Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 01, 2015

King Salmon current regulations in District 11 (Juneau)

There are some reports trickling in showing a few king salmon being caught in Auke Bay, Fritz Cove and False Outer Point. The king salmon bag and possession limit for District 11 is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length for all anglers, and the waters of upper Taku inlet north of a line from Cooper Point to the mouth of Dorothy Creek are closed to king salmon fishing. These regulations are effective from 12:01 a.m. Saturday April 4, 2015 through June 30, 2015. The hatchery king salmon regulations in the designated terminal harvest area will be addressed in a seperate news release in late May.

April through May Season

Spring fishing opportunities in the Juneau area include; king salmon, Dolly Varden, cutthroat trout, steelhead, and halibut. King salmon can be found in the saltwater areas near False Outer Point, Auke Bay, Tee Harbor, the Breadline, and Point Bishop. These areas have been known to provide the best chance to catch an early season king salmon. During this time, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout begin to congregate at the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek to feed on emigrating salmon smolts. Using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners is the best way to catch these aggressive fish. Steelhead can also be pursued during this time as they begin their return to natal streams to spawn. Peterson Creek and Cowee Creek are the two most popular spots to try to catch a steelhead on the Juneau road system. During this time halibut begin to move into the interior waters surrounding Juneau as catch rates slowly increase with the onset of summer.

King Salmon fishing

Spring king season is in full swing by May and offers saltwater enthusiasts the chance to land a real lunker! King salmon are managed “in season” and exceptions may apply, so be sure to check in with the local Fish and Game staff to get the most up to date regulations including current bag and possession limits. Non Resident anglers will be subject to an annual limit, and most areas require a minimum size limit of 28” for king salmon. In southeast, almost all kings are harvested in saltwater and are incredible table fare. You can fish from shore at one of the many popular “points” around town, or head out in the boat. There is no shortage of specialized king salmon gear, so find your favorite flasher, spoon or Herring Aid and go get you some!

Steelhead Trout fishing

Typically Steelhead anglers aim to intercept the fish as they enter into streams from the salt water in late April and early to mid May. Often, entire days can be spent searching for a few quality “looks” at a fish, so don’t be discouraged if it takes time, because the fight in a fresh steelie will make it all worth while. Most streams that contain steelhead in southeast have small annual returns (in the hundreds) and thus can be vulnerable to over-fishing. Retention of steelhead in the Juneau area is prohibitied. Any steelhead caught in a drainage crossed by the Juneau road system must be released immediately. Current regionwide regulations prohibit any steelhead under 36” from being harvested and require that a harvest report card be completed in ink immediately upon landing a steelhead that is to be harvested. There are a number of streams on the Juneau road system that contain small runs of Steelhead that are easily fishable. Keep in mind that these runs are potentially vulnerable and all fish should be treated with great care regardless of size.

Other trout/Dolly Varden fishing

Spring is the time when sea run Dolly Varden and other trout begin eating more and preparing for the summer at sea. During the spring, some of these fish will exit their “over wintering” sites (lakes and ponds) and head downstream for the ocean. These fish are known as “anadromous” fish. Lake outlets and streams that connect to the salt water are prime places to harvest these fish in the spring. After the outmigration, the saltwater shoreline fishing can be very productive as Dollys and other trout begin to spend most of their time looking for food by cruising the rocky coves and bays. Spoons and spinners work well, as do smolt and fry imitation flys. There will also be some fish that do not exit their “over wintering” sites and head for the ocean. Known as “residents”, these fish stay in their home lake, pond, or corresponding stream the entire year. While these fish may move around in the system to take advantage of food or environmental conditions, they will be present for your fishing pleasure all year.