Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 25, 2014

Homer Area

Week of June 24 to July 1
Issued June 24

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.
• The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services issued a news release about a potential case of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). DEC is processing razor clam and surf clams collected from the area and the results should be available later this week. http://dhss.alaska.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Additional Regulation Reminders

• Snagging is allowed in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi through December 31, except in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.
• China Poot personal use dipnet fishery opens July 1. Personal use caught sockeye salmon must have both tips of the tail fin removed. Complete regulations are found on page 14 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing regulation summary booklet.
• Lingcod season opens July 1.
• 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 and many anglers catching their limits. 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 under 13 pounds (range 4.8 to 63.4 pounds) round weight. Many anglers had success using herring on circle hooks.

Salmon

• Trolling success for feeder king salmon is reported as fair to good near Flat Island, Point Pogibshi and Bluff Point. While trolling, anglers are also reporting catches of sockeye, chum 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 fishing is good in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit. Try salmon eggs, herring and blue Vibrax spinners, also try fishing around the incoming tide for new fish to arrive.
• Small schools of king salmon are returning to Seldovia and Halibut Cove 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, a variety of flatfish species, Dolly Varden, and on occasion salmon.
• Anglers are also reporting good catches of walleye pollock and Pacific cod in Kachemak Bay.
• Spiny dogfish sharks have been reported near the Chugach Islands.
• Anglers fishing near the Barren, Chugach, and Elizabeth Islands are catching rockfish as well as their target species. The Department would like to remind anglers that the survival of released rockfish caught in greater than 60 feet of water is substantially improved by releasing these fish at the depth of capture. More information can be found at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingsportfishinginfo.rockfishconservation

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 25-30.
• 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. North of the Clam Gulch access road has been the most productive this season.
• 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.
• Sport shellfish harvesters should be aware of the potential risks of PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Posioning). Check out the facts sheet at: http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/RecSHell/index.html
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay are currently closed.