The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the Ninilchik River will open to the harvest of hatchery-reared king salmon beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 18, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2016.

King salmon are stocked in the Ninilchik River each year by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This provides sport fish anglers additional opportunity to harvest king salmon while reducing the potential for over harvest of naturally-produced king salmon.

The department conducted a survey on June 14 and found approximately 60 percent of king salmon in the river from its mouth upstream two miles were hatchery-reared king salmon, while 40 percent were wild king salmon.

Hatchery-reared king salmon can be recognized by a missing adipose fin and healed fin clip scar. The adipose fin is a small, fleshy fin located just in front of the tail.

For the full announcement, visit

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.NR&Year=2016&NRID=2266