Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 29, 2018

General Area Description: includes 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 Orders

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-8-18-18, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2018, the limits of sockeye salmon increased to twelve per day and twelve in possession in the northern salt waters of Resurrection Bay. The increase is for marine waters of Resurrection Bay north of a line from Caines Head to the north point of Thumb Cove. Anglers are reminded to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-8-19-18, effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 16 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2018, the bag and possession limit increased for sockeye salmon in the Resurrection Bay drainage specifically in fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the saltwater markers from three to six fish. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed in this freshwater area open to salmon fishing. The remainder of freshwater is closed to salmon fishing.
  • Anglers are reminded that to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River. Please see page 77 of the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for clarification.

Regulation Reminders

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed.
  • The personal use season for shrimp fishing with pot gear in North Gulf Coast area waters opened on April 15. A North Gulf Coast shrimp permit is required to participate in this fishery. This permit is different than the Prince William Sound Shrimp Permit and is NOT available online.
  • Lingcod fishing opens July 1.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Make sure you know the regulations! Unguided and guided anglers have different rules to follow. A more extensive description of the Federal Regulations can be found on NOAA’s Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Halibut fishing in the North Gulf Coast has been improving. Good weather days allowed boats to get out further for the bigger fish.
  • The Seward Halibut Tournament ends on Saturday, June 30. The current leader is just shy of 250 pounds! Top daily fish over the last week have been right around 100 pounds.

Salmon

  • The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently two per day, any size. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement; however, anglers do need a king stamp.
  • King salmon fishing has been fair to good in Resurrection Bay for both boat and shore anglers. Try trolling with a small- to medium-sized herring and an oversized flasher.
  • Sockeye salmon are still in Resurrection Bay but catching is taking a bit more effort by persistent anglers. See the Emergency Order for details about bag and possession limits.
  • Reports have come in about coho salmon being caught outside of Resurrection Bay.

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • Lingcod fishing opens on July 1.
  • 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 rockfish.
    • REMEMBER if you are targeting multiple species, target rockfish last, and use a deepwater release mechanism on all released rockfish. These devices can turn the chance of survival for a rockfish from near zero to near 100%
    • Never heard of deepwater release for rockfish? Stop by your local ADF&G office for a free release mechanism and instruction on how to use it, while supplies last. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for more information.

Shellfish

  • Reports from the personal-use shrimp pot fishery is that small amounts of shrimp are being caught. This fishery is now open in the entire North Gulf Coast area from Cape Fairfield to Gore Point. To participate in this 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 the 2018 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for regulations on this fishery and the shrimp pot requirements.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • There are no freshwater drainages in Resurrection Bay open to adults (16 years old or older) for king salmon fishing.
  • Resurrection River, downstream of the highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers, opened for salmon (except king salmon) on June 16. See the Emergency Order for bag and possession limits. Snagging is not allowed and a foul hooked fish in this section must be released immediately. Recent reports are that sockeye fishing has slowed but some fish are still being picked up with effort and time put in.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

  • Fish for Dolly Varden around creek mouths, especially creeks where pink and chum salmon usually spawn.
  • 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.

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

  • Area lakes are stocked so visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.
  • First Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout. This is a great place to take the kids or take a break from the salt water fisheries.

Archives

Resurrection Bay Area Archives for:
Sep 07, 2018 Aug 30, 2018 Aug 24, 2018 Aug 16, 2018 Aug 10, 2018 Aug 02, 2018 Jul 27, 2018 Jul 20, 2018
Jul 13, 2018 Jul 06, 2018 Jun 29, 2018 Jun 21, 2018 Jun 15, 2018 Jun 07, 2018 May 31, 2018 May 25, 2018
May 18, 2018 May 10, 2018