Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 18, 2017

Week of July 19 to July 26

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Snagging is allowed in Lower Cook Inlet south of Anchor Point through December 31, except in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.
• China Poot personal use dip net fishery is open upstream of the ADF&G makers and continues through August 7. Personal use caught sockeye salmon must have both tips of the tail fin removed prior to transport. Complete regulations are located on pages 12-13 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
• The lower portions of the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Stariski Creek, are open to sport fishing except for king salmon. Anglers are reminded that king salmon may not be targeted and if hooked, they must be released immediately.
• On the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Stariski Creek, and Ninilchik River, bait and treble hooks are legal gear through August 31 on these streams. The upstream locations remain closed until August 1.
• Lingcod season opened July 1. Anglers are reminded that the bag and possession limit is two fish and the minimum legal size is 35 inches with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
• The marine waters of Tutka Bay Lagoon within 100 yards of the hatchery net pens are closed to sport fishing for any species.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

• All Eastside Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are CLOSED to the taking of all clams through December 31, 2017.

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Halibut fishing in Cook Inlet is good. Anglers are having success using herring on circle hooks. Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
• Unguided anglers can retain two halibut a day with four in possession.

Salmon

• Trolling success for king salmon remains sporadic throughout Kachemak Bay. The best angler reports have come from the south side of Kachemak Bay from Halibut Cove area and Bluff Point.
• Anglers are beginning to report catches of coho salmon from the Chugach Islands to Point Pogibshi.
• Anglers are reporting good catches of pink salmon along the south shore of Kachemak Bay. Anglers are reminded that pink salmon may be used as bait in the salt water fisheries, but ARE counted as part of your daily bag limit.
• Downriggers are essential for trolling in deeper water. Try various depths between 15-90 feet. Small herring trolled behind a flasher or dodger is the most effective presentation. Small thin blade spoons and large spoons have been working as well.
• Anglers should expect fair to good fishing for late run king salmon from Anchor Point to Deep Creek over this next week. Try trolling in shallow water at high tide for best success.
• King salmon fishing in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon should be over for the season. Expect silver salmon to start slowly arriving over the next couple of weeks.
• Fishing in Tutka Bay Lagoon for pink and sockeye salmon has been good.
• Dipnetting success for sockeye salmon in China Poot has been reported as very good. The peak of this run is the middle of July.

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 salmon. Be certain to check regulations regarding bag and possession limits and know which species it is that you’re keeping before harvesting them.
• Anglers are reporting catches of black, dark, and dusky rockfish along Bluff Point and near Point Pogibshi. Anglers use a variety of gear including spoons, jigs, herring, and flies to catch rockfish. Rockfish are also commonly caught when trolling with downriggers for salmon.
  • Rockfish caught in deep water suffer injuries from decompression. Recent research by Department staff indicates the survival of released rockfish can be substantially improved by releasing fish at the depth of capture. For information, visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Freshwaters Fishing Report

• On the Ninilchik River, some bright to blush hatchery king salmon are still available. Salmon egg roe clusters, plug cut herring, spinners, spoons and jugs should all be effective bait and tackle for catching hatchery king salmon.
• Dolly Varden fishing has been fair to good in the roadside streams. Try fishing the mouths of these streams for better success. Effective gear includes: small, bright single-hook spinners; fly patterns that resemble fish, such as muddler minnows; and egg patterns.
• Expect fair fishing for pink salmon in the roadside streams. Fish near the mouths of streams for best results.

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 ADF&G Sport Fish webpage and at ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• The next clamming tides run from July 20 - July 26.
• Occasionally there are Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contact the DEC at (907) 269-7501, or visit the DEC Shellfish webpage 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.
• There will be a Tanner crab fishery opening October 1, 2017, and closing February 28, 2018.
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2017.