Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 11, 2014

Homer Area

Week of June 10 to June 16
Issued June 11

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

King Salmon

• King salmon sport fishing is prohibited (including catch-and-release) within one statute mile of shore in marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point effective from 12:01 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2014, through 11:59 p.m. Monday June 30, 2014.
• The Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik River and Stariski Creek are closed to sport fishing through June 30.
• The combined annual limit is 2 king salmon 20 inches or greater in length for fish harvested from May 1 to June 30 from the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik River and all marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point.

Razor Clams

• The Ninilchik beach from the north bank of Deep Creek to a marker located approximately 3.2 miles north of the Ninilchik River at 60º 05.66’N. latitude is closed to the taking of all clam species.
• The bag and possession limit for razor clams harvested from the remaining eastside Cook Inlet beaches, extending from the mouth of the Kenai River to the southernmost tip of the Homer Spit, is reduced to the first 25 razor clams dug per day and only 25 razor clams may be in possession.
• Both of these restrictions are effective through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

Additional Regulation Reminders

• Snagging is not allowed in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi until June 24.
• Sport caught pink salmon may be used as bait in the salt water fisheries.
• Regulation changes are in effect for guided anglers fishing for halibut. The bag limit for guided anglers is two fish per day, one of any size and one less than or equal to 29 inches in length. A more extensive description of these Federal regulations can be found at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/frules/79fr13906.pdf . You can also contact NOAA fisheries at 1-800-304-4846 or 907-586-7228 with questions about regulations pertaining to sport fishing for halibut.

Salt waters

Halibut

• Early-season halibut has improved with some large size fish being caught. Success will improve as more fish move from deep, over-wintering waters back into shallow, summer feeding areas.
• Sampled fish landed in the Homer Harbor over the past week averaged just over twelve pounds (range 3.1 to 122.4 pounds) round weight. Many anglers had success using herring on circle hooks.

Salmon

• Trolling success for feeder and mature king salmon has slowed along the southern shore of Kachemak Bay and Bluff Point, but has picked up near Flat Island. While trolling, anglers are also starting to catch sockeye, chums and pink salmon.
• Popular trolling set-ups for king salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.
• King salmon are returning to the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit and fishing success is reported as good. Small schools of king salmon are returning to Seldovia Lagoon and fishing is reported as fair.
• As a part of the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative, the Department has begun a project looking at the genetic stock composition of the marine king salmon fishery. There are port samplers stationed at the Homer Harbor, and Deep Creek and Anchor Point tractor launches conducting quick interviews and collecting biological information, scales, and genetic clips from sport caught king salmon. If you fished for king salmon in Cook Inlet, regardless of success, we’d like to talk to you! More information on the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative can be found at: http://dfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=chinookinitiative.main

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way to pass the time. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, and a variety of flatfish species, Dolly Varden, and on occasion a king salmon.
• Anglers are also reporting good catches of walleye pollock and Pacific cod in Kachemak Bay.

Fresh waters

Lake Fishing

• The Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes fishing conditions are good. Most of these lakes are stocked with rainbow trout which, this time of year, are taken on dry or wet flies, small spoons, spinners, or bait. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the Sport Fish web site and at ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• The next series of clamming tides run June 11-17.
• For razor clams try beaches on the west side of Cook Inlet where razor clams tend to be larger and more abundant than beaches on the east side of Cook Inlet.
• For beaches on the east side of Cook Inlet, expect small size clams that are few and far between in the beaches that remain open. Littleneck (steamer) and butter clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island.
• Good numbers of butter clams are found on the islands in China Poot Bay. Butter clams can be found up to 2 ft. deep. Littleneck clams can be found on in a variety of habitats from Jakolof Bay to Bear Cove. Try exploring new beaches for success. Typically, littleneck clams are found shallower in the substrate, up to 8 inches deep.
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay are currently closed.