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Woes continue for Kenai king salmon fishing

Alaska's Kenai River attracts crowds of anglers in mid summer when the giant king salmon are running. By September, the crowds have dissipated and the kings have spawned and died, their carcasses littering the gravel bars, leaving a much quieter river for trout anglers to ply for the huge rainbow trout that move into the stream to feast on salmon eggs. (Rich Landers)
Alaska's Kenai River attracts crowds of anglers in mid summer when the giant king salmon are running. By September, the crowds have dissipated and the kings have spawned and died, their carcasses littering the gravel bars, leaving a much quieter river for trout anglers to ply for the huge rainbow trout that move into the stream to feast on salmon eggs. (Rich Landers)

FISHING -- The famous huge king salmon of Alaska's Kenai River continue to be in jeopardy.   Here's the latest.

Associated Press  
KENAI, Alaska — For the first time since 1965, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced a preseason closure of fishing for early run king salmon in the Kenai River.

The Peninsula Clarion reported that the early run sport fishery for kings will be closed beginning May 1 through June 30 from the Kenai River mouth upstream to Skilak Lake and the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai river upstream to the northern edge of the Sterling Highway bridge.

Kings may not be targeted or retained.

The emergency order announcing the king fishing closure was released Thursday — well in advance of mid-May when angler pressure begins to pick up on the king salmon.

In 2013, the early run was restricted to catch-and-release, but that drew criticism.

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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