Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 24, 2014

Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta Area

Week of June 24-30
Issued June 24, 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… Hang in there…
• Ibeck Creek is closed to all sport fishing upstream from a point 3 miles above the Copper River Highway.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon are distributed throughout the Eyak River. Anglers reported catching their limits at holes near the Mountain Slough cutoff and at the bridge at 6 mile. Fly fishing only within 200 feet upstream of the weir and 200 feet below the bridge…check regulations.
• Coghill River sockeye salmon are definitely picking up and should be good this weekend.
• Eshamy sockeye should be showing up any day if not already. Remember, no snagging inside the fresh/salt water markers.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Cutthroat trout fishing is pretty good along the Copper River highway. Smolt patterns and small spinners at stream confluences, lake outlets and in estuaries good options this time of year.
• Anglersare reminded to check the Prince William Sound regulations on the legal size limit for retained trout.
• 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 angling has been good to excellent in deeper water near the entrances. Valdez anglers seem to be having more luck than anglers fishing out of Whittier. If you are heading out of Whittier, try your luck in some holes out by Applegate Island and other spots North of Crafton Island.
• Most folks going out on charters from Whittier are coming back with half of their limit of two; having trouble finding individuals under 29 inches.
• Pacific Cod catches have been quite good by LaTouche and Hitchenbrook.
• Rockfish angling is quite productive with small jigs near rocky reefs. Remember to move once you catch your limit. Fishing has been pretty good throughout the sound, but particularly on the north end of Knight island.
• 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

• At Flemming Spit, hatchery kings have been seen rolling near the cove, and the fishing is definitely picking up.. Go get yours today!
• Whittier Kings are back as well and were looking good last weekend…if you are looking for some saltwater kings and don’t have a boat, here’s your chance!
• The Main Bay hatchery sockeye salmon return is back and one recent report claimed it was “on fire”. Look for this fishery to continue to improve through the 4th of July. For interested anglers, here is a link to the commercial fishery announcements for Prince William Sound:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareapws.salmon

Shellfish

• Shrimping continues to be productive throughout the Sound with anglers reporting better catches with deeper sets; 350 - 600 ft.
• Don’t forget your shrimp permit – everyone needs one.