2022 Kenai Harvest Reports

[tvfinak]

I decided to check last years dip netting harvest in the Kenai and was surprised that the results aren't even posted yet. I would have guessed with the one-line reporting the results could have been tallied up pretty quickly. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralKenaiSalmon.harvest

 

[Chez]

I decided to check last years dip netting harvest in the Kenai and was surprised that the results aren't even posted yet. I would have guessed with the one-line reporting the results could have been tallied up pretty quickly. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralKenaiSalmon.harvest

They should have been tallied the day after the deadline

 

[tvfinak]

They should have been tallied the day after the deadline

With all reporting into a data base, it certainly shouldn't take long - certainly not 7+ months!

And since they are doing everything by computer, I'd like to see the info collected expanded to see the no. of fish caught from boats, days fished per fish etc.

 

[gunner]

On 12/6/22 adfg released an announcement that 2022 Kenai river sockeye escapements would not be finalized until inriver harvest is available in the FALL OF 2023!

 

[tvfinak]

WOW! I wonder what the politics behind that decision are?

 

[tvfinak]

just found this one - don't know when it was posted. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralKenaiSalmon.harvest.

Looks like the Kasilof had a great year, the Kenai was reasonable. Probably a lot of those that would have fished the Keani went on down to the Kasilof.

 

[smithtb]

just found this one - don't know when it was posted. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralKenaiSalmon.harvest.

Looks like the Kasilof had a great year, the Kenai was reasonable. Probably a lot of those that would have fished the Keani went on down to the Kasilof.

Dipping on the Kenai last year was great for me. First boat I talked to about noon on opening day had 50 fish. I didn't fish opening day but there were a lot of days with similar success.

One thing I noticed about the Kenai PU fishery in looking at this data:

From 2013 to 2017, the 5 year average PU harvest was 332,137. Average Kenai Sockeye escapement over those 5 years was 1,456,857

From 2018 to 2022, the 5 year average PU harvest was 272,575. Average Kenai Sockeye escapement over those 5 years was 1,721,791

Paired restrictions were implemented in 2018, which have severely restricted setnet opportunity from 2018-current.

2022 saw extremely limited drift and setnet opportunity. Commercial Sockeye harvest was 43% less than the 10 year average - per ADFG season summary. Kenai Sockeye escapement was very solid, yet PU harvest was lower than the 10 year average.

An honest look at the data would indicate that PU fishing is more about participation, timing, and abundance than it is setnet fishing.

 

[tvfinak]

Dipping on the Kenai last year was great for me. First boat I talked to about noon on opening day had 50 fish. I didn't fish opening day but there were a lot of days with similar success.

One thing I noticed about the Kenai PU fishery in looking at this data:

From 2013 to 2017, the 5 year average PU harvest was 332,137. Average Kenai Sockeye escapement over those 5 years was 1,456,857

From 2018 to 2022, the 5 year average PU harvest was 272,575. Average Kenai Sockeye escapement over those 5 years was 1,721,791

Paired restrictions were implemented in 2018, which have severely restricted setnet opportunity from 2018-current.

2022 saw extremely limited drift and setnet opportunity. Commercial Sockeye harvest was 43% less than the 10 year average - per ADFG season summary. Kenai Sockeye escapement was very solid, yet PU harvest was lower than the 10 year average.

An honest look at the data would indicate that PU fishing is more about participation, timing, and abundance than it is setnet fishing.

The opening day this good - I was surprised, and should have had my net in the water. But catching seemed to taper off after that until towards the end.

There are certainly lot of variables involved - so many I think it is hard to make any real conclusions about anything.

COVID certainly played a factor - less people on the beach at least.

The large return in the Kasilof was a big factor this year - many went down there as the harvest reports show.

Weather and tide timing on weekends etc. all play a big part. Enen when the weekend fall toward the end of the month is a factor since the last of the month is often the most productive.

And luck is always a big player, and hard to factor in or out.

I do wish F&G would gather more data on harvest tickets since it is all done by computer now and data anaylsis is much easier. Boat and shore harvests seperately would be a good start. They do have some data on effort but I haven't seen it published and don't know good it is.

Without real data, we all tend to jump to conclusions, and place blame in the wrong places. Knowing just how much of an effect - if any - the set netters have on the PU would benefit all of us.