Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 14, 2015

North Gulf Coast Area

Week of July 14 to July 20

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• King Salmon limits: May 1-August 31, 2 per day, 2 in possession. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement.
• Salmon (except king salmon) limits: 6 per day, 6 in possession.
• In Resurrection Bay, Salmon (other than king salmon) have a bag and possession limit of six fish, of which all six may be coho salmon; no size limit. Outside of Resurrection, Salmon (other than king salmon) bag and possession limit of six fish, of which only three per day and in possession may be coho salmon; no size limit.
• A person may possess only the limit of fish allowed for the water on which that person is fishing (see page 7 SC Sport Fishing Regulations). For example, possession of more than 3 coho salmon outside Resurrection Bay (south of a line from Aialik Cape to Cape Resurrection) exceeds the North Gulf Coast salt waters possession limit for this species. It is illegal to fish for any species in these waters with more than 3 coho salmon in your possession.
• Lingcod fishing opened up on July 1 in the North Gulf Coast… but not in Res. Bay.
• 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
• Halibut fishing is good in the North Gulf Coast, and catches have picked up with the nice weather. Fishermen have been reporting a few larger halibut being caught closer but if you want the big fish you have to travel a little farther from port. Halibut should be starting to move in closer following the salmon.

King Salmon:

• The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is now two per day, any size. Fishing has slowed down although a few are still being picked up. The highest concentration of kings is near the Seward Lagoon outlet stream. Searching for those bait balls and trolling out further has produced some nice fish also.

Other Salmon:

• In Resurrection Bay, Salmon (other than king salmon) have a bag and possession limit of six fish, of which all six may be coho salmon; no size limit.
• Outside of Resurrection, Salmon (other than king salmon) bag and possession limit of six fish, of which only three per day and in possession may be coho salmon; no size limit.

Sockeye Salmon:

• The sockeye have slowing way down, but still showing up, and fishing is hit or miss 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.

Silver Salmon:

• Fishermen are reporting good catches of silver salmon in the Seward Area (See “Other Salmon” for bag and possession limits). Fish are being picked up around Caines Head and Pony cove. Fishermen are picking them by trolling or mooching near schools of bait balls.

Other salt water fishing

Lingcod:

• In Resurrection Bay, lingcod is closed year around.
• Lingcod fishing, except Resurrection Bay opened July 1 and will remain open until December 31. The limit is 1 per day, 1 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed. Lingcod which are gaffed must be retained. Fishermen have been reporting low catches although fishermen that travel out to Chiswell Island and further are having greater success.
• Fishing Tip:A gaff may not be used to puncture and fish intended or required to be released.

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 opened 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.

Helpful definitions:

• “bag limit” means the maximum number of animals of anyone game species a person may take in a unit or portion of a unit in which the taking occurs
• “possession limit” means prepared for immediate consumption or prepared in such a manner, and in an existing state of preservation, as to be fit for human consumption after a 15-day period.