Kenai guide faces mandatory court date after client keeps 2 extra sockeye on Kasilof

A Kenai sport fishing guide faces a mandatory court appearance after one of the guide's clients kept two sockeye salmon over the legal limit on the Kasilof River on July 4, Alaska Wildlife Troopers reported.

Troopers on a boat patrol contacted a registered sport fishing guide from Kenai, 44, at approximately 9:20 a.m. The guide had four clients fishing from shore. Investigation revealed the group caught a total of 24 sockeye salmon. One client, a 19-year-old from Idaho, caught and retained 8 sockeye. The legal limit is 6.

The client received a bailable citation for violating the season bag limit. The guide received a mandatory court citation for Guide Aiding Client in Violation.

The July 4 patrol on the Kasilof also produced other citations. A 44-year-old man was cited for failing to release a snagged sockeye salmon. Personal-use fishing patrols on the river resulted in citations for two women: a 49-year-old from Talkeetna, cited on July 3 for failing to record her catch on a personal-use permit, and a 71-year-old from Anchorage, cited on July 2 for the same violation. All citations were filed with the Kenai Courthouse.

All charges are accusations. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.