Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 23, 2015

North Gulf Coast Area

Week of June 23 to June 29

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• A portion of Resurrection River opened to salmon fishing June 16.
• Lingcod fishing remains closed until July 1.
• For additional information about regulations in the North Gulf Coast Area look in the 2015 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary. These are available at all the Fish and Game offices as well as most places that sell fishing gear.

Salt Water

Halibut

• Sport fishing regulations for Pacific halibut in Alaska are developed on the international, federal and state levels by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), NOAA Fisheries (NMFS), and the State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
• Halibut are federally managed. View National Marine Fisheries Service webpage to learn more. http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/halibut/sport.htm
• To get a summary of the NEW 2015 regulations concerning Halibut;  http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/halibut/charter/factsheet2015.pdf
• This is the last week of the Seward Halibut Derby with some real nice fish being entered. A couple of halibut over 200 lbs. and the heavy weight is at 291 lbs. Halibut fishing is good in the North Gulf Coast, and catches have picked up with the nice weather. On average fishermen are reporting average sizes are larger than 30 lb. halibut. Fishermen have been reporting a few larger halibut being caught closer but if you want the larger fish you have to travel a little further from port. If you are halibut fishing don’t forget to purchase your derby ticket.

King Salmon:

• The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is now two per day, any size.
• Anglers are reporting a few kings being caught from the shore in Seward. The highest concentration of kings is near the Seward Lagoon outlet stream. Fishermen are having the best success with spinning lures.

Sockeye Salmon:

• The sockeye are still showing up in the bay, and fishing is getting better and better in the snag fishery off the mouth of Resurrection River/Salmon Creek.
• The sockeye salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is now 6 per day, and 6 in possession.

Other salt water fishing

Lingcod:

• In Resurrection Bay, lingcod is closed year around.
• Lingcod fishing, except Resurrection Bay remains closed until July 1 to protect nest guarding males.

Rockfish:

• 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. For details, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.rockfishconservation  
• Fishing Tip: Don’t forget the first two non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained. It might be a good idea to fish for your rock fish last.

Other:

• Pacific cod fishing was excellent this past week. People caught these incidentally while trolling for salmon. They also make a good table fair.
• Personal use dipnetting fishing for eulachon (smelt) is closed.

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.
• Check out page 10 of the 2015 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary for regulations on this fishery.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• Resurrection River downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road opens June 16 (see SC regulation pg 78 for additional details) to salmon fishing. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures are allowed. The limit is 3 salmon per day, and only 3 in possession.
• All other freshwaters in Resurrection Bay are closed to salmon fishing.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Fish for Dolly Varden around creek mouths, especially creeks where pink and chum salmon spawn.
• Use small silver spoons or spinners or, if you are fly-fishing, try a pattern that imitates salmon fry.

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

• Check the ADF&G Sport Fish website for stocking updates.