Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 28, 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 two proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Anchorage Management Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Anchorage sport fisheries regulations.

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 Anchorage Management Area.

Freshwater Fishing

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan (smelt) opened April 1 and will remain open until June 15 in freshwaters. The last day to dipnet for hooligan in saltwater is May 31. After May 31 make sure you are in freshwaters. If you are fishing Twentymile River that means you can fish upstream of the Seward Highway bridge. There is no bag or possession limit.
  • This is a personal use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a valid 2020 Alaska resident sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent fishing license ID card with you.
  • Speed zone reductions are in place on the Seward Highway as of May 1, 2020. Watch for people along the roadways.
  • For your safety, and for the safety of others, please park well off the highway. Do not trespass on the railroad tracks or the railroad right-of-way. Please be respectful and take all your trash with you, don’t throw it on the ground. Please obey all signs and do not block the boat launch.
  • For additional information on dipnetting for hooligan see the 2020 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklet.
  • Catches of hooligan picked up over the weekend. It was good on both sides of the high tides but its usually best to get there before the high tide.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • Spawning closures are in place for Campbell and Chester creeks. Both creeks closed to all sport fishing April 15 and will remain closed through June 14 to protect spawning rainbow trout.

Salmon

  • Ship Creek is currently open to salmon fishing from the mouth to a cable 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant Dam. The remainder of the creek up to 300 feet above the Elmendorf Power Plant Dam, near the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, is CLOSED YEAR-ROUND to ALL fishing.
  • Remember from May 15 - July 13 Ship Creek is open to fishing between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day.
  • More king salmon have been caught on Ship Creek! Fishing should continue to pick up. Try spinners or bait, both are productive in this location.
  • Eagle River drainage: From the Bailey Bridge on Fort Richardson upstream to ADF&G markers in the Alaska State Parks Eagle River Campground king salmon fishing is open ONLY on the following dates: May 30 -31 and June 1 ; June 6 - 8, and June 13 - 15. See page 46 of the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more details.

Saltwater Fishing

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan opened April 1 and will close on Sunday, May 31 in saltwaters. For Twentymile River this means you are not allowed to fish below the highway bridge beginning on June 1.
  • Hooligan run timing is highly variable. Catches of hooligan picked up over the weekend and continue to be fair to good. Don’t forget to spread out and give your neighbor some room.

Local Lakes

  • Anchorage Bowl lakes are fishing great right now as they have all been stocked with rainbow trout! Try fishing with small spinners, or bait under a bobber. You will likely have better success if you have a canoe or kayak to get out on the lake. Check out the stocking webpage to find out where fish have been stocked most recently.
  • Interested in catching Arctic grayling right here in Anchorage?! Catchable sized fish were stocked in Taku/Campbell and Delong lakes this week!
  • Cheney Lake has been fishing great! Anglers continue to catch coho salmon that were stocked in late March and rainbow trout that were recently stocked.
  • Lakes on JBER have been stocked catchable rainbow trout. Just a reminder, you need to register with iSportsman and check with base personnel prior to fishing on JBER.
  • Symphony Lake will open on July 1 and is a great place to catch Arctic grayling.
  • Northern pike are not native to Anchorage area lakes but there are some in Lower Fire Lake. If you catch a pike in any Anchorage area lake, please do not release it.

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.

Archives

Anchorage Area Archives for:
Sep 11, 2020 Sep 02, 2020 Aug 26, 2020 Aug 19, 2020 Aug 12, 2020 Aug 05, 2020 Jul 30, 2020 Jul 22, 2020
Jul 15, 2020 Jul 08, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Jun 24, 2020 Jun 16, 2020 Jun 10, 2020 Jun 03, 2020 May 28, 2020
May 20, 2020 May 13, 2020 May 06, 2020 Apr 29, 2020 Apr 08, 2020