Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 22, 2014

King Salmon

Catch rates and the number of areas where king salmon were reportedly caught declined in the past few weeks. Marine boat anglers reported catching kings in many areas where other salmon are also being caught: backside of Douglas Island, Portland Island, Cordwood, North Pass, and Little Island. Hatchery kings are now past prime condition but a few are still being reported from Fish Creek pond. Anglers fishing outside of the designated Juneau Terminal Harvest Area are reminded that the resident bag and possession limit is 3 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, the non-resident bag and possession limit is 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. There is an annual limit of 6 king salmon for non-residents and a harvest record is required.

For anglers fishing in the Auke Bay/Fritz Cove to upper Gastineau Channel Terminal Harvest Area, the following regulations apply through next Sunday, 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 through August 31st to allow harvest of hatchery king salmon entering local streams near hatchery release sites. 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.

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)

Anglers should note that 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. Snagging is not permitted in these areas. Attempting to snag or retain fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth is prohibited.
 

Coho, Chum, Sockeye, and Pink Salmon

This past week, marine boat anglers were still reporting fairly good catches of coho, pink and chum salmon throughout the Juneau area. Catches were reported from Outer Point, Georges Rock, backside of Douglas, Youngs Bay, Shelter Island (north and south), Barlow Cove, North Pass, Handtrollers Cove, Shrine of St Therese, Auke Bay, Fish Creek, and Lizard Head.  Elfin Cove and Gustavus reported high catches of coho.

Resident and Non-Resident limits for chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon in salt water are:

  • 16 inches or longer - 6 of each species daily, 12 of each species in possession
     

Halibut and Rockfish

Boat anglers continued to report good catches of halibut last week from areas including Berners Bay, St James Bay, Lynn Sisters, Favorite Channel, Aaron Island, Poundstone Rock, False Pt. Retreat, Funter Bay, Barlow Cove, George Rock, Young Bay, Auke Bay, Hawk Inlet, Icy Strait, Tracy Arm, and S. Island. Halibut catches were also reported from Elfin Cove and Gustavus. If halibut are filleted at sea, charter operators are reminded to retain the carcass until landing, so that length information can be obtained.

In addition to halibut, reported rockfish species caught included Quillback, Silvergrey, Dusky, and Pacific Ocean Perch.   Anglers are reminded that all non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. For the purposes of sport fishery management, pelagic rockfishes include the Dark, Dusky, Widow, Black, Blue and Yellowtail rockfish, for which bag limits are 5 daily, with 10 in possession. All other roickfish species are considered non-pelagic and have lower bag and possession limits.  Please consult the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary Book to identify common pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish and for daily bag and possession limits.

Marine boat anglers returning to area ports are reminded to not fillet, mutilate, or de-head sport caught lingcod, non-pelagic rockfish and king and coho salmon so that ADF&G creel survey technicians can get length measurements, sex information and for identification of tagged fish. Gilling and gutting is not prohibited, and anglers may fillet and de-head king and coho salmon, lingcod and non-pelagic rockfish once the vessel returns to port.

Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden and trout fishing continues to be productive in Cowee, Peterson, Salmon, Sheep and Montana creeks. With the salmon spawning season in full swing these fish are feeding voraciously on salmon eggs and salmon flesh. This time of year try using small spinners or spoons or egg and flesh fly patterns.

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.

Use of bait in Juneau area freshwaters is prohibited except for in Salmon Creek reservoir, and Twin Lakes. The following streams are closed to sport fishing: Auke Creek below Glacier Highway, Auke Nu drainage, Duck Creek, Jordan Creek, Steep Creek, Switzer Creek, and Vanderbilt Creek.  Dolly Varden fishing is closed in Auke Lake drainages upstream of Glacier Highway and in Mendenhall Lake.
 

Anglers should check the 2014 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet available at local vendors, the ADF&G office, or online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastJuneau.main for closed areas and bag and possession limits for the various Juneau freshwater systems.

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
 

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