Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 25, 2018

Sockeye Salmon

The Situk River is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.

• Sockeye salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed in the Situk. Any sockeye caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. 
• Anglers are reminded to use terminal tackle and fishing techniques to specifically target dolly varden or pink salmon that may be mixed in with sockeye salmon.

So far this season we are seeing very poor returns of sockeye salmon to the Situk River. The Situk is managed for a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 30,000 to 70,000 sockeye salmon. As of July 17th, 18,264 sockeye salmon have been counted through the Situk River weir. Average run timing for sockeye salmon on the Situk River indicates that approximately 80% of the run should be in the river by July 25th. Given the low numbers of sockeye salmon returning to the Situk River the BEG is not expected to be achieved, and it is therefore necessary to close sport fishing for sockeye. ADF&G staff will continue to closely monitor sockeye salmon returns and take additional management actions as necessary.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon are showing up in good numbers in the lower Situk River. Fishing for pink salmon is open in the Situk and should provide good fishing opportunity.

King Salmon

The Situk River is closed to sport fishing for king salmon.

• King salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed in the Situk. Any king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Sport fishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat Area marine waters. King salmon fishing as been spotty at best, but kings are being caught regularly by sport anglers in inside waters along the islands and shorelines of Yakutat Bay.

The following regulations for king salmon fishing in saltwater are now in effect through May 3rd, 2019:

Residents:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Residents may use two rods when fishing for king salmon from October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Residents using two rods may only retain king salmon.

Nonresidents:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• From July 1 through December 31, 2018 the nonresident annual limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon harvested January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.
• 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.

Other Marine Fishing

Halibut and lingcod fishing continues to be good. Coho salmon are now also being caught in Yakutat Bay. Decent numbers of rockfish are also being caught.

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

• Alaska Residents: 1 non-pelagic rockfish per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents: 1 non-pelagic rockfish per day, 1 in possession, no size limit; annual limit of 1 yelloweye which must be recorded in ink on the back of the angler's sport fishing license or harvest record card immediately at the time of harvest.

August Closure: Retention of nonpelagic rockfish is prohibited in the Yakutat area from August 1 through August 31. 

• All anglers fishing from a vessel in saltwater during August, regardless of target species, must have a functional deep water release device on board and use it to release nonpelagic rockfish at depth.
• Deep water release devices are available at the local Yakutat ADF&G office.

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.

For further information, please contact the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist: Matt Catterson at (907) 784-3222.