Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 North Binkley Street     Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone - (907) 262-4441 or (800) 478-4441   or on the web    www.borough.kenai.ak.us

 TOURISM Industry

 RECREATIONAL FISHING

The KPB provides a variety of recreational fishing opportunities. Salt water fishing ranges from halibut, cod or any of the five types of salmon, digging for razor or butter clams, or setting pots for crab or shrimp. Fresh water fishing includes the variety of salmon and trout in the numerous rivers and lakes in the area. Two major rivers on the Kenai Peninsula flow from the Harding Icefield and its glacial arms, the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, both the target of large numbers of Cook Inlet salmon returning to spawn. On the west side of Cook Inlet, three major rivers provide opportunities for salmon fishing; the Susitna, Crescent, and Fish Creek. Other rivers and lakes too numerous to mention add to the fisherman's allure.

Kenai River Registered Guides

The Kenai River is a beautiful river flowing from glacier fed Kenai Lake through rushing canyons, into and out of Skilak Lake, through Soldotna and on to Cook Inlet through the mouth of the river in the City of Kenai. The river is teeming with life, whether it be fish, waterfowl, plant life or even the occasional moose or caribou swimming across or the seal or beluga whale following salmon upstream. The river is the center of political controversy as each user group attempts to maintain or increase their share of the plentiful and renewable resource. 

Kenai River Registered Guides
  Resident Non resident Total % Resident
2006 332 105 439 76%
2005 323 84 407 79%
2004 317 67 384 83%
2003 297 78 374 79%
2002 291 92 383 76%
2001 287 87 374 77%
2000 296 84 380 78%
1999 295 73 368 80%
1998 292 68 360 81%
1997 306 94 400 77%
1996 287 88 375 77%
1995 260 97 357 73%
1994 224 80 304 74%
1993 196 67 263 75%
1992 194 181 275 71%
1991 214 10 315 68%
1990 234 96 330 71%
1989 212 100 312 68%
1988 191 77 268 71%
1987 188 44 232 81%
1986 148 5 198 75%
1985 131 40 171 77%

The number of registered Kenai River guides increased from 171 during 1985 to 400 during 1997, decreased slightly over succeeding years, but jumped to 407 during 2005. There were 23 more guides on the Kenai River during 2005 than 2004. Of the 407 guides permitted during 2005, there were 61 new guides while 41 who had been registered did not register for the 2005 season. Seventeen of the new guides are non-fishing guides.

Kenai River guides may also be registered in other areas: Deep Creek SRA, Kasilof SRA, Anchor River SRA, Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay, and Prince William Sound, but in each case, the number declined during 2005.
Each year, between 5% and 15% of Kenai River guide permits are for purposes other than fishing. During 2004, there were 32 permits, 8%, issued for non-fishing purposes, compared to 36 permits and 10% during 2003. 
Kenai River Registered Guides
  Total Motorized Drift % Motorized
2006 439 360 77 82%
2005 407 324 83 80%
2004 384 303 81 81%
2003 375 301 74 80%
2002 383 304 79 79%
2001 374 300 80 79%
2000 380 288 80 78%
1999 368 278 82 77%
1998 360 312 88 78%
1997 400 292 83 78%
1996 375 263 94 74%
1995 357 214 90 70%
1994 304 194 69 74%
1993 263 212 63 77%
1992 275 229 86 73%
1991 315 243 87 74%
1990 330 215 97 69%
1989 312 184 84 69%
1988 268 155 77 67%
1987 232 138 60 70%
1986 198 131 40 77%
Guides and Businesses Within the KPB
  KPB Permanent Resident Guides, Businesses
Businesses Guides Total
Anchor Point 15 24 39
Clam Gulch 5 2 7
Cooper Landing 10 26 36
Homer 85 39 124
Hope 2 3 5
Kasilof 18 9 27
Kenai 40 19 59
Nikiski 5 3 8
Ninilchik 38 15 53
Seldovia 7 2 9
Seward 50 25 75
Soldotna 156 54 210
Sterling 38 15 53
Tyonek 0 1 1
Total 469 237 706

The listing provides data regarding all sport fish charter businesses and guides licensed to provide sport fish charter services within the KPB communities listed based on the permanent address provided on the license application. The business owner may or may not be a guide. The guides that are listed are not business owners, but rather work for a licensed business. The guides may operate in fresh water or they may operate in salt water, or both. They also may guide within KPB waters, or elsewhere in the state. Guides and business operations who do not provide a permanent address in the listed KPB communities may still operate within KPB waters.

Overview               Participants             Earnings    
Sales        KPB      Homer      Kenai      Seldovia      Seward       Soldotna       Other KPB
 Visitors        KPB          Homer          Kenai           Seldovia          Seward          Soldotna 
     Alaska Marine Highway          Border Crossings       Traffic Counts         National Parks
 Recreational Fishing               North Peninsula Recreation Area  
Kenai Peninsula Borough Home Page           Economic Analysis Office Home Page          Economic Analysis Index