sport fishing

State fishery officials say they're not sure why Kenai River sockeye runs are so low this season.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game doubled sockeye salmon bag limits from three to six in response to strong salmon runs.

The Department of Fish and Game has opened the Russian River Sanctuary to sockeye fishing early, and projects another strong run this year.

Under a new restriction this year, any Kasilof angler who catches a hatchery king may not fish for the rest of that day — for any fish species — on the Kasilof River between the Sterling Highway bridge and the river mouth.

The Kenai Peninsula hasn’t had much snow this winter, so outdoor enthusiasts may already be dreaming about spring and summertime fishing. That’s why the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge held a fly fishing discussion at its visitor center last Wednesday.

Sockeye salmon fishing is in full swing on the Kenai Peninsula. Anglers in Cooper Landing recently shared their thoughts and anticipations about the season so far.

New opportunities open with the middle and upper Kenai

The federal proposal for management of the Cook Inlet commercial fishing waters, called Amendment 16, was published last fall. Public commenters, including trade groups representing drift fishermen and processors and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, took issue with many parts of the plan.

David Finocchio was fishing on the Upper Kenai with his mom last weekend when she pulled up an iPhone. It had been in the water for four days, but miraculously, it still worked, and was returned to its owner.

Catch and retention limits lowered to avoid shifting fishing pressures