Alaska Department of Fish and Game sponsored two youth-only king salmon fisheries this month for anglers aged 15 years and younger, providing an opportunity for kids to experience sportfishing in two prime locations on the peninsula.

The first fishery was held all day at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer on Saturday, June 3. The second took place a few days later, on Wednesday, June 7 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the lower Ninilchik River.

Turnout for both events was good, considering the slow start to the fishing season, according to ADF&G area management biologist Mike Booz.

“With our king salmon run being slow to start this year, we weren’t expecting much for fish and so I think the effort that we got was pretty good considering slow fishing,” he told Homer News in a June 8 interview. “We’ve had years where we’ve had fewer participants and years where we’ve had a lot more. It kind of depends on the fishing.”

ADF&G was present at both fisheries for a number of hours to provide loaner gear and assistance to participating kids. Booz noted that all of the fishing rods on loan, about a dozen, were checked out by participants during the time ADF&G was present at the Dudiak lagoon.

Participants in the Ninilchik fishery also had “really good success,” he said.

Most anglers in Ninilchik either hooked or landed some fish, with some kids catching their bag limit of two kings, Booz said.

“It was a good event for sure. There were good numbers of hatchery king salmon up there for the kids.”

Youth-only fishing days have been held at the Nick Dudiak lagoon since 2005, and on the Ninilchik River since 2017, according to Booz.

“The Dudiak lagoon is just a great place to fish in years like this when we don’t have many other king salmon around,” he said. “The Ninilchik River … is a really great opportunity for kids to learn how to stream-fish. It’s an ideal location for a novice river fisherman to try to catch a king salmon.

“We really like these youth fishing opportunities to give kids a chance to go sportfishing without having to compete with adults,” Booz said. “We participate in events to give kids that don’t have the gear or want to learn a little bit more an opportunity to get the gear and some intel from us.”

Zac and Emerson Stubbs display the king salmon caught during the one-day youth fishery on the Ninilchik River on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo by Mike Booz