Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

June 13, 2024

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Freshwaters in Resurrection Bay are closed to salmon fishing at this time.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

• Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. Sea-run Dolly Varden are following the sockeye salmon into the rivers. Fishing has picked up and fishing has been fair.
• Dolly Varden can be caught in the streams and off the beach by fishing small spinners and spoons or fly fishing with smolt pattern.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Anglers have been returning with some larger halibut mixed in with their catch. Fishing a large herring on a circle hook while chumming has been the best method for halibut.
• Small halibut are occasionally being caught inside Resurrection Bay by fishing jigs tipped with herring.

Lingcod

• Lingcod season is closed until July 1.

Rockfish

• Black rockfish are being caught in good numbers near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
• Anglers have reported decent catches of rockfish in Resurrection Bay, but fishing improves the further you go out from Seward.

Other Finfish

• Pacific (gray) cod and pollock have been plentiful this year and fishing has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing with jigs or a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, off Lowell Point, or the mouths of Lowell (waterfall) or Tonsina creeks.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been fair inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing closer to town near Lowell Point, the Sea Life Center, and the Seward beach front as these hatchery fish are destined for the Seward Lagoon.
• Anglers have reported catching a few king salmon at the mouth of the Seward Lagoon outfall.
• The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream youth-only fishery for king salmon will begin on June 17 and end on June 30. This fishery is open to anglers 15 years of age or younger. See page 73 of 2024 Southcentral Regulation Booklet. Fishing is expected to be slow for the start of the youth-only fishery, but improve as more fish move into the lagoon.
• Sockeye salmon are being caught daily at the mouth of Resurrection River. Fishing continues to be highly variable at both the saltwater off the mouth of Resurrection River and from shore at Spring Creek. At times, sockeye fishing has been very good, but cost recovery efforts are underway and may impact the fishing from day to day.

Local Lakes

• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout last month and fishing has been fair as fish have been picked out over the last weeks. Try casting small spinners or fishing bait under a bobber.
• Fishing at Troop Lake rainbow trout and Arctic char has been good. For those willing to make the easy 1-mile hike, try casting spinners or spoons from where the trail meets the lake.

Special species information

• New in regulation as of 2024: the rockfish bag and possession limits in North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• There are currently no emergency orders for the North Gulf Coast management area.

Don't forget to purchase your 2024 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.