Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 05, 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.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon are beginning to be caught in both freshwater and saltwater fisheries. While the Situk run is just getting started, coho are being caught by anglers on the river and a few have been counted at the weir.

Sockeye Salmon

As of August 4th, over 60,000 sockeye salmon have passed the Situk River weir. Weir counts are updated daily and can be viewed at the ADF&G Fish Counts website.

The Situk sockeye run is nearing its conclusion and large numbers of pink salmon are also entering the river. The Situk is managed to achieve an escapement target of 50,000 sockeye. With a strong finish to the run, the daily bag and possession limit was restored to 3 sockeye per day and 6 in possession.

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 for resident anglers. Catches in Yakutat area have slowed significantly 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

Halibut

Halibut fishing remains strong.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing also continues to be good.

Pelagic Rockfish

Rockfish catches also continue to be strong. Guided anglers are catching good numbers of large black rockfish.

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

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