Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 01, 2014

Homer Area

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Southcentral Region

Week of July 1- July 7
Issued July 1

Regulation Reminders

Freshwater fisheries

• Anchor River, Deep Creek and Stariski Creek are closed for king salmon and gear is limited to one unbaited single hook artificial lure. King salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Ninilchik River is closed to wild king salmon, but open to hatchery king salmon. The bag and possession limit on hatchery-only king salmon is one 20 inches or greater in length.
• Hatchery king salmon are identified as missing their adipose fin, the fleshy fin on the back just in front of the tail.
• After harvesting a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, a person may not fish for any species of fish in the Ninilchik River on that same day.
• China Poot personal use dipnet fishery opens through August 7. Both tips of the tail fin must be removed. Complete regulations are found on page 14 of the Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet.
Marine fisheries
• 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.
• Lingcod season opened July 1. Anglers are reminded that the bag and possession limit is 2 fish and the minimum legal size is 35 inches.
• 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 water

Halibut

• Halibut fishing success has been fair to good with several large size fish being caught over the past week and many anglers catching their limits. Success has improved 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 13.75 pounds (range 3.6 to 187 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.
• Bright king salmon fishing are still available 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.
• There are still some king salmon at Seldovia and Halibut Cove Lagoon.
• 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 reporting good catches of walleye pollock and Pacific cod in Kachemak Bay.
• 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 water

Personal Use Fishing

• Dipnetting success in China Poot should improve as the sockeye salmon return starts to build. The peak of this run is about the middle of July.
Streams
• Expect slow fishing for Dolly Varden in roadside streams as most runs are just starting to arrive. Fish near the stream mouths for better success. Try using a size zero Vibrax with single hook. For fly fisher try using black leaches or minnow patterns.

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 July 10-17.
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay are currently closed.