1. (a) The goal of this management plan is to stabilize the sport harvest of king salmon in the mixed stock salt water sport fishery in the Upper Cook Inlet Summer Salt Water King Salmon Management Area.
2. (b) The Upper Cook Inlet Summer Salt Water King Salmon Management Area consists of all salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00' N. lat.
3. (c) From April 1 through August 31, within the waters described in (b) of this section, a person who is a sport fishing guide or sport fishing guide crewmember may not sport fish while a client is present or is within the guide's control or responsibility. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a sport fishing guide may provide assistance to a client with a disability in order to enable the client to engage in sport fishing. For the purposes of this subsection, "disability" has the meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 12102(2)(A) and (2)(C), as amended as of February 8, 1994.

4. (d) The following waters, within one mile of shore, are closed to sport fishing from a vessel and closed to the retention of king salmon when sport fishing from shore from April 1 through July 15:

   1. (1) in the salt waters approximately one mile north of the Ninilchik River at 60° 03.99' N. lat. to an ADF&G regulatory marker located two miles south of Deep Creek at 60° 00.68' N. lat.;
   2. (2) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located one mile north of Stariski Creek at 59° 54.37' N. lat. to the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located one mile south of Stariski Creek at 59° 52.98' N. lat.;
   3. (3) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located two miles north of the Anchor River at 59° 48.92' N. lat. to the latitude of the Anchor Point Light at 59° 46.14' N. lat.
5. (e) Within the waters described in (b) of this section, from April 1 through August 31, a person may not, after taking a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, fish for king salmon on that same day.
6. (f) A guideline harvest level of 8,000 king salmon 20 inches or greater in length may be taken from April 1 - August 31 from the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point.

7. (g) The following waters are closed to all sport fishing from April 1 to July 15:

   1. (1) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards north of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards south of the mouth of the Ninilchik River;
   2. (2) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards north of the mouth of Deep Creek to the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards south of the mouth of Deep Creek;
   3. (3) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards north of the mouth of Stariski Creek to the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards south of the mouth of Stariski Creek;
   4. (4) from the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards north of the mouth of the Anchor River to the latitude of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards south of the mouth of the Anchor River.
8. (h) If the Anchor River preseason forecast or inseason projection is less than the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal of 3,200 - 6,400 king salmon, the Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00' N. lat., within a mile of shore will be closed to the retention of king salmon from May 1 to July 15.
9. (i) If the Kenai River is closed as specified in 5 AAC 57.160, the Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00' N. lat., will be closed to the taking of king salmon from May 1 to July 15.
10. (j) If the Deshka River preseason forecast or inseason projection is less than the lower end of the sustainable escapement goal of 9,000 - 18,000 king salmon, the Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00' N. lat., within a mile of shore will be closed to the retention of king salmon from May 1 to July 15.

(Eff. 5/22/96, Register 138; am 6/13/99, Register 150; am 3/8/2002, Register 161; am 12/29/2002, Register 164; am 12/1/2004, Register 172; am 2/10/2005, Register 173; am 3/15/2008, Register 185; am 3/2/2011, Register 197 am 3/22/2014, Register 209; am 3/15/2017, Register 221; am 4/24/2020, Register 234; am 4/28/2024, Register 250; am 6/8/2024, Register 250)

Authority: AS 16.05.251