Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 11, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Fishing at Pasagshak is good by most accounts, but weir counts have been lagging. The next couple days will be telling if the fishery is able to stay open or not.
• Saltery weir sockeye counts are good but below average. Fishing in the river is good by most reports, with many folks catching easy limits and effort being very high.
• A few kings have come in to the Olds River and ADFG staff are out collecting brood stock most days for the king salmon egg take that occurs in August. No word on fish at Salonie yet.
• Pinks are coming in to most road system rivers now, with bright pinks in the Olds and Buskin. Buskin is only closed to sockeye fishing so pinks and dollies are open. Other spots for bright pinks are the beaches in Chiniak and Russian Creek.
• Dollies are still being caught from local beaches with Mission being good. Dolly fishing has been good in most rivers too in the last week with the Olds and Buskin having decent numbers of fish right now.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing was excellent in the last week with most effort at the Fingers. Fish ranging anywhere from 5 – 25 lbs were reported and morning tides seeming to be the best fishing.
• Silvers are starting to show up as well with a few being caught near the Fingers. Pinks outnumber them so far.
• Halibut fishing was good as well with many people catching 10-20 lb fish trolling for kings.
• Rockfish are also in all the usual places with Kodiak Rocks being a perennial hot spot for large black rockfish.
• Lingcod seems to be off to a bit of a slow start but most effort has been focused on kings.

Local Lakes

Buskin Lake has still offered good dolly fishing in the last week with fish being caught near the outlet above the ‘No Fishing’ signs and on the beach on the upper end of the lake by the golf course. Dolly limits are 10 per day and bait is allowed during the summer.

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-4-26-23 closed the Buskin River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-23 reduced the nonresident rockfish bag and possession limits on the eastside of Afognak and Kodiak islands from Big Fort Island near Shuyak Island to Dangerous Cape on Kodiak Island. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 pm. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-19-23 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2023 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, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.