Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 06, 2020
* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.
* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area at its Seward December 2019 and Anchorage February 2020 meetings. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Lower Cook Inlet sport fisheries regulations.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-21-20 restricted gear in the Ninilchik River to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure from through Wednesday, July 15, 2020, and removed the annual limit for hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater through Saturday, October 31, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-16-20 closed king salmon fishing within one mile of shore north of Bluff Point through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-15-20 closed the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages to all sport fishing through 11:59 p.m. July 15, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-05-20 reduced the king salmon annual limit north of Bluff Point from five to two fish through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-03-20 and 2-RCL-7-04-20 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 in 2020.
Freshwater Fishing
King Salmon
- The Ninilchik River is still open for hatchery king salmon only but the run should be winding down over the next week. Try fishing early morning hours while the fish are moving upstream.
Sockeye Salmon
- China Poot Personal Use dipnet was off to a good start last week but has tapered off a bit. Sockeye salmon should continue to arrive to the creek over the next week.
Saltwater Fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing has been fair at inshore locations and good in offshore locations at the mouth of Kachemak Bay with bigger fish coming from both.
King Salmon
- The king salmon run at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is mostly over but there may be a few still to come. Coho salmon should start to show up over the next week or so.
- King salmon trolling has fair to good around Kachemak Bay. Pink salmon are starting to show up in the catch in the outer bay locations like Point Pogibshi. To target king salmon and avoid pink salmon, try fishing deeper depths.
- Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- Sockeye salmon have been showing up near Tutka Bay Lagoon and China Poot Bay and anglers have been snagging some of these fish.
- If you are 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, and the occasional king salmon.
Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king salmon stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.