Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 11, 2014

King Salmon

Small feeder king salmon were the only kings reported to creel technicians interviewing at Juneau area harbors this past week. Marine boat anglers reported that all small kings caught were undersized and were released. Areas fished included Point Retreat, north Shelter Island, and the backside of Douglas Island.  No hatchery kings were reported from Fish Creek pond or the DIPAC dock.  The terminal harvest area regulations for hatchery kings in Juneau area fresh- and salt waters are no longer in effect.  Anglers are advised that the following regulations for retention of king salmon apply:

  • 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 good catches of coho salmon at various locations around the Juneau vicinity. Coho salmon catches were reported from The Breadline, Barlow Cove, Point Retreat, Handtroller's Cove, the backside and south end of Douglas Island, and from Gastineau Channel. No pink or chum salmon catches were reported. Elfin Cove and Gustavus marine creel sampling has concluded for the season, so no reports are available for those ports.

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 locations around the Juneau management area including The Sisters and Spasski Island in Icy Strait, Tracy Arm, Point Retreat, north Shelter and Scull Islands.  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, Copper, Black and Dusky 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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