Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 21, 2021

*Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by reviewing and following 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 as indicated in Health Alert 012.

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

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Still no reports from anglers catching sockeye salmon on the Eyak. Sockeye salmon should start showing up into Eyak River (in Cordova) over the next couple of weeks.

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • From April 15-June 14 there is no retention of cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, or steelhead to protect spawning fish. In addition, no bait is allowed during this time. Anglers may only use unbaited, artificial lures or flies.
  • Dolly Varden/ Arctic Char is open year-round with a bag and possession limit of 10 fish (No size restrictions).

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

  • Halibut and rockfish are the favorites to catch in Prince William Sound right now. Many anglers are reporting the success of catching some decent halibut.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check your 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
  • Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to a depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Ever heard of deepwater release? Check out our webpage for more info!
  • Lingcod season will open on July 1.

Salmon

  • Bait is still hanging around Passage Canal. Look king salmon following the schools of bait. Anglers are saying it is slow, but it is never too early to start looking as these fish could show up any time.

Shrimp

  • Don’t forget to get your PWS shrimp permit! The sport and subsistence shrimp season opened on
    April 15 and will close on September 15. You are required to have your permit with you and document it anytime you have pots in the water.
  • Don’t forget you must record your catch on your permit prior to leaving the site or concealing your catch.
  • To save time at the end of the season report your shrimp harvest online throughout the season. Once the season closes you must report all of your harvests no later than October 15, 2021. Harvest must be reported for each individual time you pull your pots.
  • Looking for a good starting depth? Try dropping your pots in the 300-400’ range.
  • Shrimpers are allowed to carry additional pots on their vessel, but those pots cannot be fished while shrimping even if they are targeting a different species (i.e. octopus).

Local Lakes

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

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-6-15-21 decreases the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound shrimp fishery from five pots per person with a maximum of five pots per vessel to two pots per person with a maximum of two pots per vessel.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 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 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing for 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 20, 2021 Sep 09, 2021 Sep 02, 2021 Aug 25, 2021 Aug 18, 2021 Aug 11, 2021 Aug 05, 2021 Jul 28, 2021
Jul 21, 2021 Jul 14, 2021 Jul 07, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Jun 24, 2021 Jun 17, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 03, 2021
May 26, 2021 May 21, 2021 May 12, 2021 May 05, 2021 Apr 14, 2021