SOLDOTNA, Alaska -- The Board of Fisheries (BOF) recently adopted several regulation changes during the February meeting held in Anchorage. The new regulations will be in effect for the 2008 fishing season beginning April 15.

Kenai River changes:

• Vessels/Closed Areas
  • Kenai River personal use dip net fishery: fish may not be taken from a boat powered by a two-stroke motor, other than direct fuel injection (DFI).

  • Closed waters: waters from the outlet of Skilak Lake downstream to an ADF&G marker located at the upstream edge of the Upper Killey River are closed to all fishing from May 2 through June 10.

  • A King salmon sanctuary closures: Slikok Creek, Funny River and Lower Killey River king salmon sanctuary areas are closed to fishing for king salmon from January 1 through July 31. In addition, the area of the Lower Killey River king salmon sanctuary closure was increased and now extends upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 1 mile upstream of the Lower Killey River.

  • Fishing from an anchored vessel is prohibited from August 1 through December 31 from the outlet of Skilak Lake downstream to an ADF&G marker located at approximately river mile 47.0.

  • From the outlet of Kenai Lake downstream to approximately river mile 80.7 at the head of Princess Rapids; a person may not sport fish from a boat if a motor has been used to propel that boat within those waters.

• King Salmon
  • King salmon less than 28 inches in length taken from January 1 through June 30 are not included in the annual limit of 2 king salmon for the Kenai River.

  • Slot limit: Early-run king salmon must be less than 46 inches in length or 55 inches or longer in length.

• Coho Salmon
  • Bag limit: from July 1 - August 31, the daily limit for coho salmon 16 inches or longer is 2 per day/2 in possession. From September 1 through the end of the season, the daily limit of coho salmon 16 inches or longer is 3 per day/3 in possession. Russian River coho limits remain at 1 per day/ 1 in possession.

  • Open Season: in waters downstream of Skilak Lake coho salmon may be taken from July 1 - November 30.

Kasilof River changes:

• King salmon
  • From January 1 through June 30, naturally-produced/wild king salmon may be retained on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only.

  • From January 1 through June 30 the bag limit for hatchery king salmon 20 inches or longer is 2 per day/2 in possession.

  • From the Sterling Highway Bridge upstream to Tustumena Lake; fishing from a boat is prohibited from August 1 through August 15.

Lake Fishing changes:

• Resident Species
  • Arctic char/Dolly Varden: in Cooper Lake the limit is 5 per day/5 in possession, only one per day may be 20 inches or longer.

  • Lake Trout: in Hidden Lake the limit is 1 per day/1 in possession regardless of size.