Alaska ADFG Fish Counts
Kenai Peninsula runs at a glance
When each run is usually in (the weeks when the middle half of the run passes, and the busiest 7 days), averaged over the 10 seasons before 2026 (Ninilchik: since 2019), and how the 2026 season compared with that average.
| Run | Main run (middle half) | Busiest week | 2026 count | vs. average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai River sockeye | Jul 21–Aug 5 | Jul 23–Jul 29 | 1,111,781 | 56% |
| Kenai River king, early run | Jun 6–Jun 19 | Jun 9–Jun 15 | 1,499 | 42% |
| Kenai River king, late run | Jul 17–Aug 5 | Jul 28–Aug 3 | 9,803 | 70% |
| Russian River sockeye, early run | Jun 20–Jul 2 | Jun 20–Jun 26 | 47,093 | 91% |
| Russian River sockeye, late run | Jul 30–Aug 18 | Aug 4–Aug 10 | 56,206 | 67% |
| Kasilof River sockeye | Jul 6–Jul 27 | Jul 16–Jul 22 | 1,055,565 | 160% |
| Kasilof River king (Crooked Creek weir) | Jul 4–Jul 16 | Jul 4–Jul 10 | 563 | 68% |
| Anchor River king | Jun 11–Jul 9 | Jul 1–Jul 7 | 3,431 | 81% |
| Ninilchik River king | Jun 10–Jul 5 | Jun 7–Jun 13 | 840 | 83% |
Deep Creek kings have no daily count (an aerial survey only, since 2018). Kenai River silvers aren’t counted; the Russian River silver count (746 in 2026, usual peak Aug 27–Sep 2) is the nearest guide.
ADF&G preliminary counts as published by Alaska FishTopia, as of October 27, 2026. All Alaska fish counts on akfishtopia.com.
Daily counts for 50+ Alaska rivers, on your phone: the free Alaska FishTopia app.
7 Years Of Historical ADFG
Fish Counts
Real-time Daily ADFG Fish Counts Updates For All Your Favorite Rivers And Species Of Fish.
Track ADFG Fish Count Escapement Goals
Alaska FishTopia
Want to know more about fish counts on the Kenai River and throughout Alaska? Download the Alaska FishTopia Mobile App. All graphs and information presented on these pages are courtesy of Alaska FishTopia!
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Using ADFG Fish Counts is the best way to understand what’s happening in all the major fisheries around the state. It’s a pretty good bet that Alaska may have the most actively managed fisheries in the world. There is tremendous pressure put on these fisheries by a large number of diverse user groups. These user groups include commercial fishing, subsistence fishing, personal use fishing, and sport fishing to name a few. To make matters even more complex, these fish migrate through international waters which increases management complexity. The best methodology to understand the health of each population is to count the number of returning fish each year – this is what is known as fish counts. ADFG Fish Counts are provided by all the great work Alaska Department of Fish and Game does.
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game, including federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, operate weirs, towers, and different types of sonar units around the state to count returning salmon populations. As the salmon return each summer, the salmon are counted, literally as close to 1 by 1 as possible, and should projections not meet minimum numbers, or exceed should they be expected to significantly exceed maximum numbers, changes can be administered to restrict or sometimes even liberalize the fisheries.
Kenai River King Salmon ADFG Fish Counts
Kenai River King Salmon Available Fishing Dates: 5/15 – 7/31
Kenai River King Salmon Best Fishing Times Early-Run: June 1- June 16
Kenai River King Salmon Best Fishing Times Late-Run: July 11 – July 31
Kenai River Sockeye Salmon ADFG Fish Counts
Kenai River Sockeye Salmon Available Fishing Dates: 7/1 – 8/20
Kenai River Sockeye Salmon Best Fishing Times: 7/1- 8/20
Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon ADFG Fish Counts
Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Available Fishing Dates: 6/15 – 8/20
Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Best Fishing Times Early-Run: 6/20 – 8/15
Russian River Sockeye Salmon ADFG Fish Counts
Russian River Sockeye Salmon Available Fishing Dates: 6/11 – 8/30
Russian River Sockeye Salmon Best Fishing Times Early-Run: 6/11- 7/1
Russian River Sockeye Salmon Best Fishing Times Late-Run: 7/22- 8/11
*Note: The Russian River sockeye salmon are counted several miles above where you can sport-fish for them. Therefore, peak time are actually about 5-7 days BEFORE the actual counts.
All Kenai Peninsula ADFG Fish Counts
Want to know more details and deep dive about the fish counts on the Kenai Peninsula? Follow the links below to learn about the fish counts and when to fish all of the Kenai Peninsula’s major rivers and salmon species. Kenai River King Salmon (early run / late run), Kenai River Sockeye Run, Russian River Sockeye (early-late), Anchor River Chinook, Ninilchik River Chinook, Deep Creek Chinook