Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

June 21, 2019

Juneau Area Regulations

King Salmon (caught outside the THA)

Beginning June 15, king salmon may be kept in the marine waters near Juneau (except Seymour Canal) in the waters of the northern portion of District 9, District 10, Sections 11-A, 11-B and 11-C, District 12, southeast portion of Section 13-C, Sections 14-B and 14-C, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock.

June 15 - December 31:

Alaska resident:

• The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From June 15 through June 30, the annual limit is three king salmon;
• From July 1 through December 31 the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested between January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Seymour Canal, Section 11-D: (The marine waters adjacent to King Salmon River including the waters of Seymour Canal north of 57° 37' N. latitude)

July 1 - December 31:

Alaska resident:

• The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresidents:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The annual limit is one king salmon.

Southeast Alaska Regional King Salmon Regulations for the Outer Coast:

Regional king salmon regulations announced April 1, 2019, remain in effect along the outer coast in areas where restrictions on king salmon harvest were not implemented during the spring of 2019.

Alaska resident:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From June 15 through June 30, the annual limit is three king salmon;
• From July 1 through December 31, the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested between January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Please note that additional restrictions are implemented in the marine waters north of Juneau and the marine waters south of Juneau. Please see the News Release issued for Haines for further restrictions to District 15. Also, please see the News Release issued for the Petersburg area for further restrictions in Districts 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Hatchery King Salmon (caught within the THA in saltwater)

Beginning June 15, hatchery king salmon may be kept in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest Area (THA) near Juneau. These hatchery king salmon regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019. These new regulations are as follows:

• The daily bag and possession limit is 2 king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

Anglers should note that the bag, possession and size limits for king salmon in the salt waters outside of the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (THA) are more restrictive, and that regulations prohibit anglers from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers who catch king salmon within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area may not continue to fish outside of that area if they possess king salmon that do not comply with the regional king salmon bag, possession and size limits.

Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond King Salmon

From June 1- August 31, anglers are reminded that the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon in the freshwaters of Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond is 4 fish, any size and any king salmon harvested by non-residents do not count toward their annual limit. Please note that within Fish Creek Pond, anglers may use bait, may snag and may use weighted hooks, lures, and treble hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank. However, anglers may NOT use bait, or snag, or use the aforementioned large treble hooks in Fish Creek itself. The marine waters at the mouth of Fish Creek fall under the THA regulations above, and snagging is allowed only in salt waters.

For additional information, or questions, please contact the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Juneau at (907) 465-4270

Marine Boat Fishing Reports

Salmon: Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Coho and King

 With the opening of king salmon fishing around Juneau this past weekend, marine boat anglers turned out in droves to try their luck. Creel samplers sampled about 80 king salmon during the weekend, with good catches of mostly hatchery fish in Auke Bay, Breadline, Gastineau Channel, Backside of Douglas, Shelter Island, and Pt. Retreat. While attempting to catch the big one, a few sockeye were also encountered, north of Auke Bay. A few pink salmon were also caught near Horse and Colt islands. Further west, a few king salmon were reported in fair numbers from Idaho Inlet, Cape Cross and Port Althorp, although fishing was a bit better two weeks ago. Silvers and a few chum salmon are reported being caught from boats fishing out of Gustavus and Elfin Cove, mostly west of Elfin Cove.

Bottomfish: Halibut, Sablefish, Lingcod & Rockfish

Halibut catches in the Juneau area were good last week with a decent number harvested from a variety of areas including N. Shelter and off Lincoln Islands, around Benjamin, Lynn Sisters, Couverden Island, and Homeshore towards Gustavus. To the west, Pleasant Island and Pt. Adolphus, Graves Rock, Cape Spencer, and Cross Sound have produced the best catches. A few halibut have been reported caught in the last 2 weeks, mostly from Cross Sound and Deer Harbor. Rockfish catches consisted mostly of Duskies, Widows, Black Rockfish, Silvergreys, Redstripes, Tigers, Rougheyes, Redbanded, Quillbacks, Coppers, Yelloweyes and Shortrakers. A few Lingcod have also been reported from Cape Spencer, Cross Sound and Deer Harbor. Creel samplers from the Department continue to sample marine boat anglers at Juneau, Gustavus and Elfin Cove. Please assist them in collecting harvest data, your participation is vital to the Department, allowing continued sustainable management. As always, a big thank you to all anglers who allow our samplers to check their fish and record this valuable catch, harvest, effort and biological information. We are all in this together!

Other June Fishing Opportunities

Dolly Varden/cutthroat trout fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout have begun to move into saltwater near the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek. Dollies returning to feedin freshwater are also beginning to arrive in freshwaters ahead of returning salmon. Fishermen in the Channel are also catching Dollies. Using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners and spoons is the best way to catch these fish. There will also be some fish that do not leave their “over wintering” freshwater streams and lakes. Known as “residents”, these fish stay in their home lake, pond, or stream the entire year. While these fish may move around in the system to take advantage of food or environmental conditions, they will be present for your fishing pleasure all year.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as saltwaters adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should be sure to check the 2019 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake where they intend to fish. Several areas are closed to fishing and most in most areas only unbaited, artificial lures and flies may be used year-round, except for Fish Creek pond, Twin Lakes, and Salmon Creek Reservoir.

Windfall Lake Sockeye Fishing

Sport fishing below Windfall Lake is allowed during the month of June on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Anglers are allowed to fish from the outlet of Windfall lake to that section of the Herbert River within 100 yards of it’s confluence with Herbert River. Only unbaited, artificial lures may be used. During these two days of the week, the sockeye salmon limit is 1 fish per day, 1 in possession, 16 inches or greater in length. A hot tip: go very early in the morning.

When fishing Windfall Lake and all inlet streams for trout and dollies, only unbaited, artificial lures or flies may be used year-round, and the use of bait is prohibited. Sockeye salmon retention is prohibited in Windfall Lake and it’s tributary inlet streams. All sockeye caught must be released immediately.