Alaska - New Emergency Orders out for Chinook Protection

It's actually more liberal than last year.  Two kings above bluff point per year April 1-July 15.  Just means I won't be keeping any dinker kings off Whiskey Gulch. I have my parents proxy so 4 kings during the spring should be plenty. 

So unless things change, it does open up the possibility of including kings in the upcoming NWKA AK derby at the end of May.

I might be trying to learn how to better access the bluff area off of homer since down there, its two fish per day 5 per year from April 1 to Sept 30. 

As a first mention, the Board of Fisheries Lower Cook Inlet cycle is next year.  Proposals are due  April of 2016.  We need to band together and push for more non-motorized acess.  It seems like a long ways off but it wont be. 

So here's the new Emergency Orders:
2015 KING SALMON SPORT FISHING RESTRICTIONS FOR LOWER COOK INLET STREAMS AND MARINE WATERS
Anglers are advised that in an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect from Wednesday, April 1 through Wednesday, July 15, 2015:

•   The Anchor River drainage is closed to sport fishing on the first and fifth opening weekend and the five Wednesday openings in May and June. These dates correspond to May 16-18 (first opening weekend); June 13-15 (fifth opening weekend); and Wednesday openings of May 20, 27 and June 3, 10, 17.

•   The Anchor River drainage is closed to sport fishing upstream of the Old Sterling Highway Bridge located approximately 550 feet below the junction of the North and South Forks during the Memorial Day opening weekend and the following two weekends. These dates correspond to May 23-25 (Memorial Day opening weekend) and May 30-31; June 1 and June 6-8.   

•   Anglers may only use one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure on the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River during the three weekend openings in May and June.

•   From April 1-July 15, the combined annual limit is 2 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 to the latitude of Bluff Point.

•   From July 1-15, the saltwater area surrounding the Anchor River mouth will be closed to sport fishing for king salmon from the Anchor Point Light (59° 46.14' N. lat.) to the regulatory marker located 2 miles north of the Anchor River (59° 48.92' N. lat.) and regulations associated with the Special Harvest Areas will remain in effect from approximately one mile south of Stariski Creek at latitude 59° 52.98' N. south to Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.).  This extends the current closure by 2 weeks.

I wonder how many times they'll change that this year

A few I'm sure. I don't care so much for the in river kings. U don't plan to target them. I'd prefer they didn't mess with the feeder kings but as long as they leave access to halibut I'm ok.

I think if they shut the kings down we should do a float down the Kenai for trout ! 

I'm looking forward to some lower river floats in July, for trout and dollies while being able to pick up a quick limit of reds before pulling out.  I've been kicking around floating the Kasilof also just not sure if I want to do salmon early in the year or wait for fall and fish for the bows while just enjoying time on the water.