Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 13, 2018

Coho Salmon

Good numbers of coho are returning to the Situk and Lost River systems. Over 5,000 coho were counted in the Situk earlier this week and over 2,000 were counted in Tawah Creek, and these counts exceed the lower end of the escapement goal range for both systems. Persistent sunny and warm weather continues to challenge anglers though, with fish becoming very spooky and non-agressive during the day. Early morning and late afternoon will likely provide the best opportunity in addition to incoming tides.  

Coho continue to be caught off the Ankau bridge, though catch rates are variable. Anglers are reminded that the bag limit for coho in the Ankau Lagoon is 2 fish per day, 2 in possession.

Coho fishing remains good in Yakutat Bay and inside protected waters. Both guided and unguided anglers are catching good numbers of fish and the favorable weather conditions have helped provide good opportunity in the saltwater.

Fishing continues to be good at remote fly-out systems like the Italio, Akwe and Tsiu rivers, but appears to have slowed down a little from last week. 

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon continue to return to the Situk River and Yakutat Bay, though the run is nearing it's conclusion. 

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.

Approximately 25,000 sockeye salmon have been counted though the Situk River weir this season and the run is now over. The Situk is managed for a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 30,000 to 70,000 sockeye salmon. The BEG has not been acheived this year so the Situk will remain closed to all sport fishing for sockeye to protect sockeye currently in the upper watershed.

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 by sport anglers in nearshore areas and out in Yakutat Bay.

The following regulations for king salmon fishing in saltwater are now in effect through May 3, 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 card.

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

With the favorable weather halibut, lingcod, and pelagic rockfish fishing continues to be good in Yakutat marine waters, with guided anglers often catching their limits and unguided anglers also doing well. 

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.

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.