ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Fishing for king salmon this summer will be highly restricted after the total run forecasts for the Deshka River, Kenai River early-run, Kenai River late-run and Anchor River all show low numbers.
“King salmon are experiencing a period of poor productivity and escapement goals are not likely to be achieved in 2026,” the Alaska Department of Fish and Game stated on Monday.
“It’s all within the vein of trying to conserve king salmon in Southcentral Alaska,” said Kristine Dunker, regional supervisor for Fish Game in Southcentral Alaska.
Dunker said the state hopes that by releasing the latest regulations in February, Alaska anglers will be have plenty of time to plan for the upcoming summer.
“A lot of the [emergency orders] that we issued today are pretty similar to actions we’ve taken in the past, so a lot of this is not entirely unexpected.
Susitna and Little Susitna River drainages will be closed to king salmon fishing, Fish and Game said.
The Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages will remain closed to all sport fishing through July 15. Gear is also restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Anchor River, Stariski Creek, and Deep Creek from July 16 through July 31.
In the Ninilchik River, fishing for hatchery king salmon will begin on Memorial Day weekend and will only be open on weekends through June 29. Gear is also restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure from May 23 through July 31 when fishing for any species.
Sport fishing for king salmon is also banned in Eagle River through July 13, Fish and Game said. Sport fishing for other species will still be allowed, and anglers will only be allowed to use one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and shank of the hook that is half an inch or less.
In Campbell Creek in Anchorage, bait will not be allowed, and only single hooks may be used until Aug. 1 to protect king salmon in the creek when the coho salmon fishery opens on July 14. The youth-only king salmon fishery on Campbell Creek will be catch-and-release again this year.
For the Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of Bluff Point, king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release, will be closed through Aug. 15. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
For the Lower Cook Inlet salt waters (south of Bluff Point to the latitude of Cape Douglas and west of Gore Point), including Kachemak Bay, the daily bag and possession limits will be one king salmon of any size from April 1 through Sept. 15.
King salmon fishing off the Kenai River will also be restricted. The early-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kenai River drainage from May 1 through June 19 will be closed. The late-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kenai River drainage downstream of the outlet of Skilak Lake will be closed from June 20 through Aug. 15. Anglers will not be allowed to fish for king salmon of any size, including catch-and-release.
The Kasilof River set gillnet fishery will only be open for anglers from June 20 through June 24.
The portion of the Kasilof River directly downstream of the confluence of Crooked Creek, behind the mid-channel island, is closed to all fishing from May 1 through July 31.
“ADF&G staff understand the frustrations and tremendous impact closing this fishery has on anglers, local businesses, and guides. However, there is every indication that the 2026 king salmon returns will not have a harvestable surplus,” Area Management Biologist Samantha Oslund said in one of the press releases.
Fish and Game stated that king salmon are experiencing a period of poor productivity and many escapement goals are not expected to be achieved this year. The hope is that by implementing these regulations, the numbers may rise above prediction levels.
Dunker said for anyone planning a fishing trip, check the regulation books and make sure they know what the regulations are for the specific rivers they are fishing in, adding that regulations sometimes change midseason so people should check the Fish and Game website within days of their fishing excursions.
“It’s always a good idea to get on our website and double check, you know, where it is that they plan to go and plan their trip,” Dunker said.
Read more on https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
