Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 30, 2018

General Area Description: includes all waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling. This area includes the major communities of Valdez, Whittier, and Cordova.

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Order

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-SHR-6-05-18, the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in Prince William Sound was reduced from five pots per person with a maximum of five pots per vessel, to four pots per person with a maximum of four pots per vessel.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-6-30-18, the Coghill River drainage sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to 12 fish per day, 24 in possession. In addition, the area closed to fishing adjacent to the Coghill River weir has been reduced to 50 feet.

Regulation Reminders

  • Copper River Highway streams:
    • A coho salmon that is removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the daily bag limit for the person who originally hooked the fish. A person may not remove a coho salmon from the water before releasing it.
    • From August 15-September 15: After harvesting a limit of coho salmon a person many not sport fish with bait for the rest of the day in these waters.
  • Ibeck Creek is closed to all sport fishing upstream from a point 3 miles above the Copper River Highway.
  • The Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp fishery closes on September 15. Permits are mandatory for all noncommercial shrimp fisherman. Permits are available online, at local ADF&G offices, and at select vendors.
  • Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing is open.
  • Cordova terminal harvest area is closed to snagging through September 30.
  • Power Creek and Eyak Lake in Cordova are CLOSED to salmon fishing year-round.

New Regulations

  • Lingcod season is open. The bag and possession limit is one per day and one in possession, must be 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
  • The year-round rockfish regulation in Prince William Sound is a bag limit of four per day and eight in possession; however, only ONE fish can be a nonpelagic rockfish. The bag and possession limit of nonpelagic rockfish has changed to ONE in your bag limit and only ONE in your possession. The requirement to retain the first nonpelagic rockfish is no longer in regulation.
  • Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism will be required to be onboard all vessels sportfishing in the Prince William Sound Management Area and they must be used to release rockfish at depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Coho salmon are being caught in Cordova highway streams. Fishing continues to be fair to good and is dependent on how much rain comes in day to day. Ibeck Creek has been seeing the most action while fishing is just picking up more at Alaganik Slough. Bait and spinners are both working well.
  • Reminder: A person may not remove a coho salmon from the water before releasing it. Currently, after harvesting a limit of coho salmon a person many not sport fish with bait for the rest of the day in these waters.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

  • Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing is open. Try egg patterns around spawning salmon or small spinners.
  • Pipeline lakes in Cordova are a great group of close lakes to catch cutthroat trout.
  • Dolly Varden are present in many streams. Try a fry/smolt imitation fly or small spinners.
  • Ruth Pond or Blueberry Lake near Valdez are great options for catchable-size rainbow trout.

Saltwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Fishing has picked up at Fleming Spit in Cordova and it should continue to get better!
  • Pink and coho salmon are around in Valdez! Pinks aren’t in as good of shape. Drop quick and deeper to get through these fish to get to the coho salmon. Shore and boat fishing are both great right now!
  • The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby ends this weekend. Leading fish is over 17 lbs!
  • In Western Prince William Sound, coho salmon continue to be caught by trolling or mooching a hoochie squid with a cut plug herring around Crafton Island and Main Bay.
  • Still no significant reports of anglers catching coho salmon around Whittier, but they should be coming in any day.
    • Reminder: Whittier harbor is closed to snagging.

Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish

  • Lingcod fishing is open and lots of nice fish have been caught this year. However, lingcod fishing has been slow to fair around Prince William Sound. Remember, bag limits in Prince William Sound have changed since last year! The bag and possession limit is only ONE fish per day and ONE in possession. The use of a gaff is not allowed unless you plan to retain lingcod you have caught.
  • Rockfish can be caught easily year-round throughout Prince William Sound. Large schools of pelagic rockfish have been reported all over Southern Prince William Sound.
    • Check the regulations as bag limits have changed! The daily bag and possession limit is now only ONE nonpelagic in Prince William Sound.
    • Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism will be required to be onboard all vessels sportfishing in the Prince William Sound Management area and they must be used to release rockfish at depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.
    • 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%!
    • Never heard of deepwater release for rockfish? Stop by your local ADF&G office for a free release mechanism and instruction on how to use it), while supplies last. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for additional information.

Shellfish

  • Shrimp season closes on September 15 and it’s been a good year. Depths ranging around 400 feet are good producers. You don’t have to go too deep. Remember, it’s important to have good bait to entice the shrimp into the pots.
  • Make sure you have proper markings on your buoy! See your permit for the required information.
  • You may get your permit online, but you must have a printed and signed copy with you while fishing. Permit needs to be in possession as you are shrimping, and harvest needs to be reported before your catch is concealed.
  • Don’t forget to record when you drop your pots in the water the first trip out and remember only 4 pots are allowed per vessel in 2018.
  • Don’t forget to turn in your harvest report after the season closes on September 15 or whenever you wrap up for the season.
  • IF YOU LOSE YOUR POTS, contact the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and report them immediately. You can reach AST dispatch at (907) 352-5401, Extension 1.

Archives

Prince William Sound Area Archives for:
Sep 07, 2018 Aug 30, 2018 Aug 24, 2018 Aug 17, 2018 Aug 10, 2018 Aug 02, 2018 Jul 27, 2018 Jul 19, 2018
Jul 13, 2018 Jul 06, 2018 Jun 29, 2018 Jun 22, 2018 Jun 15, 2018 Jun 07, 2018 May 31, 2018 May 25, 2018
May 18, 2018 May 10, 2018