Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 25, 2022

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

Freshwater Fishing

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • From April 15 to June 14 there is no retention of cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, or steelhead trout 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).

Salmon

  • Sockeye salmon are slowly moving into Eyak River (in Cordova).

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

  • Halibut catches continue to be good for those getting out in this nice weather and traveling further out towards Montague Island.
  • The Valdez Halibut Derby has kicked off with top fish coming in the 70 to 90lb. range.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check your 2022 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
    • 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 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.

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 any time you have pots in the water.
  • In 2022, the limit is three pots per vessel but only two pots in areas in the vicinity of Whittier and Valdez. See the emergency order below and the map that comes with your permit for area specifics.
  • Don’t forget you must record your catch on your permit prior to leaving the site or concealing your catch.
  • Looking for a good starting depth? Try dropping your pots in the 300-400’ range but even shallower can be more productive this time of year.
  • 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 (e.g., octopus).
  • Harvest reports are due online by October 15. You can keep up on your harvest report throughout the season. We suggest entering your harvest data after each trip you take. Once the season closes, you have 30 days to get your harvest reported.
    • **Harvest must be reported for each individual time you pull your pots and include your date, location, soak time, number of pots, and your harvest report in gallons of whole shrimp. If you fail to report your harvest by October 15, 2022, you will not be able to get a permit in 2023.

Salmon

  • Itching to catch salmon in the saltwater? Start trolling for kings in Passage Canal. It’s never too early to start looking, as these fish could show up any time.
  • King salmon are getting picked up out by Cape Cleare and Montague Island for those venturing out further and spending time trolling.
  • No solid king salmon reports from shore anglers at Fleming Spit in Cordova but kings should be moving their way in over the next couple of weeks.

Local Lakes

  • Lakes are opening up in some areas of Prince William Sound, but some still have ice on them. Fish in these lakes will be hungry!
  • Blueberry and Thompson lakes and Ruth Pond (Valdez area) 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-6-18-22 reduced the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp fishery. The pot limit per person and per vessel has been reduced to three pots; however, of those three pots, only two pots can be set in areas of historical high effort, including areas near the Port of Valdez, near the Port of Whittier, and in portions of Port Wells and Culross Passage. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2022.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2022 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, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in 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 09, 2022 Sep 01, 2022 Aug 25, 2022 Aug 17, 2022 Aug 11, 2022 Aug 03, 2022 Jul 28, 2022 Jul 21, 2022
Jul 14, 2022 Jul 06, 2022 Jun 30, 2022 Jun 23, 2022 Jun 16, 2022 Jun 10, 2022 Jun 02, 2022 May 25, 2022
May 19, 2022 May 13, 2022