More citations issued to Cook Inlet fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/27/25 at approximately 1814 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Cook Inlet drift gillnet fishery. A fishing vessel operated by Ryan Hatt, 33, from Soldotna, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Location: Cook Inlet

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/14/25 at approximately 1048 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Cook Inlet drift gillnet fishery. A fishing vessel operated by Dimian Kalugin, 53, from Homer, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Two more Cook Inlet fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai

Type: Commercial fish closed area

On 7/21/25 at approximately 1142 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Kenai Beach. Bruce Manley, 73, from Kasilof, was contacted commercial dipnetting. Investigation revealed Manley was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court appearance was filed with Kenai courthouse.

Location: Kenai

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/19/25 at approximately 1442 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were conducting a patrol in Cook Inlet during a commercial fishing drift opener. Investigation revealed Perrin Dejax, 26, from Homer, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Three Cook Inlet drift gillnetters cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/19/25 at approximately 1451 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were conducting a patrol in Cook Inlet during a commercial fishing drift opener. Investigation revealed Rickey Jewell, 74, from Washington state, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Location: Kasilof

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/14/25 at approximately 1107 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were conducting a patrol in Cook Inlet during a commercial fishing drift opener. Investigation revealed Martin Hermansen, 58, from Anchorage, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Location: Kasilof

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/14/25 at approximately 1056 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers were conducting a patrol in Cook Inlet during a commercial fishing drift opener. Investigation revealed Alexander Ladutko, 63, from Anchorage, was fishing in a closed area. A mandatory court citation was filed with the Kenai courthouse.

Troopers cite several Cook Inlet fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Aaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Realist commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in an area that was closed to commercial fishing. The Realist was 3.3 miles outside of legal fishing waters. Further investigation revealed that the permit holder, Kyle Hock, 35, of Homer, falsely stated he caught fish in a legal statistical area. Hock was charged with infractions including commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Blue Back commercial fishing in a closed area. The Blue Back was 0.7 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Eric Ranguette, 47, of Soldotna, was issued a citation for commercial fishing during a closed period. On 8/28/24 Ranguette pled no contest in Homer District Court. Ranguette was fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended and ordered to pay $1,856 in restitution for the illegally caught fish.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Little Dolphin commercial fishing in a closed area. The Little Dolphin was 0.7 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Nikolai Yakunin, 69, of Homer, was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/10/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Skybird commercial fishing in an area closed to commercial fishing. The Skybird was 0.35 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Ulian Kuzmin, 28, of Homer, was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Cook Inlet EEZ firearm incident investigated

The U.S. Coast Guard reports the following to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is meeting this week in Anchorage.

The Coast Guard conducted coordinated surface and air patrols with NOAA OLE in the first opener of the Cook Inlet EEZ Salmon Fishery. The Coast Guard completed 17 at-sea boardings and 05 hours of C-130 patrol. Notably, the aircrew observed one instance of a firearm being pointed in the direction of a deployed net and vectored a cutter with embarked NOAA OLE agents to the vessel for investigation.

Nets, proceeds seized in Cook Inlet dipnet case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai

Type: Commercial dipnetting violation

On 7/18/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a complaint of commercial dipnetters using illegal gear on the North Kenai Beach. Due to low king salmon abundance, commercial set gillnet fishing has been closed in the Kenai, Kasilof and East Forelands sections of Upper Cook Inlet. Commercial set gillnet permit holders have been allowed to use dipnets to commercial fish at their setnet sites. AWT responded and contacted permit holders Ted Crookston, 67, and Alan Crookston, 44, both of Utah. Investigation determined they were fishing with gear that met the legal definition of a set gillnet and not a dipnet. AWT seized the nets and proceeds from the illegally caught fish. Charges are pending in Kenai District Court.

Troopers update Cook Inlet enforcement cases

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Early Dawn commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Abraham Porter, 45, of Kenai, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Porter pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cat II commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Joshua Black, 42, of Palmer, and issued him a citation for a second commercial fishing offense with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Black was given a default judgment at arraignment and a fine of $6,000.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Starshine commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Donald Bridges, 75, of Soldotna, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Bridges pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed area

On 7/18/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cordova commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District in a closed area. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Yakov Reutov, 53, of Sterling, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Kenai District Court. Reutov pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Two Cook Inlet driftnetters cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/8/23 at approximately 1916 hours Soldotna Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Silverton commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. AWT contacted the permit holder, George Savelieff, 33, of Oregon, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in the Homer District Court and a maximum fine of $3,000.

Location: Cook Inlet

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/8/23 at approximately 1924 hours Soldotna Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Harvest Moon commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. AWT contacted the permit holder, Jonathan Larson, 40, of Homer, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in the Homer District Court and a maximum fine of $3,000.

Troopers confiscate fish in Cook Inlet case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet
Type: Commercial fishing violation
On 8/06/20 at approximately 1322 hours, the F/V Recovery was observed by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Soldotna Post, actively commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in a closed area of the Cook Inlet waters. The captain and permit holder was identified as Avraamy Reutov, 30, of Homer. Reutov was escorted to a tender and his fish were confiscated. Charges are pending completion of the investigation.

Troopers cite Cook Inlet cod fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Groundfish area registration
On 1/24/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Yakov Reutov, 44, of Sterling, on the F/V Dynasty, for participating in the Cook Inlet commercial Pacific cod fishery without first registering for the fishery with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as required. Arraignment set for 2/10/15 in Seward District Court.

Troopers cite Cook Inlet drift gillnetter

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 10/29/13 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Feoktist A. Martushev, 58, of Homer, for fishing a drift gillnet on 7/6/13 in waters closed to commercial fishing. Arraignment set for 11/5/13 in Homer District Court.

Three Cook Inlet fishermen charged

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 10/10/13 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a summons to Ivan Lisov, 25, of Homer. Lisov was charged with fishing a drift gillnet on 7/6/13 in waters closed at the time to commercial fishing. He is to appear on 10/29/13 in Homer District Court.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 10/10/13 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a summons to Cristy J. Somers, 52, of Homer. Somers was charged with fishing a drift gillnet on 7/13/13 in waters closed at the time to commercial fishing. She is to appear on 10/29/13 in Homer District Court.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 10/12/13 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a summons to Jonah N. Yakunin, 23, of Nikolaevsk. Yakunin was charged with commercial fishing in closed waters from an incident which occurred on 7/6/13. He is to appear on 11/8/13 in Kenai District Court.

Two Cook Inlet drift gillnetters charged

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/2/13 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Andrew A. Umlauf, 37, of Clinton, Wash., with fishing a drift gillnet in waters closed at the time to commercial fishing. He was issued a summons to appear on 8/2/13 in Kenai District Court.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/13 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Frank D. Newton, 63, of Kenai, with fishing a drift gillnet on 6/30/13 in waters closed at the time to commercial fishing. He was issued a summons to appear on 8/2/13 in Kenai District Court.

Seward fisherman cited over skate bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Retention of prohibited species
On 6/7/13 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, issued a summons to Andrew David Mezirow, 49, of Seward, for retaining a prohibited species during a commercial groundfish fishery. Investigation revealed Mezirow retained big skates during a groundfish fishery in Cook Inlet on 5/21/13, when Cook Inlet waters were closed to the retention of big skates as bycatch. Arraignment set for 7/23/13 in Seward District Court.

Note: Mezirow is a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Advisory Panel.

Cook Inlet gillnetter charged with illegal fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 11/16/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a summons to Samuel A. Kuznetsov, 24, of Homer, to appear on 1/8/13 in Homer District Court. Kuznetsov was charged with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet on 7/9/12.

Cook Inlet driftnetter receives court date

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 9/26/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Elijah Porter, 34, of Graham, Wash., with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/19/12 in Kenai District Court.

Two more Cook Inlet gillnetters charged

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 9/25/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Steven W. Beling, 45, of Seldovia, with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/23/12 in Homer District Court.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 9/25/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Paisy Reutov, 37, of Willow, with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/19/12 in Kenai District Court.

Troopers ticket another Cook Inlet drifter

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 9/21/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Rueben C. Demidoff, 52, of Sterling, with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/19/12 in Kenai District Court.

Two more Cook Inlet driftnetters charged

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged William M. Wade, 56, of Bow, Wash., with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/5/12 in Kenai District Court.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Tony E. Little, 37, of Eufaula, Okla., with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/12/12 in Kenai District Court.

Troopers charge yet another Cook Inlet drifter

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 9/8/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna charged Timothy T. Stage, 52, of Homer, with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet. He was issued a summons to appear on 10/2/12 in Homer District Court.