (May 29 - 31), and the following two weekends and Mondays following each weekend (June 5 - 7 and June 12 - 14), and the Youth-Only Fishery (June 9). Please review these emergency orders in their entirety.

King salmon escapement monitoring will begin in May on the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers. As the runs progress, run strength will be evaluated to determine in-season management actions.

For more information, please contact Area Management Biologist Mike Booz or Assistant Area Management Biologist Holly Dickson at (907) 235-8191.

#21-3082