Alaska News

Fishing news: Kasilof rules eased for anglers, dipnetters

Booming Kasilof red run allows biologists to ease rules

Catch more Kasilof River red salmon, whether in nets or using rods and reels. That was the message from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Thursda,y when biologists expanded the area open to personal use dipnetting and doubled the sport fishery bag limit to six per day, 12 in possession.

The move comes because the Kasilof has nearly reached its minimum escapement goal with thousands of red salmon a day expected to enter the river through the first week of August. About 156,000 red salmon already have been counted past the Kasilof sonar.

Dipnetting from the shore is allowed in an expanded area from Fish and Game markers on the Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from beach markers upstream to about river mile 3.

Any king salmon, Dolly Varden or rainbow/steelhead trout caught while dipnetting must be released.

Ship Creek closes to anglers for a week beginning Monday

Aiming to ensure that Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists have enough hatchery broodstock, fishing in Anchorage's Ship Creek will close Monday morning.

Biologists seek about 750 king salmon for use in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. A survey conducted Monday showed about 300 kings were upstream of the portion of Ship Creek open to anglers.

"Indications are the Ship Creek king salmon run followed the trend seen throughout much of Southcentral (Alaska) this year and was a few days early," according to a press release. "Good catches have been reported the last three weeks in this popular fishery, but are slowing as the run winds down."

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The popular Ship Creek Slam'n Salm'n Derby ended June 22.

Ship Creek will reopen July 14 for silver salmon fishing.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell was a longtime editor for Alaska Dispatch News, and before that, the Anchorage Daily News.

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