Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

May 30, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• Dollies are around in the Buskin Lake and River and fishing has been productive in both.
• There are a few sockeye trickling into the Buskin with the weir count up over 70 fish now. Not many are holding in the river yet, and just a few have been caught so far.
• Litnik is getting a few sockeye with some fish schooling up in Afognak Bay.

Saltwater Fishing

• There are some dollies being caught from local beaches. Mission Beach, the mouth of the Buskin and Pillar Creek are annual favorites.
• King salmon fishing has picked up with quite a few kings being caught over Memorial Day weekend. Fish are being found at the Fingers/Buoy 4 area and between Woody and Long Islands.
• Halibut are still being picked up trolling but also being caught jigging around Buoy 4, Kalsin Reef and behind Long Island.
• Cod are being caught nearly everywhere, with Kalsin Reef and Kalsin Bay seeming to have a particularly high abundance, as well as trolling around Buoy 4 and the Fingers.
• Rockfish are also being found at most reefs and rock structures in Chiniak Bay. Black rockfish are found at nearly every rock and reef, but other species such as dark, dusky, yellow tail and widow rockfish can often be found by fishing just a little bit deeper and to the sides of the same rocks and reefs.
• Don’t forget that lingcod season doesn’t open until July 1! There are already lots of reports of anglers catching lingcod, so plan ahead to release them unharmed.

Local Lakes

The higher elevation lakes, such as Heitman, are just thawing out and can make for great fishing on sunny days. Heitman is a great hike on a well warn trail, some of the best fishing can be along the steep banks just at the end of the trail.

New Species Information

• New rockfish regulations will take effect June 1 for Kodiak and Afognak waters north of Dangerous and Outlet Capes. This includes all the waters of Afognak, Raspberry and Shuyak Islands as well as Chiniak, Ugak and Marmot Bays and all of Whale Pass and Kupreanof Straight. It is also in effect for all anglers, both resident and non-resident.
• Anglers fishing in these waters can keep 5 rockfish per day, but only 2 can be of a single species. This is similar to salmon bag limits in the Kodiak Road Zone. For example, an angler could harvest 2 black rockfish, 2 dusky rockfish and a yelloweye. Species ID guides are available in the Southwest Alaska Regulation Booklet, on the ADF&G website and in the Kodiak ADF&G office.
• The standard bag limit for non-pelagic and yelloweye is still in effect Island wide, only 2 of your rockfish bag limit may be non-pelagic species and only one of these may be a yelloweye.

Emergency Orders

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

• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-24 reduced the bag and possession limit for a single species of rockfish to 2 per day, 4 in possession north of Outlet Cape and Dangerous Cape. This emergency order is in effect from Saturday June 1, 2024 through 11:59 pm. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-16-24 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

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 ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.