Keeping king salmon prohibited when Kenai River dipnet fishery opens Sunday

Keeping king salmon will be prohibited when the Kenai River personal-use dipnet fishery starts Sunday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said Tuesday.

The popular fishery opens Sunday at 6 a.m. and runs through July 31. Fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Alaska residents with an Upper Cook Inlet personal use permit and a 2022 Alaska sportfish license can participate.

Last month, Fish and Game announced a number of king salmon restrictions across the Kenai Peninsula, as king salmon runs have lagged.

The personal use fishery is held annually in the marine waters of the Cook Inlet at the mouth of the Kenai River. The fishery allows dipnetting from either a boat or on shore and includes a seasonal limit on catch in conjunction with other salmon fisheries throughout the state.

Fish and Game said any king salmon caught incidentally during the Kenai River dipnet fishery may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.