Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 10, 2016
King Salmon Fishing
As of June 4th, Juneau area king salmon regulations are as follows:
- Through June 30th, retention of king salmon is prohibited in the marine waters south of Juneau in District 11 south of a line from Tantallon Point on Douglas Island to Point Salisbury and east of a line from Tantallon Point to Point Arden south to a line between Point Hugh and Point League and north of latitude 57o W 37o N in Seymour Canal.
- King salmon bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length for all anglers in the remainder of District 11 and the marine waters of District 15 south of Sherman Rock
- Within the designated saltwater sport harvest area, hatchery king salmon daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size, and king salmon harvested by nonresidents do not count toward their annual limit. The designated saltwater sport harvest area for hatchery king salmon is defined as the marine waters from the Juneau-Douglas bridge north to Outer Point, north to the southern tip of Portland island, along it's eastern shore to the navigational aid at the northern tip of Portland Island and east to Point Louisa.
- Elsewhere in Southeast Alaska, king salmon bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length for Alaskan Residents, and two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length during June for nonresidents, with a nonresident annual limit of six king salmon.
Anglers should consult the Sport Fishing Emergency Orders and News Releases for relevant maps and bag and possession limits at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm . The maps are especially helpful in depicting the boundaries for each of the king salmon management areas.
Juneau area sport catches of king salmon during the past 10 days have been poor. For the Memorial Day to June 5th period, less than 20 fish were reported harvested from District 11 (Pt Hugh to Pt Sherman) by all reporting methods and for all anglers, private or charter. The few fish that were caught came predominantly from the Breadline, North Douglas, Auke Bay and Fritz Cove. Outside of District 11, fewer than 20 additional king salmon were reported caught in areas such as Funter Bay, Lizard Head, Spasski, and Icy Straits. Catches on the outer coast have been better because most fish caught are the more abundant Lower 48 stocks.
Southeast Alaska king salmon stocks appear to be depressed. Currently, the Taku River king salmon production is extremely low. Reasons for these low returns are unknown, but poor marine conditions may be limiting king salmon survival and growth. The Taku River king salmon inseason projection for the total terminal run indicates that the lower end of the Taku River escapement goal is unlikely to be met making the closure south of Juneau necessary.
Hatchery king salmon should start to show up in the marine waters near Juneau over the next several weeks. So far there are no indications as to how this return will shape up but hopes are high for anglers who have seen poor catch rates throughout the spring. The best areas to intercept these hatchery king salmon are Auke Bay, Fritz Cove and in Gastineau Channel in front of DIPAC Hatchery.
Halibut and Rockfish
A few marine boat anglers fishing west of Pt Retreat in Funter Bay, at Hanus reef, and the Sisters, Spasski, and Point Couverden areas reported catching halibut, and a few rockfish including Quillback, Redstripe, Silvergrey, and Black rockfish.
Halibut limits for unguided anglers are 2 fish per day, any size with 4 in possession. Charter anglers may keep 1 fish daily, which must be less than or equal to 43 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in length.
Anglers are reminded that all Non-Pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. Please consult the 2016 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary for Southeast Alaska, page 36, to identify Pelagic and Non-Pelagic rockfish.
Lingcod
The Northern Southeast Alaska season for lingcod opened May 16. Alaskan 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.
Please consult the 2016 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations to identify pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish and for daily bag and possession limits for lingcod and rockfish.
Dolly Varden char, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout fishing
A few sea-run Dolly Varden char, are still being caught in the marine boat fisheries in nearshore waters. Anadromous rainbows and cutthroat trout are in the estuaries and marine environment. Fly fishermen have been successfuly targeting lake outlets, streams and rivers connecting to salt waters. Shoreline fishing can be very productive as Dollies and trout cruise the shoreline looking for food. Spoons and spinners work well, as do smolt and fry imitations.
Anglers should check the 2016 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations for trout and Dolly Varden regulations. Juneau Area Freshwater Special Regulations for local lakes, creeks, rivers, 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, 2 in possession, no size limit.