The Kenai Peninsula is one of the most unique places on earth. It is basically several mountain ranges that over thousands of years have deteriorated and created a Peninsula that is fairly flat on the Cook Inlet Side of the Peninsula and very Rugged on the Pacific Ocean side.
The Peninsula has a very diverse fishery and that is one of the main tourist attractions, along with the varied wildlife that is available.
The Fishery:
Salmon - The largest salmon in the world spawn each year on the Kenai Peninsula. Specifically the Kenai River. The King Salmon is aptly named. It is the largest of all salmon, and while it reaches large proportions wherever it swims on the Kenai it gets even bigger. For some reason the Kings on the Kenai do not come home every 4 years. Instead the second run of Kings on the Kenai River is out for 6 years old. Average size is about 10 pounds larger than the first run kings of mid June. The world record of 97 pounds 4 ounces came from the Kenai River. Daily Limit is one. Currently the limit is 5 yearly and only 2 from the Kenai River. (Includes the Cook Inlet fishery)
Sockeye Salmon - or Reds as the local call them are much more numerous than the Kings and are the most prized to Alaskans. Early run Reds swim directly to the Russian River at the confluence of the Kenai River. Fishing here during the run is full contact fishing. Often guys are so close that if a fish breaks off, you could get a set of weights coming at you. Fishing is close quarters and the basic etiquette is that when someone yells fish on, you give them room to get the fish in and then all go back to catching. Reds though are filter feeders. They will not bite on a hook. They simply open their mouths and things go in and the chomp down sometimes and other times you just feel a slight weight on the pole and you have to set the hook hard. Limit is 3 per day currently and that can change if the numbers of salmon going up the river reach those wanted by Alaska Fish and Wildlife.. at which time they may increase the limit to 6 fish.
Coho Salmon - also known as silver salmon. These are the real bruisers of the Peninsula. They are very aggressive, and will hit almost anything that gets in their way. Limit is 2 per day.
Pink Salmon - run only in even numbered years. No one is sure why there is no run of pinks in the odd years. These fish are the most numerous of the Salmon. Daily bag limit is 6. Fish are somewhat aggressive, and will readily hit small spinner baits.
Grayling - Largest in the state was just over 4 pounds. Mostly found in lakes in the Skilak Lake area and other areas of Alaska.
Rainbow Trout - Found in lakes and some streams.
Steelhead - Found in the Kenai and Kasilof and most rivers that flow into the Cook Inlet.
Dolly Varden - A type of char, it is found in the Kenai River drainage and in some of the streams of the Cook Inlet.
Pike - some are found in the lakes on the Peninsula, but they have almost always been brought in illegally.
Lake Trout - Found in many of the larger lakes on the Peninsula.
Fishing Regulations - Alaska has very detailed regulations. ALWAYS check the current regulations for your body of water. Some require different kinds of tackle, or even the use of single hooks only, or no live bait or bait with organic products on them.
Wildlife
Whales - There are an estimated 5000 whales that frequent the Cook Inlet according to Guides and Charters. The official count is 1800, but with that number of Whales in the Cook Inlet your odds of seeing one can be very good.
Moose - The Kenai is in the middle of a Moose Explosion. The numbers of Female moose is getting very high and traffic encounters are frequent. 171 Moose have been killed this year alone on the Kenai Highways.. and that is July 1, 2007 to June 25, 2008 this year. Come in mid June and you are likely to see plenty of Moose Cows and their calves.
Bears - Brown and Black bears are all over the Kenai. Black bears are the most numerous, but Brown bears swarm to the rivers during the runs of Red Salmon in June and July.
Wild Mountain Goats - the most common way of seeing these reclusive animals is on a Halibut fishing trip or a site seeing trip out of Homer or Seward. Many times the charters will fish close to land and bears, goats, sheep can be seen.
Sea Otters - Quite plentiful in the Homer area. Very cute and very social. Where you see one you should most likely see several. They love to stay in close around the Kelp Beds for protection from sharks and other predators.
Orcas - Yes they are whales, but they are killer whales. They can wreak havoc on a fishing trip, but make for great video. They will occasionally show up when you are reeling in a fish. The Likelihood of this is very slim. One picture and 2 videos on YouTube.com show Orca's taking fish that are hooked.
Affordable Alaska Vacations
Here are some great places to consider when you are looking for a sportfishing trip or even a site seeing trip on the Kenai.
Funny Moose Lodge - Old time fishing camp. Cabins with stoves, restroom, and beds. Nothing fancy simply a place to stay warm, cook, get cleaned up and to go fishing. Prices currently starting in the $900 range for a week, including 3 fishing trips. ( Could change at end of season)
Captain Lou's Ptarmigan Lodge - Same road as Funny Moose Lodge next store to Funny Moose Lodge. Slightly nicer digs, with full meal plan available and Vac Packing right at the lodge. You can also rent an efficiency room with stove and not get on the meal plan. Check website for pricing.
If you want to fish between the Redoubt and Iliamna Volcanoes you need to fish out of Deep Creek Alaska. This is one of the most scenic areas of Alaska if you love mountains. Redoubt and Illiamna are both over 10,000 feet high and the stark cuts and snow caps are breathtaking.
Seward, Soldotna, Hope, Coopers Landing, Homer, Kenai, Ninilchik and Sterling are the largest.
Panning for Gold - It would not be Alaska if you could not pan for Gold. The Hope River is a public area where many go to pan for gold. There are also deposits near the Russian River and other rivers in the area, and one commercial tourist operation in Coopers Landing. There they go and get the dirt for you and you pay to mine it. I figure you most likely make back part of your cost each time and there is the possibility of finding a full ounce nugget that pays you current rates if you sell it to a Jeweler or to an Alaska Gold buying firm.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
