Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 13, 2019

Week of September 12 - September 18

Saltwater Fishing

Salmon

  • King salmon are still getting picked up while trolling for coho salmon. Make sure to brush up on your species id!
    • Don’t forget, the king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently one per day and one in possession (September 1 – April 30), any size. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest reporting requirement, but a king salmon stamp is required.
  • Coho salmon continue to be caught and fishing has been fair to good. Recent reports are of more fish getting picked up closer to town but still not in large numbers. Shore anglers near the outfall of the Seward Lagoon are finding a few fish. Anglers with vessels that travel out past Caines Head are getting into more coho. If you are out fishing by boat, try a mix of mooching and trolling with a different set ups. Should start to taper off near the end of the September. The jellyfish have made things challenging this season.
    • Don’t forget, 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 cohos inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay.

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

  • Lingcod fishing is open from July 1 through December 31 in the North Gulf Coast; however, lingcod fishing is always closed in Resurrection Bay.
    • These are aggressive fish but make sure you don’t use a gaff to puncture any fish you think you might release.
    • Remember bag limits for lingcod are only one per day and in possession. The minimum size to retain a lingcod is 35 inches with the head attached (or 28 inches with the head removed).
    • Anglers are likely to get into rockfish while targeting lingcod. If you haven’t utilized deepwater release methods to release rockfish you are not going to retain, this is a great time to become familiar with it! You can make your own release device with an old jig by filing off the barb and tying your line to the bend in the hook. For more info, check out our Rockfish Conservation webpage.
    • Having trouble identifying the species of rockfish you caught? Check out our rockfish ID sheet for the more commonly captured rockfish. You can also check out NOAA’s in-depth rockfish identification page.
  • Halibut fishing continues to be good. Coho salmon continue to get picked up by anglers targeting halibut. That’s a sign you should probably be fishing deep for cohos.
  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Please check Federal Regulations under NOAA’s Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day and eight in possession of which only one per day and two in possession can be a nonpelagic rockfish.
  • Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism will be required to be onboard all vessels sportfishing statewide and they must be used to release rockfish at depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.
    • Never heard of deepwater release?? Check out our webpage for more info!

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • Hooligan dipnetting is closed.

Freshwater Fishing

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden

  • Try creek mouths for Dolly Varden this time of the year. Especially creeks where pinks and chum salmon will be spawning. Casting small spinners and spoons off the beach can provide some good action.
  • If you are fly fishing, egg patterns are good to use in Seward area streams this time of the year.

Salmon

  • A portion of the Resurrection River freshwaters are open to coho salmon fishing. Fishing has been good but watch for the sign designating freshwater.

Lakes

  • Troop Lake is a nice hike and fly-fishing option off the beaten path. Anglers have been reporting good success in this lake with both flies and spinners.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

  • There are currently no Emergency Orders for the North Gulf Coast Management Area.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Anchorage Sport Fish Info Desk at (907) 267-2218.

Archives

Resurrection Bay Area Archives for:
Sep 17, 2019 Sep 13, 2019 Sep 05, 2019 Aug 29, 2019 Aug 22, 2019 Aug 14, 2019 Aug 07, 2019 Jul 31, 2019
Jul 25, 2019 Jul 19, 2019 Jul 11, 2019 Jul 03, 2019 Jun 27, 2019 Jun 20, 2019 Jun 13, 2019 Jun 06, 2019
May 31, 2019 May 24, 2019 May 16, 2019 May 09, 2019