Fishery surveys during the recreational fishery for late-run sockeye salmon in the Kenai River, 1995
By: by Mary A. King.
Contributors: Alaska. Division of Sport Fish.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 97-4.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Anchorage
Language: eng
Number of pages: 50
Subjects: Sockeye salmon -- Alaska -- Kenai River -- Statistics.; Fish populations -- Alaska -- Kenai River -- Measurement.; Fishery resources -- Alaska -- Kenai River -- Statistics.; Kenai River (Alaska)
Description: A creel survey was conducted from 1 July through 15 August 1995 on the Kenai River downstream of the Soldotna Bridge to estimate recreational angler effort, catch, harvest, and snag of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. The creel survey area was divided into two strata: upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge to the sockeye salmon sonar counters (Stratum A), and upstream of the sonar counters to the Soldotna Bridge (Stratum B). Recreational anglers exerted an estimated 56,302 (SE = 3,849) angler-hours to harvest an estimated 28,996 (SE = 2,222) sockeye salmon in Stratum A, and an estimated 59,929 (3,522) angler hours to harvest an estimated 13,283 (1,280) sockeye salmon in Stratum B. Most fish caught were retained; only 4% of the fish caught were released. The estimated number of fish snagged was 18,760 (SE = 1,957) in Stratum A and 7,994 (SE = 1,210) in Stratum B. The total inriver return (sonar estimate plus harvest estimate for Stratum A) was estimated as 672,726 sockeye salmon. A second survey (a fishery survey) was conducted downstream of the Soldotna Bridge to the Warren Ames Bridge from 1 July to 15 August 1995 to estimate angler demographics and success. Anglers participating in this fishery in the downriver section of the Kenai River were primarily residents of other areas: 55% U.S. (non-Alaskan), 23% Alaskan (non-Kenai Peninsula), 20% local (Kenai Peninsula), and 2% other (non-U.S. citizens). Most anglers started their fishing day between 1200 and 1539 hours. The most frequent length of an angler fishing day was 2 hours and 2.5 hours was the median for the length of an angler day. Sixty-two percent of interviewed anglers harvested no fish, 8% harvested one fish, 7% harvested two fish, and 24% harvested three fish. In 1995, a three-fish bag limit reduced harvest since 24% of interviewed anglers harvested three fish. A bag limit reduction to two or one would have reduced harvest by 26% or 58%, respectively. Angler success showed a positive relationship with the sonar counts. When daily fish passage exceeded a sonar count of approximately 20,000, angler success was highest; at daily counts below this level, angler success was lowest and any alteration of the bag limit would have had little effect on the harvest. A creel survey was conducted during each of two personal use dip net fisheries occurring on the Kenai River downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge to Cook Inlet. Estimates of harvest and HPUE were biased low.
Notes: "February 1997".

Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-34).

Also issued online.