The International Halibut Commission has met and set the rules for charter sport fishermen for 2022. The new updated rules are as follows:
There will be no charter halibut fishing on Wednesdays.
There will be no charter halibut fishing on Tuesday, July 26 or on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Charter anglers will be limited to two halibut per day, one any size and one must be under 28”.
There will be no annual limit for charter halibut anglers.
The 2022 Kasilof River early-run king salmon sport fishery, beginning when the ice goes out until June 30, will be limited to the harvest of hatchery produced fish only and anglers may only use one single hook or single-hook artificial lure, baited or unbaited. The bag limit is two hatchery fish per day and in possession. All natural king salmon must be released immediately.
The late-run king salmon fishery, July 1 through July 31, allows for harvest of hatchery produced king salmon only and prohibits the retention of natural king salmon from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing in these waters. The bag limit during the second run is one per day and one in possession.
Anglers are urged to use caution when releasing a king salmon so as not to hurt the fish.
The 2022 Kenai River early-run king salmon season is from the time the river ice goes out through June 30. The preseason projection is for approximately 4,300 large (> 34 inches) king salmon. This projection falls within the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 3,900 to 6,600 large king salmon. Anglers may fish for and keep king salmon during this time frame but may only use unbaited single hook artificial lure and may not keep fish 34 inches in length or greater. All fish over this length must be released immediately.
Fishing for king salmon beginning July 1 through July 31, 2022, the late run, is limited to catch and release only at this time. The optimum escapement goal for the late run is 15,000 to 30,000 large king salmon. At this time, projections are that <16,000> fish will return. These restrictions are necessary to protect returning king salmon runs to increase fishing opportunities in the future. King salmon of any size may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately. Anglers are encouraged to use care when releasing a king salmon.
