The summer of 2025 produced the largest return of sockeye salmon to the Kenai River since modern sonar counting began in 1987. By August 19, a staggering 4,252,497 sockeye had passed the Alaska Department of Fish & Game sonar station at river mile 19.

The surge began on July 16 with a daily count of 107,787 fish—and from that point forward the Kenai saw over 100,000 sockeye a day for 21 consecutive days. On three of those days the counts topped 200,000 fish, peaking at an incredible 247,250 on July 27.