Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 26, 2022
ADF&G News
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Freshwater Fishing
- The lower sections of the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River are open to sport fishing except king salmon.
- Fair numbers of Dolly Varden have been returning to these streams. For fly fishing tackle, try using smolt patterns or beads. For spinning gear small spinners and spoons should work well.
- Pink salmon are slowing starting to arrive to lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay streams. Humpy Creek is probably the best option. Small spoons and flies work well.
Saltwater Fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing was fair over the last week, but the marine weather has not been favorable to fishing offshore locations. Fishing closer to the Homer spit has been slow with anglers catching small numbers of small fish.
- 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
- Good numbers of sockeye salmon are still arriving in China Poot Lagoon. Both dipnetting in the fresh waters of China Poot Creek as well as snagging in the salt waters near the creek mouth have been good.
- Anglers have been snagging Pink and sockeye salmon within Tutka Lagoon.
- Keep in mind that the numbers of fish in China Poot and Tutka Lagoon fluctuate with tides and with commercial fishing openers.
- Use caution when boating in and out of China Poot Bay particularly on the outgoing tide with a southwesterly wind.
Coho Salmon
- There have been more coho salmon showing up in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon. Expect slow to fair fishing over the next week.
- Marine weather has limited anglers to target coho salmon in the offshore locations over the last week. Trolling the tip of the Homer Spit can be productive this time of year.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- 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.