‘Be safe, catch fish, have fun’

For the first time since 2022, east side setnetters were lining Cook Inlet beaches on Tuesday and Wednesday to haul out their piece of a record-breaking sockeye salmon run.

The setnet fishery has been closed entirely for the last few years to protect declining king salmon returns. The east side setnet fishery targets sockeye salmon, which have been abundant in recent years, but also has historically caught some king salmon as well.

Kenai River late-run king salmon in 2023 were named a stock of management concern and an action plan approved by the state board of fisheries bars setnetters from fishing locally unless more than 14,250 large king salmon are projected in the run. If that number is projected, setnetters can operate only under limited hours and with limited gear.

An emerg