Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 06, 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 Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian Islands at the Kodiak January 2020 meeting and the Anchorage March 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Kodiak and Aleutian Islands sport fisheries regulations.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-4-11-20 closed the Karluk River drainage including the lagoon and its outlet stream to king salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used in the Karluk River drainage below Karluk Lake including the lagoon and its outlet stream.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-4-10-20 closed the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used in the Ayakulik River drainage.
Freshwater Fishing
- Both Buskin and Litnik sockeye runs are still going, and reports are fishing is still pretty good for early July. Both runs are typically trailing off by now but seem to have hit their peak about two weeks late and catches are still good.
- Pasagshak is off to a good start for the sockeye run with lots of fish reported over the holiday weekend. Fishing the incoming tides is always the most productive at Pasagshak.
- Just a handful of kings have been caught or even seen at our three stocked rivers - Olds, Salonie, and American. There are likely a few fish around by now but it seems very slow. Typically, the intertidal areas of American, Salonie, and Kalsin Beach are the best fishing in the beginning of the run, but all of these runs should have hit their peak by now.
- Sockeyes are just starting to show up to Pasagshak and Saltery rivers now. Counts are slow at the weir, but fish are being caught regularly in the rivers.
Saltwater Fishing
- King salmon fishing is still slow but a few fish have been caught here and there. Popular trolling spots in July are Buoy’s 3 and 4, Chiniak and Ugak islands as both kings and coho are often caught.
- Coho salmon are typically being caught by now but reports of catches are few and far between.
- Halibut fishing has been steady with reports of fish being plentiful and large. The usual hot spots include Buoy 4, William’s Reef, Kodiak Rocks, and Kalsin Reef.
Local Lakes
- Heitman Lake is always a nice place to get away for some fishing during some of this hot weather. It doesn’t always produce the largest rainbows, but fishing is usually productive and there are some easy places to fish from shore. Small spinners or leech flies are always a good bet for rainbows in our stocked lakes.
Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license 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 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.