Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

June 20, 2019

Week of June 20 - June 26

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon are in the Eyak River. Fishing has been good!
  • Remember: Effective June 1 - September 30, Eyak River Special Regulations are in effect around the Eyak Lake dam/weir and highway bridge. Only single-hook, artificial flies with a gap of 3/8 inch or less between a point and shank are allowed AND no additional weight may be attached to the line. 
• King salmon in Fleming Spit (in Cordova) continue to be caught. These fish should continue to show up over the next few weeks. Fish the incoming tide with spinners or bait.
  • Remember no snagging in the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area between June 1 - September 30.

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

• Unstocked lakes opened to the retention of trout on June 15.
• Ruth Pond in Valdez was recently stocked with rainbow trout. Blueberry and Thompson lakes will be stocked next week.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

• Lingcod season will open on July 1.
• Halibut fishing has been good for most anglers getting out further, but you don’t have to travel far. Try a muddy bottom off a rocky slope in 150 - 300’ of water.
• The Valdez Halibut Derby began on May 18 and runs through September 1. Top fish over the last week have exceeded 100lbs. Don’t forget to pick up your derby ticket before heading out.
• Shrimp flies are a good option for rockfish. With a little added bait and targeting rocky pinnacles you shouldn’t have trouble getting into some fish.
• Rockfish limits year-round are 4 fish per day, 8 in possession of which only 1 can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Stop by the ADF&G office in Anchorage for a handy rockfish ID sheet!
• Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism will be required to be onboard all vessels sportfishing statewide and they must be used to release rockfish at depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.
  • Never heard of deepwater release?? Check out our webpage for more info!

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon fishing at Main Bay has picked up! Remember you are not allowed to fish from a vessel within the barrier seine. Check commercial opener announcements here to find the best times to be out.
• King salmon are near the Whittier Boat Harbor. Just a reminder that snagging is not allowed in the Whittier Boat Harbor.
• Chum salmon are an option around Ester right now and sockeye are moving into Port Wells bound for Coghill Lake. Coghill River weir is just about operational. You can check out the daily fish passage here.
• You don’t have to travel a far distance to get king salmon, but the best reports right now are of catches out around Montague and Cape Cleare. Don’t forget to troll on your way out or back into Passage Canal for a shot at returning king salmon (and a much shorter trip).

Shrimp

• Don’t forget to get your shrimp permit! The sport and subsistence shrimp season is open. You are required to have your permit with you and you must record your catch immediately after you harvest shrimp. You can get your permit and report your harvest online. Harvest must be reported for each individual time you pull your pots and a full report must be received by October 15.
• If you are just starting out shrimping, stick to a depth range around 300 - 400’.
• Check your pots after a few hours to see if you are catching shrimp. Move around different depth ranges near structure and see what you can find. Shrimp are caught in a range of depths.
• If your pots are lost or stolen, please contact Alaska Wildlife Troopers and file a report. Contact information can be found on your shrimp permit.
  • AWT Valdez: (907) 835-4307
  • AWT Whittier: (907) 352-5401
  • AWT Cordova: (907) 424-3184

Emergency Orders         

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-SHR-6-15-19 reduced shrimp pots to no more than three pots per person, with no more than three pots per vessel. This means that regardless of the number of permit holders on a boat, you may only ever set and pull 3 pots, off that vessel.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Anchorage Sport Fish Info Desk at (907