Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 16, 2022

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

Freshwater Fishing

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

• Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, or steelhead trout fishing is open with a bag and possession limit of two fish between 11 to 16 inches.
• Bait is allowed during this time. Anglers may use bait, artificial lures, and flies.
• Pipeline lakes are a fun spot for catching cutthroat trout. It’s a nice short hike with lots of locations to try.
• Dolly Varden/Arctic char are open year-around with a bag and possession limit of 10 fish (no size restrictions).

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon are starting to arrive to Eyak River (in Cordova). A few fish have been reported up by the dam/weir.
  • Remember effective June 1 - September 30, Eyak River Special Regulations are in effect. From a point 200 yards upstream from the Eyak Lake dam/weir to a point 200 yards downstream from the bridge at the outlet of Eyak Lake only single hook, artificial flies with a hook gap of 3/8 inch or less between point and shank are allowed. In addition, no additional weight may be attached to your line.

Saltwater Fishing

Port sampling efforts have begun in Valdez and in Whittier. Please assist our port sampling program by returning to the harbor with whole groundfish or carcasses and allowing ADF&G technicians to sample your harvest when requested. Data collected from the sport 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 Southcentral.

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

• Halibut catches continue to be good for those getting out in this nice weather and traveling further out towards Montague Island but more catches of small – medium sized halibut have been reported. If you’re anchoring up put out a chum bag to help attract these fish.
• The Valdez Halibut Derby fish are getting bigger and pushing 150lbs! This derby runs through early September.
• 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 Alaska 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 depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Never 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 250-400’ range. If your new to shrimping setting pots for a few hours and then checking them to see what your catching is a good idea. If you’re not catching, try a different depth or location.
• 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 all of 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 or just outside near Pigot Point. 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.
• Kings are showing up for shore anglers at Fleming Spit in Cordova. Fishing the hour before and after the high tide are your best bets.
  • Remember the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area is closed to snagging from June 1 to September 30.
• Sockeye salmon are going to start returning to Main Bay hatchery in the coming weeks and fishing will start to pick up. This is a great place to pick up sockeye salmon but there are many other dynamics associated with this fishery anglers should be aware of.
  • In Main Bay, if you are in the area near the barrier seine net, please be cautious and don’t get your snagging hooks caught in the net or the buoy line marking the top of the net. If you are motoring over the net, please also use extreme caution. Remember you are not allowed to fish from a vessel within 60 feet of the barrier seine which is the buoys you see stretched across closest to the hatchery. The 60-foot distance from the barrier seine is typically marked with an additional line of buoys. Basic rule is don’t fish from your vessel beyond the first string of buoys you see.
  • Anglers may also see the cost-recovery seine boat operating near the barrier seine. The harvest of these fish for cost-recovery purposes is very important for this fishery to continue. Also, in Main Bay this week a supply barge will be unloading supplies at the hatchery at the head of the bay. Please yield to the cost recovery vessel and barge. Use extreme caution around the net and do not interfere with their operations.

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 and fun to catch!
• Blueberry and Thompson lakes and Ruth Pond (Valdez area) are getting stocked in the next week. Ruth Pond is a great place to take the kids!

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! 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.