Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 07, 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. 

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 August 7th, approximately 25,000 sockeye salmon have been counted through the Situk River weir. Average run timing for sockeye salmon on the Situk River indicates that approximately 99% of the run should be in the river by this date. 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

Large numbers of pink salmon are returning to the Situk River. Fishing for pink salmon is open in the Situk and should provide good opportunity.

Coho Salmon

Coho catch rates have continued to increase and regularly being caught by freshwater anglers in the lower Situk River and saltwater anglers in the Bay. We are still at the early stages of the run, so fishing should improve in August as more fish return to the area.

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.

Dolly Varden and other Trout

This is an excellent time for marine and freshwater anglers to target trout species in the Yakutat area. Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Rainbow trout can be found in area streams and some nearshore areas. Freshwater anglers may find trout in areas also being used by spawning salmon.

Other Marine Fishing

Halibut and lingcod fishing continues to be good in the Yakutat Area. Good numbers of pelagic 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.

Shrimp

NEW - Anglers are now required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use, and subsistence shrimp harvest beginning Monday June 25, 2018. Print your own permit online at the ADF&G store or stop in at your local ADF&G office. This new permit requires anglers to report their harvest of shrimp and will allow ADF&G to collect more accurate shrimp harvest information from all noncommercial harvesters.

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.