Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 07, 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. This includes the community and port of Seward.

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Orders

  • There are currently no Emergency Orders in effect for the North Gulf Coast Area at the time of this report.

Regulation Reminders

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is still closed. Hooligan will reopen next spring, April 1, 2019.
  • The personal use season for shrimp fishing with pot gear in North Gulf Coast area waters is open from April 15 through September 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. Please do not forget to report.
  • Lingcod fishing is open from July 1 through December 31, except within Resurrection Bay, which is closed. The bag and possession limit is ONE per day and ONE in possession and must be 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.

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 the NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Halibut fishing in the North Gulf Coast continues to be good! Boats that are headed out further are reporting better success but weather isn’t always cooperating. Nice sized fish are being caught by those fishing outside Resurrection Bay. Use larger bait to avoid catches of non-target species.

Salmon

  • King salmon fishing has slowed down. An occasional fish is being picked up in Resurrection Bay. With coho and king salmon both present it is a good time to refresh your knowledge in the different identifying characteristics between the two different species. Coho salmon won’t have spots on the lower lobe of their tail. Kings typically will have spots on both lobes of their tail.
  • Coho salmon are in Seward. Schools of coho are concentrated near town! Fishing is being reported as good to excellent depending on the tide stage. The more productive time seems to be as the tide is coming in.
    • Reminder: the coho salmon bag limit outside of Resurrection Bay is three per day and three in possession and inside Resurrection Bay is six per day and six in possession.
    • Anglers that have caught six coho salmon inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay and fish for any species in waters with more than three coho salmon in their possession.
  • See the “Freshwater Fishing Salmon” section below to learn about the last Youth-Only Fishery for the 2018 season.

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • Lingcod fishing is open annually from July 1 – December 31, except within Resurrection Bay, which is closed. Fishermen continue to catch nice-sized lingcod around the North Gulf Coast. Try fishing large lead-head jigs with a rubber twister-tail grub near rocky capes and pinnacles. Don’t forget to measure your lingcod! The use of a gaff is not allowed unless you plan to retain lingcod you have caught.
  • Rockfish are easy to catch and have a fairly conservative bag limit, so target your rockfish last. The rockfish daily bag limit is four per day, of which only one 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

  • There are no recent shellfish reports. 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 king salmon fishing.
  • The Seward Lagoon and Outfall will be open September 7 – 9 for a Youth-Only Fishery. The coho limit is two per day and two in possession. Coho salmon are plentiful in the outfall stream so youth anglers should have good success first thing in the morning. After the fish get fished it will take them a while to calm down and bite again.
    • Reminder: This is a youth fishery and only anglers 15 years of age or younger can participate. The fish belongs to the person who sets the hook and all snagged fish must be immediately released. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater.
  • Resurrection River, downstream of the highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers, is currently open for salmon (except king salmon) fishing. Coho fishing is picking up in the saltwater so the fresh should pick up over the next week!
    • Reminder: In the Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to ADFG markers, the bag and possession limit for salmon, except king salmon, is three per day and three in possession, of which only two may be coho salmon.

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.
  • Troop Lake is a nice hike and good place to go catch some rainbows away from the crowds. As the temperatures decrease switch to sub-surface flies or lures like leach’s or spinners to entice a bite.

This is the last fishing report for the 2018 season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available. For current seasonal information, please contact the Anchorage office at (907) 267-2218.

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