Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 14, 2019

Marine Boat Fishing Report

King Salmon (caught outside the THA)

Beginning June 15, king salmon may be kept in the marine waters near Juneau (except Seymour Canal) in the waters of the northern portion of District 9, District 10, Sections 11-A, 11-B and 11-C, District 12, southeast portion of Section 13-C, Sections 14-B and 14-C, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock.

June 15 - December 31:

Alaska resident:

• The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From June 15 through June 30, the annual limit is three king salmon;
• From July 1 through December 31 the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested between January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Seymour Canal, Section 11-D: (The marine waters adjacent to King Salmon River including the waters of Seymour Canal north of 57° 37' N. latitude)

July 1 - December 31:

Alaska resident:

• The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresidents:

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

Southeast Alaska Regional King Salmon Regulations for the Outer Coast:

Regional king salmon regulations announced April 1, 2019, remain in effect along the outer coast in areas where restrictions on king salmon harvest were not implemented during the spring of 2019.

Alaska resident:

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

Nonresident:

• The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From June 15 through June 30, the annual limit is three king salmon;
• From July 1 through December 31, the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested between January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Please note that additional restrictions are implemented in the marine waters north of Juneau and the marine waters south of Juneau. Please see the News Release issued for Haines for further restrictions to District 15. Also, please see the News Release issued for the Petersburg area for further restrictions in Districts 5, 6, 7, 8, 9..

Hatchery King Salmon (caught within the THA in saltwater)

Beginning June 15, hatchery king salmon may be kept in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest Area (THA) near Juneau. These hatchery king salmon regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019. These new regulations are as follows:

• The daily bag and possession limit is 2 king salmon of any size;

• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

Anglers should note that the bag, possession and size limits for king salmon in the salt waters outside of the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (THA) are more restrictive, and that regulations prohibit anglers from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers who catch king salmon within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area may not continue to fish outside of that area if they possess king salmon that do not comply with the regional king salmon bag, possession and size limits.

Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond

Anglers are reminded that the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon in the freshwaters of Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond is 4 fish, any size and any king salmon harvested by non-residents do not count toward their annual limit. Please note that within Fish Creek Pond, anglers may use bait, may snag and may use weighted hooks, lures, and treble hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank. However, anglers may NOT use bait, or snag, or use the aforementioned large treble hooks in Fish Creek itself. The marine waters at the mouth of Fish Creek fall under the THA regulations above, and snagging is allowed only in salt waters.

For additional information, or questions, please contact the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Juneau at (907) 465-4270

Halibut & Rockfish

A few halibut have been reported caught in the last 2 weeks, mostly from Cross Sound and Deer Harbor, but a few also from the reefs north of Juneau. Fishing for halibut usually picks up in June and continues to be productive through October. Halibut in the marine waters around Juneau tend to be pretty deep this time of year so try and find a nice hump structure in the 150 foot to 300 foot range. Rockfish catches, mostly of Black rockfish, Duskies, and Quillbacks have also been reported by area anglers. A few Yelloweye and Rougheye, from Cross Sound and Benjamin Island, respectively, have also been caught. Creel samplers from the Department are now sampling fish at the Juneau harbors and boat launches. They are just getting started for the season. As always, thank you to all anglers who allow our samplers to check your fish and record biological data. It really helps manage the fisheries so it is vital to have our samplers collecting this information from local anglers.

Other Spring Fishing Opportunities

Dolly Varden/cutthroat trout fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout have begun to move into saltwater and will congregate at the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek to feed on these emigrating salmon smolts. Using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners and spoons is the best way to catch these fish. There will also be some fish that do not leave their “over wintering” sites and head for the ocean. Known as “residents”, these fish stay in their home lake, pond, or 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.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2019 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.