Kasilof River Personal Use Salmon Fishery

The feel

This is a beach fishery at the mouth of the glacial Kasilof River, about 180 highway miles south of Anchorage, where the river drains Tustumena Lake into Cook Inlet. Anglers dipnet and set gillnet for salmon right at the river mouth, and boats can dipnet too.

You drive on the beach above the high tide mark and below the dunes, the road to the south shore is unpaved dirt, and there are no trash or toilet services at the mouth. No public campgrounds are there either; the closest state campground is Crooked Creek State Recreation Area.

What to expect

Water and access

Glacial river mouth on Cook Inlet. North shore: Kasilof Beach Road off the south end of Kalifornsky Beach Road, and do not drive through the private property signs at the cannery. South shore: North Cohoe Loop Road off the Sterling Highway, then the rough unpaved dirt road to the beach, with the mouth about 1/4 mile north along the beach.

Species and timing

Sockeye, coho (silver) and pink (humpy). Dipnet fishery June 25 through August 7, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gillnet fishery June 15 through June 24. Peak dipnet harvest is July 11 to 21; peak set gillnet harvest is sockeye June 17 to 23 and king June 16 to 20.

Methods and gear

Dipnet and set gillnet. Boat dipnetting follows the same season, hours and permit rules as shore dipnetting.

License and rules

A permit is required and salmon must be marked. King salmon may not be kept in the dipnet fishery. Open fires are allowed only during low fire danger, only on the beach below the high tide line, and never within 25 feet of vegetation.

Parking

North shore, park off the driving surface within the road right-of-way and not on the sand dunes.

Hazards

Four-wheel drive is recommended on the north shore because the sand off the driving surface is soft, and it is necessary on the south shore. Do not drive anything you cannot get unstuck, such as a motorhome, down the beach; it is very expensive to get towed. The fishery is managed by emergency order and can close at any time.

Bathrooms and water

No toilets and no trash service at the mouth. Pack out all trash.

Season and access

Gillnet June 15 through June 24, dipnet June 25 through August 7. No public boat launch is near the mouth; the nearest public launch is just upstream of the Sterling Highway bridge.

Mingo says

Plan your dip around the peak harvest window. Check the recorded ADF&G phone message before you drive out, because an emergency order can close the fishery at any time. Take a four-wheel-drive vehicle, since the sand is soft.

Before you go

• Carry your permit and mark each salmon you keep.
• Leave the motorhome home; towing off the beach is very expensive.
• Bring a trash bag, since there is no trash service at the mouth.
• Plan fires for the beach below the high tide line and at least 25 feet from vegetation.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.