Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 08, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Sockeye fishing at Saltery continues to be good with fish coming in with each tide. This is similar to recent years with good numbers of fish coming in during August and into early September.
• Pasagshak sockeye continue to come in, though the run is on the slower side. Fishing should still be good for several more weeks.
• A few coho have been caught around the road system with some counted at Buskin and a couple found in the Russian and Olds. Its pretty early yet, however, and most expectations are for very late coho returns, similar to the last several years.
• Pink and Dolly fishing has been good throughout the road system with a lot of effort at Buskin, the Olds and Russian. Still lots of bright pinks around. Look to the lower parts of the rivers for the brightest fish.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing continues to be good with most effort at the Fingers and Buoy 4. A few days this week seemed slow in comparison to what the summer has held for kings, but fishing really picked back up Saturday.
• Silvers are being found as well, though they have been tougher to find at times. They are being caught intermittently at the Fingers, between Woody and Long and at Chiniak.
• Halibut fishing has been steady with many anglers catching fish mostly between 10 and 30 lbs right now. A lot of fish have been caught trolling at the Fingers or between Woody and Long.
• Rockfish and lingcod are being found throughout Chiniak Bay too, with most anglers catching both species while trolling for kings and silvers.

Local Lakes

There are two lakes on Woody Island that have been stocked almost continually since the 1950’s: Long Lake on the North end of the island and Tanignak Lake near the camp. Both offer good fishing, and fishing from a boat offers the best chance at catching rainbows. Tanignak Lake routinely produces fish that are 18+ inches and Long Lake now has a State Parks cabin available for rent right on the lake shore.

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-4-50-23 opens the Pasagshak River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023, 2 fish per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-46-23 increases the bag limit for sockeye salmon in the Saltery Cove drainage to 10 per day.
• 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.