Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 29, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Orders

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-47-18, effective July 31, 2018, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was restored to five fish per day, five in possession in the Saltery Cover drainage.
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-34-18, effective July 12, 2018, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon 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.

Regulation Reminders

  • Anglers are reminded that there are no longer closed waters above the highway bridges for streams flowing into Chiniak Bay; however, on September 16 the coho salmon bag limit will change from two fish to one fish, excluding stocked returns.
  • 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 three per day, six in possession, only two per day, four in possession may be nonpelagic, and only ONE per day, TWO 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

  • Coho salmon are returning to most local rivers now with good fishing reported in the lower Buskin and at Buskin Beach as well as Pasagshak. Returns to Monashka and Pillar creeks are showing up too and fishing has been good but crowded. Returns appear strong so far but fishing may be hampered by the number of pink salmon still around.
  • Pink salmon are still coming in to most rivers, but most are spawning now with just a few coming in from the ocean. Pink salmon runs will taper off in the next week or two.
  • The Buskin River weir count for coho salmon is up to 929 fish and is well ahead of average for this time of year; however, the bulk of these fish moved with last week’s rain and counts have slowed down.
  • Remote rivers have been seeing good coho salmon returns too. About 2,500 were counted through the Litnik weir before it was pulled, and most reports indicate a very strong run there and other Afognak Island streams.
  • Coho salmon runs at Olga Lakes, Karluk, and Ayakulik are very strong as well and weir counts have been well ahead of average.
  • Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

  • Dolly fishing has been still been very good by most accounts. Rivers such as the Olds, Russian, and American have been good with very large fish. Look to the tail end of pools holding spawning pink salmon for the best Dolly fishing this time of year.
  • This is an excellent time to fish our stocked lakes as rainbows are actively feeding with warm waters. The temperature of lakes generally cool in September but rainbow fishing can still be good through the fall.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut fishing has been spotty this summer, but recent reports indicate good success. This time of year look to waters between 80 and 120 feet for good halibut fishing and many times they can be caught in very shallow water near river mouths. Popular areas include Buoy 4, Kalsin Reef, Cape Chiniak, and Kodiak Rocks.

Salmon

  • King salmon fishing has slowed near Woody Island, but some kings are still being caught near Buoy 4. There are lots of coho salmon around, so anglers are reporting catching ten coho to one king most of the time.
  • Coho salmon are being caught at Buoys 3 and 4 with good success, as well as off Cape Chiniak. Cohos will be returning to freshwaters from now through September and fishing will taper off as more fish return to freshwaters.
  • Anglers are reminded that within 1 mile of shore of the Kodiak Road System, the coho salmon bag limit is two per day and some places on Woody Island are within 1 mile of the Kodiak shoreline.

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.
  • Anglers report good numbers of rockfish near Buoy 4 and most rocky areas close by.
  • Anglers report that lingcod are being caught on several rockpiles outside Long Island and around the north end of Long Island near Kodiak Rocks and Williams Reef.

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