Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 03, 2019
Week of June 4 - June 10
Freshwater Fishing
- The Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River open to sport fishing on Saturday, June 8 through Monday, June 10. Expect fishing to be fair to good on Anchor and Ninilchik rivers if water conditions remain low. Deep Creek water levels have been dropping and clearing up and should also fish well this weekend. Large tides could bring good pulses of fish into the streams on the incoming tide. Try fishing at the mouth a few hours before high slack, or a bit further up the river at high tide and just after. Chartreuse and hot pink spinners, spoons, and jigs are likely to have the best success. Expect fair success for the June 5th youth-only fishery on the Ninilchik River.
- Remember Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River have sport fishing including fishing gear restrictions in effect right now! Please see the corresponding emergency order number below.
Saltwater Fishing
King Salmon
- Schools of king salmon have shown up at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon. Fishing has been fair to good early in the morning. Try different kinds of scented salmon roe under a bobber and be sure you don’t have the bait set too deep. Try fishing the lagoon as the tide floods in, or fishing just outside of the lagoon as the tide begins to ebb out.
- Trolling for king salmon has been slow in both Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet over the last week, with scattered reports of good fishing north of Anchor Point in the inlet, and near Bear Cove.
- Trolling with small herring or thin blade spoons behind a flasher is most effective.
Halibut
- Halibut fishing has been good, with consistent fishing in offshore locations 20-30 miles west of the Homer Harbor and west of Anchor Point. Sampled sizes over the weekend were above average, with a 110 pounder sampled in the Homer Harbor on Saturday.
- When exploring new locations for halibut, try drifting to locate concentrations of fish before anchoring.
- Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
Shellfish
- Clamming tides are June 4 - June 6.
- 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 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.
Emergency Orders
- Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-01-19 and 2-RCL-7-02-19 CLOSED all EASTSIDE Cook Inlet beaches to clamming for all species from the mouth of the Kenai River to the southernmost tip of the Homer Spit for 2019.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-11-19 limited the fishing season on the Anchor River to fishing being allowed May 25-27, June 1-3, and June 8-10, 2019.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-12-19 restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River through July 15, 2019.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-13-19 reduced the king salmon bag and possession limits in the Ninilchik River to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-14-19 combined the annual limit for king salmon to two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik, and all marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.