Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 14, 2014

Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta Area

Week of May 13 to May 19
Issued May 13, 2014

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Permits are mandatory for all noncommercial shrimp fisherman. Permits are available at local Fish and Game offices and at select vendors.
• Lingcod season is closed until July 1 to protect nest-guarding males.
• Cutthroat and Rainbow/Steelhead trout fishing is closed until June 15th.
• Ibeck Creek is closed to all sport fishing upstream from a point 3 miles above the Copper River Highway.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• Fishing for salmon in freshwater is limited this time of year. Look for a few early fish to be in rivers over the next couple weeks.
Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling
• Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing is closed until June 15 to protect spawning adults.
• Dolly Varden are present in many of the streams throughout Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta. Use fry/smolt imitation flies or small spinners at lake outlets or stream confluences.

Salt waters

Halibut, Lingcod, and Rockfish

• Halibut fishing is picking up all over the sound. Spring time is often a good time to try some shallower spots.
• Rockfish angling is quite productive with small jigs near rocky reefs.
• AND REMEMBER if you are targeting multiple species, target rockfish last, and use a deepwater release mechanism on all released rockfish (these devices can turn the chance of survival for a rockfish from near zero to near 100%!)
What’s deepwater release?
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.rockfishconservation

Salmon

• Trolling for winter kings should be productive near Cordova and near other salmon producing streams. Trolling near shallow rocky reefs and headlands is a good bet this time of year.

Shellfish

• Shrimping continues to be productive near Whittier and Valdez.
• Don’t forget your shrimp permit – everyone needs one.