Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 04, 2014

King Salmon

Catch rates and the number of areas where king salmon were caught declined this past week. Marine boat anglers reported catching feeder kings in many areas where other salmon are also being caught, including: Point Retreat, backside of Douglas Island, South Shelter, Point Bishop, Hawk Inlet, and Grand Island. Hatchery kings are past prime condition with just a few still being reported from Fish Creek pond and the DIPAC dock. The terminal harvest area regulations for hatchery kings in the Juneau area are no longer in effect so anglers must adhere to the regulations below:

  • Alaska resident bag and possession limit is 3 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, with no annual bag limit,
  • Non-resident bag and possession limit is 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and
  • the non-resident annual limit is 6 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and a harvest record is required

Coho, Pink and Chum Salmon

This past week, marine boat anglers reported fair catches of coho and pink salmon throughout the Juneau area. Coho and pink salmon catches were reported from backside and south Douglas, Middle Point, Point Hilda, Shelter Island (north and south), Barlow Cove, Hand Trollers Cove, Point Retreat, Gastineau Channel, Taku Harbor, Lizard Head, and Hawk Inlet. Elfin Cove and Gustavus reported declining catches of coho compared to last week. A few late chum are still being reported for the Juneau area, however, the chum run is mostly complete.

Resident and Non-Resident limits for coho, pink and chum 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 catches of halibut last week from various areas including Favorite Reef, Halibut and Hand Trollers Coves, South Shelter, Young Bay, Barlow Cove, Taku Inlet, Grand Island, Taku Harbor, South Douglas, and Hawk Inlet. 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, Yelloweye, Red-Banded, and Black rockfish. 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 rockfish 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

Fall trout fishing is still productive in local streams as anglers are encountering Dolly Varden and Cutthroat trout using salmon egg imitations, flesh flies or small spinners and spoons. With the onset of fall meaning more rains and varying water levels look to find trout feeding aggressively on these important food sources as the salmon runs begin to wind down. Fishing should continue to be productive throughout the month of September.

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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