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THINK ABOUT IT
By: Greg
Brush
It seems 2003 is shaping up to be a landmark
year for Kenai River king salmon conservation. New
regulations mandating the release of the river's
largest kings, those measuring 44 to 55 inches,
have certainly been received with mixed opinions.
The taking of an occasional 'average' sized fish
for the table is allowed, as is a potential world
record, appeasing nearly every angler except those
who simply want to complain for the sole sake of
it. Overall, however, the angling public has been
acceptingly compliant with the new rules since the
start of the current king season.
By the third week in May, a number of credible
reports about giant salmon… caught and
released… began to surface from the
piscatorial grapevine, with a 53-inch monster
taking top honors. According to ADFG biologist Tim
McKinley, the slot limit has resulted in a net
harvest reduction of 24% from that which would have
occurred without the new rules. Said another way,
the biggest 24% of the kings that would have
otherwise been retained are now free to seed the
river gravel with more of their kind. That should
be sweet music to the ears of any die-hard king
salmon fisherman!
In the past few days, numerous reports of very
large, very bright Kenai kings have created quite a
stir among both local and visiting anglers. Chrome
bright hens and champagne-colored bucks with thick
muscular tails, midsections as girthy as a grown
man, and long-tailed sea lice clinging to their
flanks… these tide-fresh powerhouses are truly
fish to behold! No doubt, the front-runners of the
late king run have arrived en masse in this final
week of June. Many longtime Kenai king anglers were
thrilled to see fish in size and number reminiscent
of "the good old days."
For example, I've enjoyed a phenomenal "dream
week" of catching many of the 'hawgs' for which the
Kenai River is world-famous, including 47 inch, two
49 inch, 50 inch, two 51 inch and a 52" long fish.
This past Thursday, a monster 51" long x 35" girth
buck (a 14 year career best estimated at 84 lbs)
was landed by one of my luckier anglers. My point
is not to boast, but to illustrate the caliber of
salmon that are currently in our river system. Just
as thrilling is the fact that I was blessed this
week with a group of clients who fully understood
the value of preserving this unique genetic
treasure, and each of these magnificent kings were
successfully released unharmed without begrudging
hesitation or hint of regret. As a professional
guide, it was refreshing to witness how attitudes
are changing on the river.
In an effort to entice anglers to continue
releasing trophy-sized kings, Kenai River
Sportfishing Association's 'Release a Hawg' program
offers a $900 reward for releasing any king
measuring 48" or better, specifically good toward a
fiberglass replica of the fish. To qualify, you
must be fishing with a KRSA member or a licensed
guide who is registered to participate in the
program. An award-winning local taxidermist has
graciously agreed to create a fiberglass
reproduction of your trophy for the $900 reward
alone. You pay only the shipping costs. A true
'win-win' deal all the way around.
As the calendar rolls over to July 1, the
fishery opens to bait and unrestricted retention of
all sizes of king salmon downstream from the
Soldotna bridge. For every guide and angler lucky
and skilled enough to bring a trophy-sized king to
boat side, I challenge you to pause for a moment
before deciding to hoist it aboard. Reflect on the
unique genetic creation gleaming before your eyes.
Something deep inside will tell you undeniably that
this fish is special… too special to be
treated like just another slab of meat… too
special to kill for just another living room
adornment or 8x10 'hero-shot.'
These are the fish that define what the Kenai is
all about, and we are collectively responsible for
their ultimate fate, not just for ourselves but
also for generations to come. Even if the law
permits you to keep one of these prized kings
beginning on July 1st, ask yourself, "Do I really
need to kill this special fish for my table or my
wall? Couldn't I fill my freezer with soon-to-be
abundant sockeye salmon? Doesn't a reproduction
make more sense than a skin mount? Could its life
perhaps serve some higher purpose before it dies?"
Let your conscience be your guide.
There will be the occasional angler whose ego
momentarily overrules rational and logical
thinking, and a big fish or two will likely be
hefted over the gunnels of my very own boat as I
begrudgingly bow to the insistence of the customer.
However, rest assured that I will at least attempt
to politely educate and enlighten every guest on
every charter, encouraging them to experience the
awesome feeling as their 'fish-of-a-lifetime'
regains its vigor within their grasp and slips
silently into the Kenai's emerald current.
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