Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

October 09, 2017

King Salmon

Sport fishing for king salmon has reopened in Southeast Alaska marine waters as of October 1, 2017. The following regulations are now in effect through March 31, 2018:

Residents:

• Bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Residents may use two rods when fishing for king salmon from October 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Residents using two rods may only retain king salmon.

Nonresidents:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresidents shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

Coho Salmon

With the onset of more inclement weather coho fishing has slowed in both marine and freshwaters of the Yaktuat area. Good opportunity to catch coho is still available when weather and stream flow conditions cooperate, the Lost River/Tawah Creek system in particular will continue to see fresh fish late into fall. Coho fishing on the Situk has slowed as we approach the tail end of that run, many fish have moved up with recent high flows.

Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Trout

Trout fishing throughout Yakutat area rivers is excellant now. Mature and colored up Dolly Varden can be found feeding in coho spawning areas of the Situk and other streams. Cutthroat are abundant throughout the Lost River and Tawah Creek systems, while the upper Situk offers good opportunity to catch Rainbows.

Marine Fishing

Halibut fishing remains productive, though effort has slowed considerably due to inclement weather. Rockfish and lingcod catches are still good when the weather allows, mixed bags of species are still being caught by anglers fishing nearshore areas.

Nonpelagic rockfish regulations for Southeast Alaska outside waters, including the Yakutat area:

• The nonpelagic rockfish bag and possession limit is one fish.
• Nonresident anglers have an annual limit of one yelloweye.
• All nonpelagic rockfish must be retained until the bag limit is reached.

There is no closed season for nonpelagic rockfish in the Southeast Alaska Inside waters. Anglers are encouraged to use a rockfish release device whenever releasing nonpelagic rockfish. Please see the “Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary” or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.

Regulation summaries and the most recent regulatory changes are available online and at the Yakutat ADF&G office, most local tackle and outdoor stores in Alaska.

For further information, please contact the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist: Matt Catterson at (907) 465-2810