Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast \ Resurrection Bay

August 5, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the North Gulf Coast Area at its Seward December 2019 meeting and the Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the North Gulf Coast sport fisheries regulations.

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Never heard of deepwater release? Check out our rockfish conservation webpage for more info!

Emergency Orders

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

• There are currently no Emergency Orders for the North Gulf Coast Management Area.

Freshwater Fishing

• Hooligan
  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed for the season.
• Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden
  • Try creek mouths for Dolly Varden this time of the year. Casting small spinners and spoons off the beach can provide some good action.
  • If you are fly fishing, fry and smolt patterns are good to use in Seward area streams this time of the year.
• Salmon
  • The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers opened to salmon fishing (except king salmon) on June 16. Only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
  • Still waiting on coho salmon to move further into the bay and into the open freshwaters. Anglers should be preparing for them to arrive in the coming weeks.

Saltwater Fishing

Port Sampling efforts in Seward are currently underway. Please assist our port sampling program by returning to the harbor with whole groundfish or groundfish carcasses and allowing ADF&G technicians to sample your harvest. Data collected from the sport fish harvest is needed to manage and maintain healthy fisheries. We appreciate you supporting the port sampling program and your assistance in getting managers information that aids in managing fisheries in the Southcentral.

• Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish
  • Lingcod fishing opened on July 1 in the North Gulf Coast; however, it is always closed in Resurrection Bay. Try using large jigs on rocky pinnacles, a few feet off the bottom. Remember, the minimum size to retain a lingcod is 35 inches with the head attached (or 28 inches with the head removed). Do not use a gaff to puncture any fish you think you might release.
    • Some larger lingcod have been brought into the harbor over the last week!
  • When targeting lingcod your chances of catching rockfish are high. Make sure you have a deepwater release mechanism on board your vessel as this is now mandatory.
    • Never used deepwater release? Check out our videos or website online.
  • Halibut fishing has been good. Nice sized halibut have been coming into the port. Larger halibut are being caught by anglers in the outer portion of the North Gulf Coast or outer PWS.
  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Please check Federal Regulations under NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one per day, two in possession may be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
• Salmon
  • The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently two per day of any size. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest reporting requirement, but a king stamp is required.
  • King salmon fishing continues to be good, even better than silver fishing. Fish continue to be caught from shore and by boats out trolling.
  • Coho salmon are being caught both inside and outside Resurrection Bay, but it has been slow. Pony Cove and Caines Head have been good options as well as even as close as Lowell Point and Thumb Cove. Anglers are catching kings, cohos, and lots of pinks at these spots. Both mooching and trolling are producing fish for patient anglers.
    • Don’t forget that the bag limit for coho salmon outside of Resurrection Bay is 3 per day and 3 in possession while the bag limit inside Resurrection Bay is 6 per day and 6 in possession. Anglers that have caught 6 coho salmon inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay.
• Hooligan
  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed in saltwaters.

Local Lakes

• Troop Lake is a fun hike and good place to try if you are looking for a new lake to explore.
• Making the trek into Lost Lake can be a fun adventure. Rainbow trout are caught in this lake.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.