Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 15, 2016

 Homer Area

Week of June 13 to June 19
Issued June 15, 2016

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Snagging is not allowed in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi until June 24
• It’s a good idea to consult the sport fishing regulation booklet before starting your fishing trip. Make sure to consult pages 18-20 before heading out to fish for king salmon in Cook Inlet saltwater areas. Before heading out to fish on freshwater streams, consult page 54-56 for the Anchor River; page 56 for Deep Creek and page 59 for the Ninilchik River.
• Anglers are reminded a king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt or fresh water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who hooked the fish.
• Anglers are also reminded that in freshwater, the bag and possession limit for king salmon less than 20 inches is 10 fish.
• Regulation changes are in effect for guided anglers fishing for halibut. A more extensive description of these Federal regulations can be found at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/frules/79fr13906.pdf.
• 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 .
• Lingcod may not be harvested until July 1. All lingcod caught accidentally must be carefully released and may not be punctured with a gaff.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

• All Eastside Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are closed to all clams through December 31, 2016.

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Early-season halibut fishing is fair, improving as more fish move from deep, overwintering waters back to the shallower summer feeding areas with some large size fish being caught.
• Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
• The department has been receiving reports of “mushy” halibut again this season. The flesh of these fish is very soft or flabby, sometimes with pockets of jelly-like tissue, and fish are mushy after being cooked. Experience during years of high prevalence of this condition (1998, 2005, 2011-12) shows that the incidence of these fish can be high for anglers fishing certain locales, so if you catch a fish that feels flabby or does not look as robust and rounded as a healthy halibut should, release it immediately unharmed and consider moving to a different area to avoid these fish. Department research on this condition is ongoing.

Salmon

• Trolling success for feeder king salmon is reported as fair from Bluff Point north and fair near the head of Kachemak Bay and Point Pogibshi. Feeder king salmon are often mixed with maturing Cook Inlet king salmon making their way to Cook Inlet streams.
• While trolling for king salmon, anglers are reporting catches of chum salmon.
• Downriggers are essential for trolling in deeper water. Small herring trolled behind a flasher or dodger is the most effective presentation.
• Other effective gear includes spoons, hootchies and tube flies.
• 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 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 .
•  King salmon are continuing to enter the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and fishing success is good. Try salmon eggs or herring suspended under a bobber and blue spinners; also try fishing around the incoming tide as new fish arrive.
• King salmon fishing at Seldovia Lagoon is good with more fish entering the lagoon; the best time to fish is during the incoming tide. Anglers are using spinners, herring and shrimp as bait.
• Some small schools of king salmon have been seen in Halibut Cove Lagoon, but angler effort and success has been low.

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 and an occasional king salmon. Be certain to check regulations regarding bag and possession limits and know which species it is that you’re keeping before harvesting them.
• Both Bluff Point and Point Pogibshi areas have been producing black, dark and dusky rockfish.

Fresh waters Fishing Report

• The Anchor River will open from the mouth upstream approximately 2 miles to the ADF&G regulatory marks to fishing Saturday June 18 through June 20, Monday. In addition the Anchor River will open to fishing on Wednesday, June 22 .
• The Anchor River weir is operational and fish counts are available online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
• Spinners, flies and yarn are effective for king salmon in these streams as well as bait such as eggs and herring.

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 clamming tides run from June 17-24.
• Occasionally there are PSP advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Contact them at (907) 269-7501, or check out their PSP pages on the Internet (http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/Shellfish_Home.html) for more information.
• 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 2016.