Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 29, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon Emergency Order

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-7-53-18 the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and adjacent waters except for the Homer Boat Harbor is open to snagging.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RCL-7-01-18 and 2-RCL-07-02-18 all EASTSIDE Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are CLOSED to all clamming through December 31, 2018.

Regulation Reminders

  • The Kachemak Bay Coho Salmon Gillnet Fishery closed August 18.
  • The Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek opened on August 1 to fishing for Dolly Varden and steelhead/rainbow trout upstream of the two-mile markers.
    • Steelhead/rainbow trout may never be removed from the water and must be immediately released. You may not fish for salmon upstream of the two-mile markers.
    • Please familiarize yourself with the differences between coho salmon and steelhead trout. Steelhead and rainbow trout have black spots all over both lobes of the tail; while coho salmon have black spots only on the upper lobe of the tail. Steelhead and rainbow trout may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
  • The lower portions of the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek are open to sport fishing except for king salmon.
    • The bag and possession limit for other salmon is three per day and three in possession; however, only two per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
  • On the Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek, bait and treble hooks are legal gear through August 31.
  • On the Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek, effective September 1 to October 31, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used on all stream sections.
  • In Cook Inlet saltwater, effective September 1 to March 31, the bag and possession limit is two king salmon of any size and there is no recording requirement.
  • Lingcod season is open. Anglers are reminded that the bag and possession limit is two fish and the minimum legal size is 35 inches with the head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of the dorsal fin with the head removed. Lingcod which are gaffed must be retained. A gaff may not be used to puncture any fish intended or required to be released.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Make sure you know the regulations! Unguided and guided anglers have different rules to follow. A more extensive description of the federal regulations can be found on the NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Halibut fishing effort has begun to taper off from peak season. Most halibut returning to the harbor have been small, although plenty of boats are returning with limits and decent sized fish on board. Two fish over 100 lbs. were reported on Monday (last week of August).
  • Halibut can be caught while trolling, drifting with the tide, and while anchored.
  • Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
  • Fish near slack tide so you don’t need as much weight to keep your line on the bottom while your boat is anchored.

King Salmon

  • Anglers trolling for king salmon in Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet have been more successful in the last week than throughout much of the summer. Expect to find pink and coho salmon in the mix at the usual spots for targeting king salmon. Give the head of Kachemak Bay or Bluff Point a try.
  • To find feeder king salmon, try fishing a variety of depths up to 100 feet near rocky points and kelp beds. Look for birds feeding on bait fish.
  • Popular trolling set-ups for king salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons behind a flasher or dodger. Try various leader lengths for different gear action behind flashers.
  • A downrigger setup is necessary to troll deeper water. Banana weights work well to troll gear near the surface.
  • Still waiting for a bite? Try switching up flasher styles and colors, gear depths, and trolling speed. Consider the direction the tide is moving when trolling. On days with larger tidal exchanges, troll with the current for a more effective presentation.

Coho Salmon

  • The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is open to snagging for coho salmon. Fishing has slowed considerably since the lagoon opened to snagging but there were still a few being caught there this past weekend.
  • Trolling for coho salmon in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay in the inner bay and near the Homer Spit has continued to be spotty. Anglers have reported coho salmon from the tip of the Homer Spit, to Bluff Point and Bear Cove. Coho and king salmon will take the same type of bait/lure presentations. Try the thin blade spoons or herring in a head clip behind a flasher.
  • Shore based coho salmon fishing along the Homer Spit has been poor over the last week. If you go, make sure to respect private property in this area.

Lingcod

  • Both private and charter vessels have returned to the Homer Harbor with combos of halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Boats targeting lingcod continue to travel ‘around the corner’ to areas near the Chugach Islands.
  • Anglers have reported high numbers of juvenile lingcod while fishing for rockfish or salmon in waters near Bluff Point and the Chugach Islands. This is encouraging news for the lingcod fishery. Please remember to carefully release all undersized lingcod and to never use a gaff on a fish intended to be released.

Rockfish

  • Many anglers are successfully targeting rockfish to complement halibut or salmon trips. Nonpelagic rockfish species have been caught in waters near Chugach and Perl islands.
  • Rockfish are found near rocky points and in kelp beds. The most popular places to target pelagic rockfish in Kachemak Bay are near Bluff Point and Point Pogibshi.
  • Try fishing for them while trolling by using spoons, tube flies, or herring. Jigs also work well.
  • Use deepwater release methods to release incidentally caught rockfish! Never heard of deepwater release for rockfish? For details, review the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Shellfish

  • There is a series of small negative tides from August 26 through August 29.
  • Razor clams can be found on beaches along the WESTSIDE of Cook Inlet and can be accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include the Polly Creek beach, Crescent River Bar, and Chinitna Bay. Boaters are advised to use caution before traveling across the Cook Inlet because of strong tidal currents and variable weather conditions.
  • Littleneck (steamer) clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island.
  • 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.
  • Occasionally there are PSP advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contact the DEC at (907) 269-7501 or visit the DEC Shellfish Poisoning webpage for more information.

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • If you’re limited by access to a boat or by the weather, fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a great way to wet a line. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Dolly Varden, a variety of flatfish species, coho salmon, and the occasional king salmon.

Freshwater Fishing

Freshwater Streams

  • Coho salmon fishing was slow last week, but there were still some fresh fish entering the area streams on the incoming tides. Many methods can be effective, including eggs or herring under a bobber, and spinners. When the regulations close to the use of bait on September 1, try using marabou jigs, corkie and yarn or streamers. Coho salmon are the most active at the break of day.
  • Fall fishing success in the Homer area streams will fluctuate with changing water conditions associated with periods of rain.
  • Fishing for Dolly Varden above the two-mile markers has been fair to good. Dolly Varden are beginning to acquire their spawning coloration, and are dispersed throughout Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River. Fly fisherman are most successful with beads and streamers and small spinners and spoons are effective on spinning gear.
  • Steelhead trout should start entering these streams in low numbers over the next couple weeks. Expect steelhead fishing to peak in mid-September and continue through October. Steelhead are often targeted with a bead pegged above a hook, although jig and bobber and swinging flies are other popular and effective ways to entice a bite.

Lake Fishing

  • Most of the Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout. Fishing conditions should be good. Try fishing with dry or wet flies, small spoons, spinners, or bait. The 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet contains a current list of lakes and the species they’re stocked with.

Archives

Lower Cook Inlet Area Archives for:
Sep 04, 2018 Aug 29, 2018 Aug 21, 2018 Aug 14, 2018 Aug 08, 2018 Aug 01, 2018 Jul 24, 2018 Jul 17, 2018
Jul 10, 2018 Jul 03, 2018 Jun 26, 2018 Jun 19, 2018 Jun 13, 2018 Jun 05, 2018 May 30, 2018 May 23, 2018
May 18, 2018