Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 18, 2016
Bristol Bay Area
Week of July 18 to 24
Issued July 18, 2016
During the December 2015 meeting, the Alaska Board of Fish made the following regulatory changes to Bristol Bay sport fisheries. These new regulations are published in the 2016 Bristol Bay sport fishing regulation summary, and are in effect this season.
- “No chumming” regulation amended to include only sport fishing guides and guided anglers.
- Big Creek opened to catch-and-release for king salmon from May 1 - July 31.
- The Naknek River within a one-quarter mile radius of Big Creek opened to retention of king salmon from May 1 - July 31.
- During the March 2016 statewide meeting, the Alaska Board of Fish made the following regulatory changes that applied to Bristol Bay sport fisheries. These new regulations are NOT published in the 2016 Bristol Bay sport fishing regulation summary but are in effect this season.
- A bare single hook is now included in the definition of an artificial fly.
- Clarified that an attractor bead that is either fixed within 2 inches of the fly (or bare hook) or is free sliding on the line or leader may be used in fly-fishing only waters.
Fresh waters
King Salmon
- Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
- In the Naknek, sport fishing is currently reported as fair and should remain fair throughout this week. In the Alagnak, sport fishing is currently reported as fair.
- Nushagak drainage:
- Sport fishing is currently reported as poor to fair as the end of the run is approaching.
- The sonar near Portage Creek is operational and 123,301 kings have been counted by the sonar through July 17. The inriver goal of 95,000 has been exceeded and no restrictive management action will be taken on the sport fishery this season.
- Togiak River and nearby drainages:
- Sport fishing has slowed down but is still currently reported as good with anglers easily catching their daily bag limit.
Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling
- Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
- Fishing is reported as fair for rainbow trout.
- Togiak River and nearby drainages:
- Fishing is reported as fair to good.
- Wood River Lakes system:
- Fishing is reported as good to very good for rainbows, Dollies, and grayling.
Northern Pike
- Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
- Fishing should remain fair to good.
- Wood River Lake system:
- Fishing is fair along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.
Salt waters
Halibut
- Nushagak Bay
- Fishing should be fair off the coast of Protection Point.