Aiming to preserve fragile king salmon stocks, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is imposing restrictions on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers for the rest of the season.
On the Kenai, king salmon between 20 and 55 inches may not be kept or removed from the water. The rule extends from the river mouth upstream to a marker 300 years downstream of its junction with Slikok Creek until July 15 -- and from Skilak Lake downstream afterwards.
On the Kasilof, all king salmon fishing will be catch-and-release only through the end of the season that extends through July.
Sonar counts of the Kenai's late run are "very low, well below average, and are currently projected to be well under the inseason management objectives at the end of the run in early August," according to the Fish and Game website. Only 70 kings were counted moving upstream on July 4.