Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 20, 2017

Week of July 20 to July 26

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order No. 2-RS-8-23-17 went into effect Saturday, July 1, 2017, and increased the sockeye salmon bag and possession limit to twelve fish in marine waters at the head of Resurrection Bay. The sockeye bag and possession limit south of line from Caines head to Thumb Cove remains the same as specified in the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fish Regulations Summary booklet.
• The Resurrection River (fresh water area), downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road opened to salmon (except king salmon) fishing on Friday, June 16. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures are allowed; snagging is not permitted in this freshwater portion of Resurrection River.
• The personal use season for shrimp fishing with pot gear in North Gulf Coast area waters opened on April 15. North Gulf Coast shrimp permit is required to participate in this fishery.
• Lingcod fishing opened on Saturday, July 1. Make sure to review the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for length restrictions on lingcod prior to going out.

Saltwaters

Halibut

• Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Make sure you know the regulations! Unguided and guided anglers have different rules to follow.
• Halibut fishing in the North Gulf Coast continues to be good this year. Medium sized fish are being caught by those fishing further out. Fishing closer to town, try fishing on drop offs near creek mouths where pinks salmon will congregate before making their final spawning runs. Use large bait (e.g.; large herring or salmon bellies) to avoid catches of small non-targeted species.

Salmon

• Limits of silvers are being caught both inside and outside the bay.
• Just a few sockeye and king salmon have been reported caught from shore or near the harbor by boat.
• As a reminder, the coho limit outside of Resurrection Bay is three per day; three in possession and inside Resurrection Bay is six per day; six in possession. Anglers that have caught six silvers inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Lingcod fishing opened July 1. Reports continue to be mixed. Some anglers having lots of success while others had difficulty finding any fish. Lingcod fishing is CLOSED year-round within Resurrection Bay. Check the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for location specifics, if you are unsure of where you are allowed to target lingcod.
• Rockfish are easy to catch and have a fairly conservative bag limit, so target your rockfish last.
  • Use deepwater release methods to release incidentally caught rockfish.

Never heard of deepwater release for rockfish??? For details, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Fishing Tip: Brush up on your rockfish identification before you head out fishing by reviewing page 90 of the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.

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.
• Review page 83 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for regulations on this fishery, and page 82 for shrimp pot requirements.

Freshwaters

Salmon

• The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road opened to salmon (except king salmon) fishing on June 16. This is considered the “fresh water section” and is the only fresh water section open to salmon fishing in this area. Limits are three per day, three in possession, of which only two may be coho salmon.
• Snagging is NOT allowed in the fresh water portion of Resurrection River.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Dolly Varden are migrating toward fresh waters following salmon into creeks. Try small lures or bright marabou flies. You can try casting small spinners and spoons off the beach for some sea run Dolly Varden action.
• Fry and smolt patterns have been known to produce catches of Dolly Varden in Seward area streams. They work especially well right now with the outmigration of salmon!

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

• Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.
• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout a few weeks ago.