Kenai Alaska Resort & Fishing Guide

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On Saturday, March 22nd, the 31st Annual Winter King Salmon Tournament was held in Homer, Alaska.

The weather wasn’t too bad this year. Temperatures were in the high 30’s with light southerly winds.  

The lucky first place angler caught a 30.66lb king salmon worth $30,185.15 (with side bets the payout will double). A decent pay day for seven hours of fishing.

This has become an incredibly popular event in Alaska and the statistics reflect that. The following is the past seven years participation numbers and the winning weight of the top fish.

  • 2025    375 teams
                 1242 anglers
                 30.66lbs top fish
  • 2024    301 teams
                 1056 anglers
                 25.96lbs top fish 
  • 2023     273 teams
                  814 anglers
                  26.12lbs top fish
  • 2022     408 teams
                  1366 anglers
                  27.38lbs top fish
  • 2021     453 teams
                  1541 anglers
                  25.62lbs top fish
  • 2020    COVID cancellation
  • 2019     426 teams
                  1385 anglers
                  26.70lbs top fish
  • 2018     379 teams
                  1253 anglers
                  24.60lbs top fish

I bet regular readers of the blog are confused that a king salmon tournament can be held when there are so many king salmon fisheries closed throughout the state. 

Here’s the reason/rationale.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game conducted a genetic sampling study of king salmon in Kachemak Bay (Cook Inlet) from 2014 to 2017. They found most king salmon are ‘feeder king salmon’ that are Northwest origin and not Alaskan origin. A whopping 74% of the fish sampled came from British Columbia. A mere 4% came from Alaska while the balance was a mix from California, Oregon, and Washington. They feel the impact on native stock would be neglible.

Hmmmm. I know it’s the best “science” available, but it still makes me wonder about the findings of the study.

a fish box with feeder kings

My long time friend and mentor Jeff King said…“this (study) doesn’t pass the smell test. If Kachemak Bay (Cook Inlet) is so fertile with baitfish, why would Alaska salmon swim right by and feed somewhere elsewhere?”

He makes a good point.  

Anyway, congratulations to the Homer Chamber of Commerce for putting on the event and to all the brave souls who spent a winter day fishing on the ocean.