Kings and Reds see divergent returns in 2019

A couple of systems over-escaped their sockeye salmon returns in the Central Kenai Peninsula this summer, as the Swan Lake Fire hampered both catching and managing fish on the Upper Kenai River. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released the figures in its 2019 summary of the fisheries last week
    The escapement goal for Russian River early-run sockeye salmon is a range of between 22,000-44,000 fish. The weir count on July 14 was 125,942 sockeye salmon, significantly exceeding the upper end of the biologic escapement goal.
    As a result, on June 12 the Russian River Sanctuary area opened early for sport fishing, and two days later the sockeye salmon limits were increased to six fish per day and 12 in possession for the Russian River and a section of the mainstem Upper Kenai River. A week later, with the salmon continuing to storm in, on June 19, the sockeye salmon limits were increased to nine fish per day and 18 fish in possession.
    Angling opportunity and data collection from the Late Russian River Run were hampered when the department’s field camp and weir were evacuated in mid August when the Swan Lake Fire’s resurgence sent it into the Upper Kenai River Valley. The weir count on August 18 when it was abandoned, was 64,585 sockeye. The biologic escapement goal for the late run was between 30,000-110,000 fish. The department gives no estimate on how many sockeye went uncounted.
    The Kasilof River sockeye run was also strong with a forecast of 873,000, and seeing an increase in bag limits in late July. The department says the sonar counter quit on August 12, though they estimate the escapement to be 378,416, just above the upper end of the biologic escapement goal, but fitting nicely within the range of the Optimal Escapement goal of 160,000-390,000 fish.
    The total king salmon catch below the Soldotna Bridge on the Kenai River was 890 fish, 118 of them catch-and-release. Of those harvested, 265 of them caught below the sonar counter and 507 above it. The preliminary escapement is approximately 11, 671 kings. The early run escapement was approximately 4,173 kings.