Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 09, 2015

Hatchery King Salmon Regulations in the Juneau Terminal Harvest Area (THA)

Beginning June 1st, liberalized regulations for hatchery king salmon in the Juneau THA went into effect. For anglers fishing within the Auke Bay/Fritz Cove to Juneau-Douglas Bridge area, the following regulations still 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 regionwide annual limit.

Freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau Road System that are open to sport fishing are now open year-round to king salmon fishing with a bag and possession limit of 4 fish of any size. King salmon caught by nonresidents in these drainages do not count toward their annual limit. In addition, liberlized methods and means are in effect for Fish Creek Pond from June 1- August 31. Please consult the 2015 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for these regulations.

Regional Regulations for Southeast Marine Waters - outside of THA

Beyond the THA boundaries described above, anglers are notified that the Southeast regionwide regulations that allowed Alaska residents a bag and possession limit of three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length and nonresident annual limits of 6 king salmon chagned July 1, 2015 to the following:

Effective from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday July 1, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2016:

Alaskan Resident:

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. There is no annual limit.

Non-Resident:

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length,
• The nonresident annual limit is now three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

From October 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016; resident sport anglers may use two rods when fishing for king salmon.

Salmon Fishing Report for Juneau Area

Hatchery king salmon fishing within the Juneau THA continues to be good.  Anglers also reported king salmon catches from around Shelter Island, backside and to the south of Douglas Island.  Marine anglers venturing to the outer coast reported decent catches from Homeshore, Cross Sound, Surge Bay, and Deer Harbor.  Marine boat anglers returning to Elfin Cove and Gustavus have also reported good, but declining catch rates for king salmon this past week. Anglers are reminded to please turn in any king salmon head from fish missing an adipose fin. These fish have valuable data embedded in Coded-Wire-Tags in their noses that provide infomation about stream origin.

Wild and hatchery pink and chum salmon have arrived! Pink and chum catches have continued to increase to the point where almost as many of these species are being caught in and around Juneau as to the west of Admiralty Island. Coho salmon fishing continues to improve to the west of Admiralty, from Cordwood to Funter Bay with an increase over the previous week  around Shelter Island and the backside of Douglas Island. 

 Halibut, Lingcod, Sablefish (blackcod), and Rockfish

Anglers caught more halibut in and around Juneau during the past week than any of the previous weeks this summer. Influx of pinks, good weather and lots of anglers out on the water resulted in good catch rates from a variety of areas including around Shelter Island, Vanderbilt reef, Point Retreat and Benjamin, Lincoln, and Portland Islands.  Catches were also good in the Couverden, Homeshore, and Deer Harbor areas.  Rockfish are also being brought into Juneau's ports by sport anglers fishing near Shelter Island, Pt Retreat, Couverden, Vanderbilt Reef and Icy Straits.  Species of rockfish caught this week included Quillback, Dusky, Silvergrey, Copper, Canary, Redbanded, and Black. 

Anglers are reminded that all non-pelagic rockfish caught (i.e.- anything other than Dark, Dusky, Widow, Black, Blue and Yellowtail) must be retained until their bag limit is reached. Please consult the 2015 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations to identify pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish (page 36) and for daily bag and possession limits (page 11).  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. Lingcod 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 on a harvest record. Anglers may catch 4 blackcod daily and have 4 in possession, no size restrictions. Nonresidents may only keep 8 blackcod annually, which must be recorded on their harvest record.

Dolly Varden char, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout fishing

As marine derived nutrients (salmon eggs and fish flesh) begin returning to area freshwaters, fishing for trout and char should continue to improve in local streams along the Juneau road system.  Anglers should have the best luck using bright orange lures, beads or egg pattern flies over the next month or so.  Good spots to try your luck include: Sheep, Salmon, Montana, Peterson and Cowee Creeks. Anglers should consult the 2015 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations for trout and Dolly Varden regulations.  Juneau area Freshwater Special Regulations for local lakes and drainages can be found on pages 18-21. Unless otherwise specified, cutthroat and rainbow trout limits (in combination) on the Juneau Road System are 2 daily and 2 in possession, 14 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum.  Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily and 2 in possession, no size limit.