In a press release this morning, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that because of a strong number of king salmon returning to the Anchor River, it is lifting restrictions previously placed on king salmon fishing in the Anchor River and nearby marine waters.

The Anchor River will open for a weekend fishery from 12:01 a.m., Saturday, June 13, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 15, and on Wednesday, June 17, from 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. Beginning July 1, all saltwaters morth of Bluff Point (59° 40.00′ N. lat.) to the Ninilchik River mouth will open to sport fishing.

ADF&G said in its release that “the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) for Anchor River king salmon is 3,800–10,000 fish. Through June 10, cumulative king salmon escapement was 4,074 fish. Historically approximately 45 percent of the run has passed upstream of the weir by this date projecting an escapement of approximately 9,000 king salmon. There are indications that 2015 run timing may be earlier than average. After considering a potential harvest of 250 king salmon resulting from this action, even the most conservative projections using the earliest run timing indicate the spawning escapement will be well within the SEG.”

The area open to king salmon fishing on the Anchor River remains downstream of the Old Sterling Highway Bridge. Sport fishing gear is limited to one, unbaited single-hook artificial lure. The combined annual limit of two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length for fish harvested in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River and all marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River (60° 03.99′ N. lat.) to the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00′ N. lat.) remains in effect through July 15.