Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 29, 2019
An excellent resource for trip planning is the Yakutat Interactive Map which provides information on fishing locations, species run timing, fishing gear, and angler access.
Sockeye Salmon
As of July 27th, over 54,000 sockeye have passed the Situk River weir. Weir counts are updated daily and can be viewed at the ADF&G Fish Counts website.
The Situk is managed to achieve an escapement target of 50,000 sockeye. After a week of strong returns of sockeye to the Situk River the daily bag limit has been restored to 3 fish per day, and 6 in possession.
Large numbers of pink salmon are also entering the Situk, providing good sport fishing opportunity in the throughout the river.
King Salmon
Sport fishing for king salmon is closed in the Situk River. King salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed; king salmon caught while sockeye fishing may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Sport fishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat Area marine waters. Catches of king salmon in the Yakutat area have slowed as the fishery focuses primarily on groundfish and coho salmon.
The following regulations are now in effect:
Residents:
- Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Nonresidents:
- Retention of king salmon by nonresidents is prohibited August 1 through September 15, 2019. Outside of this time the bag, possession, and annual limit is one 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.
Other Marine Fishing
Coho Salmon
Coho are beginning to be caught in Yakutat area marine waters. Catch rates should improve weekly as fish move into more nearshore areas.
Halibut
Halibut fishing remains strong.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing also continues to be good.
Pelagic Rockfish
Rockfish catches also continue to be strong.
Non-pelagic Rockfish
Effective Thursday, July 25th, retention of non-pelagic rockfish is prohibited in the Yakutat area and in all outside waters of Southeast Alaska, through August 31st.
An emergency order was issued in March 2019 that prohibits retention of non-pelagic rockfish in outside waters, and it was referenced in the Southeast Alaska sportfishing regulation summary on page 12.
All vessels are required to have at least one functional deep water release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers are REQUIRED to use a rockfish release device to release nonpelagic rockfish during this time. 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) 784-3222