Naknek (Nakniq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik) is a census-designated place located in Bristol Bay Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 544.Naknek is located on the north bank of the Naknek River, close to where the river runs into the Kvichak Bay arm of the northeastern end of Bristol Bay. South Naknek is on the other side of the river. The local economy is almost entirely based on salmon fishing.