Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 20, 2014
Spring king salmon
King salmon fishing is continuing to improve in the Juneau area. Average daily harvest and catch rates from North Douglas at False Outer Point have increased this past week as have the number of anglers fishing from shore and from boats. Shoreside anglers continue to harvest most of the fish. Marine boat anglers are also having luck in the North Douglas, Tee Harbor/Breadline, Pt Bishop/Salisbury areas and points south. Local reports indicate king salmon fishing is better than recent years during May.
Halibut and Rockfish
No halibut or rockfish have been caught in the immediate Juneau area to date. Marine anglers fishing west of Pt Retreat and near St James Bay continue to harvest a few rockfish and small halibut. Anglers are reminded that all non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. Please consult the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, page 36 to identify the difference between pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish and page 11 for bag and possession limits. Regulation Summaries are available at the ADF&G office now located at Bill Ray Center near the Juneau-Douglas bridge or from local venders.
Lingcod and Blackcod (Sablefish)
Both lingcod and blackcod catches were creel sampled at Juneau area docks this past week. The lingcod was caught west of Cross Sound and the blackcod were caught in upper Chatham Strait. Anglers are reminded that resident limits are 1 lingcod daily with 2 in possession, no size limit, and nonresidents are allowed 1 daily and 1 in possession with size restrictions. Please reference the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, pages 9 and 10 for more details. The blackcod daily bag and possession limit is 4, with an annual limit of 8 for nonresidents. Harvest records are required for both lingcod and blackcod for nonresidents.
District 11-A shrimp
As a reminder, District 11-A shrimp fishing will remained closed until further notice due to low population abundance in the local area around Juneau. The intention of these closures is to allow shrimp abundance to rebound from the current low level. The department will continue to monitor the section 11-A shrimp resource. The personal use and sport fisheries will remain closed until data indicates that shrimp abundance can again sustain harvest.
Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden char
Freshwater systems are now warming up resulting in more outmigrant salmon smolt and fry entering nearshore marine waters. Anglers can try their luck for Dolly Varden char and cutthroat trout in roadside area streams and at the mouths of many creeks. Local anglers should try small spinners and smolt patterns along the shoreline of Gastineau Channel, at the mouth of Salmon, Sheep, Montana, Peterson and Cowee creeks.
Current emergency orders and news releases for Southeast Alaska can be found here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1