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Alaska: Fish and Game closes king salmon fishing on Kenai River after poor season forecast

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anchorage -

Anglers hoping to fish for king salmon on the Kenai River may have to wait longer this year after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game last month issued an emergency order closing parts of the river to fishing beginning on May 1.

“We are going to watch the run real closely and continue to manage it conservatively to start the season. So we won't have a fishery to start, but we will be monitoring the run to see how it goes,” said Fish and Game biologist Robert Begich.

According to Begich, early low forecasts do not mean the whole season is lost, as officials hope to reopen the river to king salmon fishing in July.

"What we like to tell the public is that it's looking to be very similar to last year, perhaps better.”

Mat-Su anglers may have more luck catching King Salmon this season on the Little Susitna River. According to Fish and Game, the department will be allowing bait on the opening day for the first time since 2012.

"That will be a big change because that will allow success at the onset of the season, and if we get a decent run like we did last year, then we can increase harvest out there by 1500 fish or so,” said Fish and Game spokesperson Samuel Ivey.

Anglers on the Little Su will also be given an extra day to harvest salmon, Ivey says.

"On the Little Susitna River we will be adding another day of harvest opportunity. Where we have been restricting harvest to Saturday, Sundays and Mondays, we'll be adding Fridays to that,” Ivey said.

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