Kenai River coho limit stays at two fish through Nov. 30

Kenai River anglers will not get the extra coho salmon the regulation book promises them on Sept. 1. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Thursday, in Emergency Order 2-SS-1-49-26, that the bag and possession limit for coho 16 inches or longer stays at two fish, effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, across the Kenai River drainage. ADF&G calls it a precautionary reduction, intended to help ensure adequate escapement and long-term sustainability.

Under the Kenai River Coho Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 57.170), the limit rises from two fish in July and August to three from September through November unless an emergency order says otherwise. This action holds the summer limit in place for the rest of the fall season, peak silver fishing for guides and shore anglers alike.

ADF&G attributes the decision to continued indications of below-average coho abundance in Cook Inlet, citing limited escapement monitoring and uncertainty about the 2026 return, weak recent catch rates, and major Northern Cook Inlet systems running weak even as smaller ones such as Jim Creek, Ship Creek, Fish Creek and the Anchor River run stronger. The 2025 Upper Cook Inlet commercial coho harvest was estimated at 112,965 fish, 31% below the recent 20-year average of 163,760. This account comes from the department's advisory announcement, which contains no outside assessment of the run.

The fishing itself stays open. Coho may be taken from the river mouth to Bing's Landing through Nov. 30, and from Bing's Landing to the outlet of Kenai Lake through Oct. 31. Russian River coho fishing ends Sept. 30. Kenai River king fishing is closed for the 2026 season by separate emergency order.

The reduction follows a summer of inlet-wide coho constraints: NOAA Fisheries closed the Cook Inlet federal salmon fishery in early August over the coho catch cap, and ADF&G shut Northern District set gillnetting on Aug. 17 to push more coho into Northern Cook Inlet streams. In 2024, the department cut Kenai coho to one fish, banned bait and restricted gear to one unbaited single-hook artificial lure over part of the river.

Questions go to the Soldotna office at (907) 260-9368; Cook Inlet Management Coordinator Patrick Fowler is the listed contact.