Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 19, 2022
ADF&G News
- ADF&G is mobile. You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon, halibut), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today.
Freshwater Fishing
- The lower sections of the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River are open to sport fishing except king salmon.
- The Ninilchik River is open to hatchery king salmon fishing, but the run is mostly over and the remaining fish are maturing quickly.
- Fair numbers of Dolly Varden are starting to return to these streams. For fly fishing tackle, try using smolt patterns or beads. For spinning gear small spinners and spoons should work well.
- The Bridge Creek Reservoir has good fishing for Dolly Varden. A small boat provides access to the best fishing, but you can catch fish from shore as well. Try small spinners or flies.
Saltwater Fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing was fair to good over the last week, but marine weather has been fairly rough over the last few days.
- Try exploring for new spots to anchor by drifting to find halibut.
- Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
King Salmon
- Trolling for king salmon fishing has continued to be spotty with some fish scattered throughout Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet.
- To target king salmon at locations with an abundance of pink salmon, try trolling deeper than pink salmon. Spoons are a better option over bait in these situations.
Sockeye Salmon
- There have been a lot of sockeye salmon in China Poot Lagoon. Anglers have had good success both with dipping in the fresh waters of China Poot Creek as well as snagging in the salt waters in the area. Keep in mind that the numbers of fish in the area fluctuate with tides and with commercial fishing openers.
- Be mindful of the ebbing tide and the southwest day breeze creating large waves as you exit the lagoon.
- Snagging within Tutka Lagoon has also been productive for sockeye salmon. Pink salmon should start to show up in bigger numbers soon.
Coho Salmon
- The coho salmon run is off to a slow start in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and the fishing will likely remain slow over the week. Expect better fishing later in the month.
- Coho salmon should start to show up in catchable numbers in offshore locations along the North Gulf coast.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- Lingcod season opened on July 1. Most anglers targeting lingcod take a charter or have large personal boats to get to the outer coast and fish near the Chugach Islands.
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-7-55-22 closed king salmon fishing (including catch-and-release) in all Cook Inlet saltwaters north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.). This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, July 17 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022.
- Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-01-22 and 2-RCL-7-02-22 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 2022.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase your 2022 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, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.