Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 04, 2015

Homer Area

Week of June 01 tJune 08
Issued June 03, 2015

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

King Salmon Emergency Orders

• In an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect from Wednesday, April 1 through Wednesday, July 15, 2015:
• Anchor River is closed to sport fishing except on Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) and the following two weekends (May 30- June 1 and June 6-8).
• Anchor river drainage above Old Sterling Bridge is closed during the May and June weekend openings.
• Anglers may only use one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure on the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River during the 3 weekend openings in May & June.
• From April 1-July 15, the combined annual limit is tw(2) king salmon 20 inches or greater in length in 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.
• From July 1-15, the conservation zone surrounding the Anchor River mouth will remain closed to sport fishing and the regulations associated with the Special Harvest Areas 2miles north of the Anchor River tBluff Point will remain in effect.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

• All Eastside Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are closed tall clams through December 31, 2015.
• Additional Regulation Reminders
• Lingcod may not be harvested until July 1.
• Rockfish caught in deep water suffer injuries from decompression. Recent research by Department staff indicates that survival of released rockfish can be substantially improved by releasing fish at the depth of capture. For more information on the use of deep water release mechanisms, see the department’s Web page at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.rockfishconservation .
• All anglers sport fishing for king salmon (except stocked landlocked lakes) must either have a king salmon stamp or harvest card. Refer tpage 5 of the regulation summary for requirements.
• Youth Fishery on June 6
• The first Youth Fishery at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is Saturday, June 6. A portion of the lagoon will be open to youth 15 years of age or younger from 12:01 a.m. until midnight. Department staff will be present from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to help young anglers fish and tie egg loops and fishing knots, and learn the best way for releasing fish.

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Early-season halibut fishing is fair though most fish are small. The fishery will improve as more fish move from deep, overwintering waters back tthe shallower summer feeding areas. Some larger fish are being harvested in the sport fishery.
• Unguided anglers can retain 2 halibut a day, 4 in possession.
• 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, and guided anglers have an annual limit of five halibut. 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.

Salmon

• As a part of the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative, the Department is 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 ttalk tyou! More information on the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative can be found at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=chinookinitiative.main .
• Trolling success for king salmon is reported as slowing down some in Kachemak Bay and from Bluff Point north, but expected timprove with the bigger tides.
• Popular trolling set-ups for king salmon include herring, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.
• King salmon are continuing tenter the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and fishing success is good. For better success, fish as the tide is flowing intand out of the lagoon.
• King salmon are arriving at the Seldovia Lagoon. Fishing is reported as improving and the best time tfish is during the incoming tide.

 Other Saltwater Fishing

Youth Fishery on June 6

• The first Youth Fishery at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is Saturday, June 6. A portion of the lagoon will be open tyouth 15 years of age or younger from 12:01 a.m. until midnight. Department staff will be present from 3:00 p.m. t5:00 p.m. thelp young anglers fish and tie egg loops and fishing knots, and learn the best way for releasing fish.
• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way tpass the time. Species available include Walleye Pollock, Pacific cod, a variety of flatfish species and an occasional king salmon.

Fresh waters Fishing Report

Salmon

• The Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik Rivers, as defined by the ADF&G markers will open to fishing at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 6, through midnight, Monday, June 08.
• Water conditions in these streams are expected to be good.
• The Anchor River weir is operational and fish counts are available online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/ .
• For better success, try fishing in the early morning hours and at the mouth of these streams on the incoming tide.
• At this time of year, steelhead trout will be leaving the rivers and entering saltwater to recover their strength after spending their winter in the river and spawned in the spring. Please familiarize yourself with the differences between kings and steelhead trout before you fish and practice good fish handling if you catch one. Remember hooked steelhead trout must not be removed from the water and they must be released immediately.

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

• Clamming tides run June 1-7. Included in this tide series are some minus four foot tides.
• Razor clams can be found on beaches along the west side of Cook Inlet and are accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include Crescent River, Chinitna Bay and Polly Creek.
• Boaters should use caution before traveling across the inlet because of strong currents and should check weather forecast before traveling.
• 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 two feet deep. Littleneck clams can be found 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 eight inches deep.
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2015.