Fishing

Red salmon limits for anglers doubled on Kenai River

With a strong Kenai River red salmon run in progress, biologists at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have doubled anglers' bag limits to six per day, 12 in possession downstream of Skilak Lake. Two of the six fish may be silver salmon.

So far, 733,427 sockeyes have been counted in the Kenai, and biologists are predicting more than 2.3 million will return, with Fish and Game's escapement goal achieved.

On the Russian River, a tributary of the Kenai, the late run of red salmon has started slowly, with only 9,325 past the weir below Lower Russian Lake. Biologists seek an escapement of 30,000-110,000 sockeye.

At the same time, the personal use dipnet fishery at the mouth of the Kenai River will be open 24 hours a day until it ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

Women show the way in Valdez silver derby

Warming up for the Aug. 7 Valdez Women's Silver Salmon Derby, two women hold the top spots in the weeks-long silver salmon derby, weighing the only fish heavier than 13 pounds.

Pam Chapman-Holloway of Rapid City, South Dakota, leads the way with her 13.22-pound silver, and Thea Ruckhaus of Fairbanks is second with a coho that's only a tenth of a pound lighter. Last year, a 17.54-pounder secured the top spot.

The winner of the derby, which ends Sept. 6, wins $15,000.

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Derby organizers note "it has been an incredibly good season for lingcod. In fact, Bonnie Woods at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station said they are issuing certificates for trophy lingcod on a daily basis."

Dog freighting operators sought

Denali National Park is going back to the future, accepting applications from commercial outfits that want to provide commercial dog freighting services in the park.

Successful applicants would use dog teams to haul and cache freight for mountaineering expeditions or other winter recreationalists. Up to 30 dogs would be authorized under the permit. Using the dogs for passengers is banned.

Flooded by pink salmon, limits boosted

With more than 32 million Prince William Sound pink salmon already harvested by commercial fisherman, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will boost sport anglers' harvest limit in marine waters north of a line from Entrance Point to Valdez Narrows to 12 a day, 24 in possession.

"Unlike many other Prince William Sound saltwater salmon fisheries, Valdez has many areas where shore anglers can cast for pinks, especially by the harbor and around Allison Point as well," Fish and Game's Area Management Biologist Mike Thalhauser said in a press release. He described the pink return as "far above anticipated."

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