Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 20, 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.

General Area Description: includes all waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling.

Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sportfishing 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.

  • Emergency Order 2-SHR-6-13-20 decreases the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound shrimp fishery to three pots per person with a maximum of three pots per vessel used to take shrimp.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Sockeye salmon should be starting their way into the Eyak River in Cordova, but no reports have been received from sport anglers.

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • Fishing closures are in place for cutthroat trout and rainbow trout/steelhead from April 15-June 14 to protect spawning fish.

Saltwater Fishing

Port Sampling efforts in Whittier will start this week. Port sampling efforts will start next week in Valdez.

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 season is closed and will open on July 1.
  • Rockfish and halibut are the favorites to catch in Prince William Sound right now.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check your 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.

Salmon

  • Chum salmon should start showing up around Ester. It doesn’t hurt to try trolling in Passage Canal in anticipation of king salmon should be returning in the coming month.

Shrimp

  • Don’t forget to get your shrimp permit! The sport and subsistence shrimp season opened on
    April 15 and will close on September 15, 2020. You are required to have your permit with you and document anytime you have pots in the water.
  • After retrieval, you must record your catch on your permit immediately after you harvest shrimp.
  • You can report your shrimp harvest online any time. Once the season closes you must report all of your harvest no later than October 15, 2020. **Harvest must be reported for each individual time you pull your pots.
  • Shrimping has been good! There is no magic depth for shrimping. A good starting point would be in the 300-400’ range.

Local Lakes

  • While lakes are open to fishing, there is still ice on many of them at this time.
  • Blueberry and Thompson lakes and Ruth Pond will be stocked towards the end of June.

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

Prince William Sound Area Archives for:
Sep 14, 2020 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 27, 2020 May 20, 2020 May 13, 2020 May 07, 2020