Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 25, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the North Gulf Coast Area at its Seward December 2019 meeting and the Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the North Gulf Coast sport fisheries regulations.

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.

Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Never heard of deepwater release? Check out our rockfish conservation webpage for more info!

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

  • Emergency Order 2-RS-8-25-20 effective 12:01a.m. Wednesday, June 24 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2020, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits have been increased to 12 fish per day and 12 fish in possession in the Resurrection River and adjacent saltwaters of Resurrection Bay.

Freshwater Fishing

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed in freshwaters.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden

  • Try creek mouths for Dolly Varden this time of the year. Casting small spinners and spoons off the beach can provide some good action.
  • If you are fly fishing, fry and smolt patterns are good to use in Seward area streams this time of the year.

Salmon

  • The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers opened to salmon fishing (except king salmon) on Tuesday, June 16. Only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
  • Effective Wednesday, June 24 in the freshwaters of the Resurrection River open to salmon fishing, the bag limit per day has been increased to 12 fish and the possession limit is 12 fish.
  • The Youth-Only Fishery for Chinook salmon at the Seward Lagoon and Outfall stream (also known as Scheffler Creek) opened June 17 and goes through June 30. Anglers who are 15 years of age and younger will have a chance to fish for king salmon in the Seward Lagoon and Outfall stream. Only one hook (single or treble) per line may be used; artificial lures and bait are legal. The bag limit for king salmon is two per day and two in possession (no size limit). Snagging is NOT permitted in the Seward Lagoon and Outfall Stream. Fishing this prior week was slow but kings should be accumulating in lagoon.
  • Fishing for kings in saltwater in the Seward area has been picking up the last week and kings have been moving up into the lagoon and provides a good opportunity for kids to catch a king salmon.

Saltwater Fishing

Port Sampling efforts in Seward are currently underway. Please assist our port sampling program by returning to the harbor with whole groundfish or groundfish carcasses and allowing ADF&G technicians to sample your harvest. Data collected from the sport fish harvest is needed to manage and maintain healthy fisheries. We appreciate you supporting the port sampling program and your assistance in getting managers information that aids in managing fisheries in the Southcentral.

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

  • Lingcod fishing will open on July 1 in the North Gulf Coast; however, it is always closed in Resurrection Bay.
  • Halibut fishing has been reported as good to excellent. A few nice halibut are being caught within the Resurrection Bay. Larger halibut are being caught by anglers in the outer portion of the North Gulf Coast or outer PWS.
  • The Seward Halibut Tournament is set for June 15 - June 30 this year. Fish brought in are around 100lbs but nothing quite as big as last years over 200lb fish that won the tournament.
  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Please check Federal Regulations under NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one per day, two in possession may be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.

Salmon

  • The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently two per day of 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 stamp is required.
  • King salmon fishing continues to pick up with more fish getting caught from shore now. Fish continue to move in and those out on boats in the bay trolling have been the most successful.
  • Sockeye salmon are being caught at the head of Resurrection Bay. Fishing for sport anglers should continue to be good over the next few weeks. Anglers have reported fair to excellent success depending on the tide and time of day.
  • As of the June 23, 2020, the Bear Creek Weir operated by Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association has counted 12,452 sockeye salmon which is close to the upper end of the SEG.
  • Effective June 24, 2020, the bag limit for sockeye salmon in Resurrection Bay has been increased to 12 fish per day and 12 in possession.

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed in saltwaters.

Local Lakes

  • First Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout and fishing has been reported as good. This is a great place to take the kids.
  • Troop Lake is a fun hike and good place to try if you are looking for a new lake to explore.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.

Archives

Resurrection Bay Area Archives for:
Sep 11, 2020 Sep 02, 2020 Aug 26, 2020 Aug 19, 2020 Aug 12, 2020 Aug 05, 2020 Jul 30, 2020 Jul 22, 2020
Jul 15, 2020 Jul 08, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Jun 25, 2020 Jun 16, 2020 Jun 10, 2020 Jun 03, 2020 May 28, 2020
May 20, 2020 May 13, 2020 May 07, 2020