Sport Fish Area Fishing Report
Juneau

Current Report

Current Sport Fish Area Fishing Report

July 29, 2014

King salmon

Marine boat anglers and shore-based anglers reported catching fewer adult king salmon and more feeder kings this past week compared to previous months.  Catches came from South Shelter, backside of Douglas Island, and False Pt. Retreat. Hatchery kings were also caught within the Terminal Harvest Area including Auke Bay, DIPAC, and Fish Creek pond. Anglers fishing outside of the designated Juneau Terminal Harvest Area are reminded that as of July 1, the resident bag and possession limit is 3 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, the non-resident bag and possession limit is 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. There is an annual limit of 6 king salmon for non-residents and a harvest record is required. For anglers fishing in the Auke Bay/Fritz Cove to upper Gastineau Channel Terminal Harvest Area, the following regulations apply through Sunday, August 31st:

The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;

• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated terminal harvest area and time period do not count toward the annual limit.
• King salmon sport fishing regulations for freshwaters crossed by the Juneau road system were also liberalized through August 31st to allow harvest of hatchery king salmon entering local streams near hatchery release sites. The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size. 
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated terminal harvest area and time period do not count toward their annual limit.

Regulations for Fish Creek Pond on Douglas Island are as follows:

• Use of bait is allowed;
• Use of weighted hooks and lures, and multiple (treble) hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank is allowed;
• Anglers may retain king salmon that are hooked elsewhere than in the mouth (snagged)

Anglers should note that these regulations do not apply in the freshwaters of Fish Creek proper (excluding Fish Creek Pond) and in intertidal waters within a 200 yard radius of the creek mouth. Snagging is not permitted in these areas. Attempting to snag or retain fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth is prohibited.

Chum, Sockeye, Coho and Pink Salmon

Anglers are reporting good catch rates throughout the Juneau area for coho, pink and chum salmon. Catches were reported from Outer Point, Georges Rock, Shelter Island (north and south), Barlow Cove, St. James Bay, Cordwood, Funter Bay, Pt. Louisa, backside of Douglas Island, and South Island. A few troll-caught sockeye salmon are also still being reported.

Resident and Non-Resident limits for chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon in salt water are:

• 16 inches or longer - 6 of each species daily, 12 of each species in possession

Halibut and Rockfish

Boat anglers again reported catching halibut last week throughout the Juneau area including Berners Bay, Lynn Sisters, Vanderbilt Reef, Hump Island, Portland and Aaron Islands, Pt. Retreat, Scull Island, Young Bay, Dupont/South Douglas, Couverden Rock, and Hanus Reef. Further from Juneau, halibut catches were reported from areas around Elfin Cove, and Gustavus. If halibut are filleted at sea, charter operators are reminded that they are to retain the carcass until landing, so that length information can be obtained.

In addition to halibut, several rockfish species were also caught. Quillback, Silvergrey, Dusky, Yelloweye, and Pacific Ocean Perch were the most commonly caught rockfish. Anglers are reminded that all non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. Please consult the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary Book to identify common pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish and for daily bag and possession limits.  Another good reference for identifying rockfish is the Guide of Northeast Pacific Rockfishes by Kramer and O'Connell, Alaska Sea Grant Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Marine boat anglers returning to area ports are reminded to not fillet, mutilate, or de-head sport caught lingcod, non-pelagic rockfish and king and coho salmon so that ADF&G creel survey technicians can get length measurements, sex information and for identification of tagged fish. Gilling and gutting is not prohibited, and anglers may fillet and de-head king and coho salmon, lingcod and non-pelagic rockfish once the vessel returns to port.

Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden and trout fishing in local freshwater streams is excellent right now as the salmon have begun to spawn and drop eggs.  A few fish can still be found in saltwater areas but more fish are now present in freshwater where they will actively feed on salmon eggs. Fishing should be good in Cowee, Peterson, Salmon, Sheep and Montana creeks. Anglers typically have success catching these fish using small spinners or smolt pattern flies. Egg patterns and flesh flies will become more effective as salmon begin to drop eggs while spawning and eventually die off in their natal stream.

The following bag and possession limits apply in freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system as well as saltwater areas within ¼ mile of shore:

• Dolly Varden: 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.
• Cutthroat and rainbow trout: 2 daily, 2 in possession, 14 inch minimum and 22 in maximum size limit.

Use of bait in Juneau area freshwaters is prohibited except for in Salmon Creek reservoir, and Twin Lakes.

The following streams are closed to sport fishing: Auke Creek below Glacier Highway, Auke Nu drainage, Duck Creek, Jordan Creek, Steep Creek, Switzer Creek, and Vanderbilt Creek.

Dolly Varden fishing is closed in Auke Lake drainages upstream of Glacier Highway and in Mendenhall Lake.

Anglers should check the 2014 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet available at local vendors, the ADF&G office, or online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastJuneau.main for closed areas and bag and possession limits for the various Juneau freshwater systems.

Current emergency orders and news releases for Southeast Alaska can be found here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1 

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