The Kenai River's early-run king salmon sport fishery will close starting Thursday, as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game tries to protect fish stocks in the face of extremely low continuing runs.
According to a Fish and Game emergency order released Tuesday, fishing for kings on the Kenai will be closed Thursday through June 30 from the Kenai's mouth to Skilak Lake. A second closure, from July 1 through July 14, will affect the Kenai from Fish and Game emergency markers about 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek's mouth to Skilak Lake's outlet upstream.
The Moose River, from its confluence with the Kenai to the northernmost edge of the Sterling Highway bridge, will be closed to fishing for kings for the duration of both closures from Thursday through July 14.
"Through June 16, the DIDSON sonar estimates of king salmon passage and all indices used to assess abundance of early-run king salmon in the Kenai River indicate the 2013 run is the lowest on record," Ryan wrote. "Given the unprecedented low number of early-run king salmon, the department has determined that it is necessary to close the Kenai River to sport fishing for early-run king salmon."
Tuesday's emergency order was one of several issued by Fish and Game, including a Kasilof River order restricting fishing to unbaited single hooks from June 20 to June 30, as well as one opening the Russian River Sanctuary to sockeye salmon fishing effective at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Please check KTUU.com and the Channel 2 newscasts for updates.
Contact Chris Klint