Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 30, 2016
Sport Fishing in the Marine Waters of the Juneau Area
King Salmon Fishing
King salmon fishing around the Juneau area was slow for the week of June 13-19, similar to the previous week. More hatchery fish may be returning to Fish Creek and Gastineau Channel as reported catch rates were best in Gastineau Channel, Outer Point, and along the shoreline from Point Louisa to Tee Harbor. Kings were also caught near Funter Bay, North Shelter, and Point Retreat. Catches from shore at Picnic Cove and DIPAC were also slow. For the outer coast, anglers fishing Deer Harbor and and Graves Rock north of Cape Spencer that reported to marine creel samplers in the ports of Gustavus and Elfin Cove had the best fishing of the week.
King Salmon Regulations
- Anglers are reminded that Taku king salmon stock abundance is still low and the area of District 11 to the east of a line from Tantallon Point on Douglas Island to Point Arden and south of a line from Tantallon to Point Salibury is CLOSED to retention of king salmon. Reasons for the low Taku River 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.
- Gastineau Channel from Point Salisbury to the Juneau-Douglas bridge is under restricted bag and possession limits of 1 king salmon per angler (resident or nonresident), 28 inches or greater in length. This restricted bag and possession limit of 1 fish per angler is also relevant north of the bridge all the way to Sherman Rock and bounded on the western boundary by a line along the latitude of Little Island Light and a line from Little Island to Point Retreat, except in the area around the hatchery that is described below. The 1 fish per angler restriction also applies to the west and north of a the line from Tantallon Point to Point Arden on the backside of Douglas Island.
- To allow anglers access to hatchery king salmon, the area north of the Juneau Douglas Bridge to a line from Outer Point to the Portland Island navigational aid and then to Point Louisa has liberalized bag and possession limits of 4 king salmon of any size within this area. These fish do not count towards nonresident annual limits.
- Juneau roadside freshwaters also have liberalized bag and possession limits for hatchery king salmon of 4 king salmon of any size and any harvested king salmon do not count towards nonresident's annual limit.
- West of Point Retreat and 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.
- Beginning July 1st, sport fishing for king salmon and snagging will be prohibited within a 200-yard radius of the Wayside Park Fishing Dock (Channel Wayside fishing dock). King salmon may not be snagged, targeted, retained or possessed. If caught, king slamon must be released immediately. Returns of hatchery king salmon are extremely low, and the closure is necessary to provide sufficient numbers for hatchery broodstock needs.
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 provided with the News Releases are especially helpful in describing the boundaries for the District 11 closure area, the restricted bag and possession area around Juneau, the hatchery harvest area, the closure area around the Wayside Park fishing dock, and for the general Southeast Alaska king salmon regulatory boundaries.
Charter captains are reminded to be sure to allow marine creel samplers access to their salmon catch, so that samplers can look for adipose-clipped fish that carry coded-wire-tags in their noses, and to take genetics samples and length measurements. This data collection is vital to the longterm conservation of the stocks that all anglers rely on for recreational harvest.
Other salmon
Although king salmon fishing has been poor this spring, other salmon have begun to be cuaght around the region. Chum salmon returning to the Amalga Harbor area are also being harvested in greater numbers by sport anglers along the Point Louisa to Amalga HArbor shoreline, around Shelter Island, Outer Point, and in Gastineau Channel. Pink salmon were reported from Gastineau Channel and the cut at Fritz Cove. Coho salmon are also beginning to be caught in increasing numbers on the outer coast with 6- to 20-fold increases over the previous weeks reported for anglers fishing the outer coast. Catch rates for cohos should continue to improve around Juneau as they begin to move inside.
Halibut and Rockfish
Early to mid June brings more halibut harvested as they move inshore and more targeted effort by marine anglers in waters around Juneau. Boat anglers fishing near Juneau reported catching halibut and rockfish from a variety of areas including Scull Island, Poundstone Rock and Favorite Reefs, South Shelter and Young Bay. West of Pt Retreat, anglers have had success from Point Howard to Couverden Rock, Hanus Reef, The Sisters, and Homeshore to Porpoise Islands. Rockfish speceis harvested included Quillback, Black, Dusky, Rougheye, Shortraker, Silvergrey, Copper, China, Tiger and Canary. Anglers should consult the Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, page 36 for identification of some of these species. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 25, "Guide to Northeast Pacific Rockfishes" is also an excellent reference for rockfish identification, available from the Alaska Sea Grant Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks. .
Anglers are reminded that 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.
All non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until their bag limit is reached. These include ALL species other than Dark, Dusky, Widow, Black, Blue, and Yellowtail. For the Southeast Inside Waters around Juneau, Alaska residents may keep 3 non-pelagic rockfish daily of any size, of which only 1 may be a yelloweye. Two daily limits may be in possession. Nonresidents may keep 2 daily of any size, only 1 of which may be yelloweye, with 4 in possession, of which no more than 2 may be in possession. All yelloweye must be recorded in ink on the back of the angler's sport fishing license, or onto a harvest record card. Charter anglers are reminded that nonpelagic rockfish and halibut must not be filleted or deheaded prior to docking so that ADF&G sampling technicians can get length measurements.
Please consult the 2016 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary for Southeast Alaska, page 36, to identify Pelagic and Non-Pelagic rockfish.
Lingcod
No lingcod have been reported in the immediate Juneau area, but have been reported from Deer Harbor and north of Cape Spencer. 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.
Sport Fishing in the Freshwaters of the Juneau Area
Windfall Lake Sockeye
Sockeye salmon fishing at the confluence of Windfall Creek and Herbert River has been slow during June. A few fish have been harvested. Sockeye appear to be present, but in low numbers. Anglers are reminded that Windfall Creek from the outlet of the lake to the confluence with Herbert River is closed to fishing from June1-July 31, except during June on Wednesdays and Saturdays. During these days the sockeye salmon limit is 1 dialy, 1 in possession, 16 inches or longer. Bait is prohibited, only unbaited artificial lures and flies may be used, and fish must be hooked in the mouth and not snagged.
Dolly Varden char, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout fishing
A few sea-run Dolly Varden char and anadromous cutthroat trout are being caught in the marine boat fisheries in nearshore waters, especially in areas where salmon are beginning to return to their natal streams. A few Dollies are being caught in Fish Creek pond, in the Mendenhall River estuary and in Auke Bay. 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.