Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 24, 2014

North Gulf Coast Area

Week of June 24 to June 30
Issued June 30, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Lingcod fishing remains closed until July 1.
• The Resurrection River Drainage south of Nash Road and south of the Seward Highway is open to salmon fishing. See page 58 of the Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations for details.

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been very good in North Gulf Coast waters this past week. The new derby leader – a 260 pounder - was landed.
• Anglers having the best success are heading east out of Resurrection Bay,
• Halibut fishing inside the bay requires more patience.

Salmon

• The stocked king salmon fishery off the Seward Lagoon outfall has been productive. Boat anglers are also trolling for these kings.
• Boats making it out to Montague Island have been landing a good number of king salmon.
• The sockeye fishery at the head bay has been excellent this year, but it is slowing. Remember, you must be in salt water to snag fish. If you are in fresh water snagging is illegal.
• No action yet for coho salmon, but it is still early.
• There are a lot of pinks and chums in the bay.

Other salt water fishing

• Lingcod fishing will open July 1 – next Tuesday.
• Rockfish are easy to catch and have a fairly conservative bag limit, so target your rockfish last.
• The rockfish daily bag limit is 4 per day, of which only 1 may be a non-pelagic (demersal) rockfish.
• Use deepwater release methods to release incidentally caught rockfish. Avoid venting rockfish intended for release. Vented rockfish do not survive as well as those released at capture depth. For details on deepwater release, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.rockfishconservation
• Pacific cod fishing has been very good recently.
• Try casting small shiny spinners and spoons, or fly fishing with a smolt pattern for Dollies off the South Beach on Lowell Point.

Shellfish

• There have been no reports from the personal-use shrimp pot fishery. This fishery is now open in the entire North Gulf Coast area from Cape Fairfield to Gore Point. To participate in the fishery you must be an Alaska resident with a current sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent ID card, and a North Gulf Coast shrimp pot fishery permit. Permits can be obtained at the Anchorage, Homer, or Soldotna ADF&G offices. They can also be obtained at The Fish House in Seward.
• Check out page 63 of the 2013 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary for regulations on this fishery, and page 62 shrimp pot requirements.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• If the water levels and water clarity are good in the open area, salmon fishing might be worth a try. See sport fishing regulations for details about legal gear and legal areas.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Dolly Varden might be tough to find in fresh water right now.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike are not native to Southcentral Alaska. Please report the capture of any pike in unconfirmed waters to ADF&G. Do not release any pike you have caught.

Lake Fishing

• Expect slow fishing for rainbow trout at First Lake right now.
• Hike or bike into Lost Lake to fish for rainbow trout may be in order. Lost Lake is only stocked every so often and does not get much fishing pressure, so it may harbor a lunker or two. If not, the scenery is incredible.