Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 05, 2014
Spring king salmon
Average daily harvest and catch rates as well as number of anglers fishing at False Outer Point, North Douglas declined this week with fewer king salmon caught than previously. However, anglers brought good numbers of king salmon back to Juneau area docks, with reports of fish caught from many areas this past week. Marine boat anglers reported having luck in the typical king salmon sport fishing areas: Tee Harbor/Breadline, Shelter Island, Auke Bay, Outer Point, Pt Bishop/Salisbury, and Doty Cove. A few fish were also reported from Cordwood, Funter Bay, Couverden, Homeshore, Port Althorp, and Deer Harbor.
Anglers are reminded that the Terminal Harvest Area regulations are now in effect. For anglers fishing in the Auke Bay/Fritz Cove and upper Gastineau Channel areas the following regulations apply through Saturday, August 31st:
• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated terminal harvest area and time period do not count toward the annual limit.
King salmon sport fishing regulations for freshwaters crossed by the Juneau road system were also liberalized to allow harvest of hatchery king salmon entering local streams near hatchery release sites. The harvest limits are as follows and apply through August 31st:
• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated terminal harvest area and time period do not count toward their annual limit.
Additional regulations for Fish Creek Pond on Douglas Island are as follows:
• Use of bait is allowed;
• Use of weighted hooks and lures, and multiple (treble) hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank is allowed;
• Anglers may retain king salmon that are hooked elsewhere than in the mouth (snagged)
These regulations do not apply in the freshwaters of Fish Creek proper (excluding Fish Creek Pond) and in intertidal waters within a 200 yard radius of the creek mouth. Attempting to snag or retain fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth is prohibited.
Halibut, Lingcod, and Rockfish
Marine anglers fishing Midway Island, Benjamin Island, St. James Bay, Funter Bay, Spasski Island and as far away as Dundas Bay reported halibut, lingcod, and rockfish catches this week. Anglers are reminded that all non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. Also, in northern southeast waters residents may keep 1 lingcod daily with 2 in possession, no size limits. Nonresidents may keep 1 lingcod daily with 1 in possession, annual limit of 2. Size limits are 30-35 inches, or 55 inches or greater. Nonresidents must record all lingcod harvested on the back of their sport fish license or harvest record.
Please consult the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations to identify pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish and for daily bag and possession limits for lingcod and rockfish.
Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden char
Reports indicate that the Dolly Varden char and cutthroat trout fishing has been good and anglers are having luck catching fish in the saltwater areas at the mouths of local streams. Local anglers targeting Dolly Varden and trout should try their luck along the shoreline of Gastineau Channel, at the mouth of Salmon, Sheep, Montana, Peterson and Cowee creeks.
Anglers are reminded that the following bag and possession limits apply in freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system as well as saltwater areas within ¼ mile of shore:
• Dolly Varden: 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.
• Cutthroat and rainbow trout: 2 daily, 2 in possession, 14 inch minimum and 22 in maximum size limit.
Family Fishing Day at Twin Lakes
The annual Family Fishing Day at the Lake event will be held at Twin Lakes on Saturday, June 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The emphasis for this popular community event is family, fishing, and fun. Bring your fishing tackle, non-motorized boats and life jackets if you have them; but if you don’t, come anyway as the Division of Sport Fish staff and other volunteers from the community will be on hand to loan out rods, reels, hooks and bait at no charge. The US Forest Service provides free rowboat trips, life jackets, fish printing and other activities. The Juneau-Gastineau Rotary Club will be selling grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, drinks and other snacks at a nominal cost.
Fish are stocked in Twin Lakes annually in anticipation of the Family Fishing Day event. These fish are raised at Macaulay Hatchery under a cooperative agreement between ADF&G’s Division of Sport Fish and Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. (DIPAC). This year, Macaulay Hatchery staff stocked Twin Lakes with roughly 10,000 hatchery-raised king salmon 6-10 inches in length on May 19th. In addition to being caught on Family Fishing Day, these king salmon provide fishing opportunity for Juneau anglers throughout the rest of the year.
Local businesses, agencies and organizations supporting Family Fishing Day at the Lake include: U. S. Forest Service, Juneau Coast Guard Auxiliary, Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc., Juneau-Gastineau Rotary Club, City and Borough of Juneau, Territorial Sportsmen Inc., Western Auto-Marine, and Downtown Domino’s Pizza.
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