Southcentral Alaska king salmon fisheries will face sweeping restrictions this summer after low run forecasts for several major systems prompted emergency actions from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), according to KTUU.
Forecasts for the Deshka River, Kenai River early-run and late-run, and Anchor River all show weak returns.
“King salmon are experiencing a period of poor productivity, and escapement goals are not likely to be achieved in 2026,” ADF&G stated.
“It’s all within the vein of trying to conserve king salmon in Southcentral Alaska,” said Kristine Dunker, regional supervisor for ADF&G in Southcentral Alaska.
The Susitna and Little Susitna River drainages will be closed to king salmon fishing. The Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages will remain closed to all sport fishing through July 15, with gear restrictions in place later in July. In the Ninilchik River, hatchery king fishing will open Memorial Day weekend but only on weekends through June 29, with single, unbaited, artificial lure restrictions in place through July 31.
King salmon fishing is also banned in Eagle River through July 13, though sport fishing for other species will remain open under gear restrictions. In Campbell Creek in Anchorage, bait is prohibited, and only single hooks may be used until Aug. 1 to protect kings as the coho fishery opens July 14. The youth-only king fishery there will again be catch-and-release.
In Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of Bluff Point, king salmon fishing- including catch-and-release- will be closed through Aug. 15. Any king salmon caught incidentally must remain in the water and be released immediately. In Lower Cook Inlet salt waters, including Kachemak Bay, the daily bag and possession limit will be one king salmon of any size from April 1 through Sept. 15.
The Kenai River early-run sport fishery will be closed from May 1 through June 19. The late-run fishery downstream of Skilak Lake will be closed from June 20 through Aug. 15, including catch-and-release.
“ADF&G staff understand the frustrations and tremendous impact closing this fishery has on anglers, local businesses, and guides. However, there is every indication that the 2026 king salmon returns will not have a harvestable surplus,” Area Management biologist Samantha Oslund said in one of the press releases.
Commercial king salmon fisheries in the state are also expected to be affected by weak 2026 runs, with preseason forecasts showing many stocks below escapement goals, prompting conservative management across sectors. While specific 2026 commercial harvest limits for Cook Inlet kings have not yet been widely publicized.
