Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 20, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Orders

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-35-18, effective July 12, 2018, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was reduced to two fish per day, two in possession in the Saltery Cover drainage.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-34-18, effective July 12, 2016, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon fishing.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-33-18, effective July 13, 2018, Chignik River drainage is closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, only one unbaited, single hook, artificial lure may be used for sport fishing.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-17-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Afognak River drainage (Litnik) is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-16-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Buskin River drainage is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-08-18, effective June 1, 2018, Monashka Creek and Bay are closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited in Monashka Creek.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-07-18, effective June 1 through July 25, 2018, in the Karluk River drainage, including Karluk Lagoon, fishing for king salmon is closed. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited for all fishing downstream of Karluk Lake.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-06-18, effective June 1 through July 25, 2018, in the Ayakulik River drainage, king salmon fishing is restricted to catch and release. All king salmon caught must be released without being removed from the water. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lures may be used.

Regulation Reminders

  • Anglers are reminded there are new rockfish regulations for the Kodiak Area.
    • The bag and possession limits for rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot Bays has been reduced to 3 per day, 6 in possession, only 2 per day, 4 in possession may be non-pelagic, and only 1 per day, 2 in possession may be a Yelloweye. Please review the 2018 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a detailed map of the affected area.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • The Pasagshak sockeye salmon run is very weak with just over 800 fish counted and is currently closed to subsistence and sport fishing. At this point, it’s unlikely it will reopen as the run is past its historical peak.
  • Saltery Cove has seen more fish than other local sockeye salmon systems but is just starting to get on track for escapement goals. About 7,200 sockeye salmon have been counted and a minimum of about 6,800 are expected by now. With reduced sport bag limit and reduced subsistence effort, escapement has come in stronger, but it will still be a few days before it is known if it will make the goal or not.
  • Other sockeye salmon runs on the south end of the island and westside of the island met early run escapement objectives and those with late runs are just starting. Sportfishing for sockeye salmon has still been good by most accounts at Karluk, Ayakulik, and Dog Salmon rivers.
  • Hatchery king salmon are returning in very small numbers to the Olds, American, and Salonie creeks. Returns were far less than expected and fishing has been slow. ADF&G staff are on the rivers everyday collecting fish for the egg take now and will continue through early August.
  • Monashka Creek is still closed to king salmon fishing and the use of bait.
  • The freshwaters of Pillar Creek will be open to king salmon fishing, but the immediately adjacent saltwater’s are closed.
  • Pink salmon are showing up in some locations but appear to be weak in others. Pink runs can be in full swing anytime from mid-July to late-August depending on the year. This year’s returns are the offspring of fairly weak returns in 2016.
  • Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

  • Dollies have come in strong in most rivers in the last week. Angler reports are that they are very large too! All rivers are open to dolly fishing even though some may be closed to other species.
  • Dolly fishing has still been great off local beaches too. Many of the beaches in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak have had great dolly fishing.
  • This is an excellent time to fish our stocked lakes as rainbows are becoming more active as waters warm up and they begin to feed more actively. Visit lower elevation lakes first as fish will be more active in warmer waters.
    • Although ADF&G currently stocks only sterile juvenile trout, some lakes with a stocking history dating to the 1950s may also contain spawning populations of adult fish. Be sure to check the local sport fishing regulations for a current list of stocked lakes as harvest of rainbow trout is only allowed in lakes that are currently stocked.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut fishing has been spotty in the last several weeks. Some anglers report good success but many anglers report having a hard time finding halibut in the usual spots. This time of year, look to waters between 80 and 120 feet for good halibut fishing.

Salmon

  • King salmon fishing has been good in the last week with reports of less bait around in waters close to town. Lots of fish have been caught between Buoys 3 and 4 but it may be trickier to avoid coho salmon while trying to find king salmon right now.
  • Other popular spots to fish kings are the capes Chiniak and Grevel, Ugak Island, as well as in between Woody and Long islands. Though king fishing in Ugak Bay has been reported to be slow.
  • Coho salmon are schooling in waters neat Buoys 3 and 4 and near Woody and Long islands and fishing has been hot by most accounts.

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • Black rockfish can be caught just out of the boat harbor near kelp beds along rock pinnacles and other natural or man-made structures. Rockfish are also frequently caught from shore at locations such as the outer reaches of White Sand beach and the breakwater barrier shielding St. Paul Harbor. Remember to check the current regulations for the area you intend to fish. Bag limits for rockfish have been reduced to 3 per day for pelagic rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot bays.
  • Lingcod season opened July 1 and anglers report good lingcod catches though few are directly targeting them but instead catching them incidentally to rockfish and halibut.

Archives

Kodiak Area Archives for:
Sep 05, 2018 Aug 29, 2018 Aug 23, 2018 Aug 16, 2018 Aug 08, 2018 Aug 02, 2018 Jul 26, 2018 Jul 20, 2018
Jul 12, 2018 Jul 05, 2018 Jun 28, 2018 Jun 21, 2018 Jun 06, 2018 May 30, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 18, 2018
May 11, 2018 Apr 26, 2018