Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

June 18, 2026

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The freshwater section of Resurrection River up to Nash Road opened to salmon fishing on Tuesday, June 16th. Only unbaited, single-hook artificial lures or flies are allowed in this open section. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater. The bag and possession limits are 3 for salmon other than king salmon (in combination), of which, only 2 may be coho salmon.
• The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream will open to King Salmon fishing for youth anglers only from June 17th through June 30th.
  • Reminder: Only one hook (single or treble) may be used during the youth-only fishery, but bait is permitted.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. There have been a few reports of Dolly Varden being caught near the mouth streams in Seward and are likely feeding on out-migrating salmon fry. Try fishing small spinners or smolt fly patterns.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been fair to good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Anglers returning to Seward have reported mostly catches of chicken halibut with a few larger fish mixed in. Fishing will continue to pick up more as we move deeper into summer.
• Small to medium-sized halibut catches have started to pick up inside Resurrection Bay but fishing has still been slow for this time of year. The outer portions of Resurrection Bay has been most productive for targeting halibut.

Lingcod

Lingcod season is closed until July 1.

Rockfish

• Anglers have reported fair catch rates of a variety of rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
• As a reminder, yelloweye rockfish season is closed from April 1 throughuntil June 30 by emergency order.

Other finfish

Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell (waterfall) Creek, or off Lowell Point.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has picked up slightly inside Resurrection Bay. Target the hatchery fish returning to the Seward Lagoon along the town front, and from the Sea Life Center to Caines Head. Generally, anglers have had better success by leaving Resurrection Bay and fishing near Montague Island.
• Sockeye salmon fishing at the mouth of the Resurrection River has started to slow down with large schools of fish holding at the Bear Creek weir now. Sockeye have been fishable near Spring Creek during low tide as well. Anglers can expect fishing to be variable from day-to-day as the Cost Recovery vessel harvest fish to fund hatchery operations.
• King salmon are being caught at the mouth of the Seward lagoon outflow stream. Try fishing the rising and falling tide with spinners and spoons. The youth-only King salmon fishery runs June 17 – 30 in the Seward Lagoon and outflow stream.

Local lakes

• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout a few weeks ago and the fish have started to thin out but are still present. Try bait under a bobber along shaded and treed areas of the lake.
• Troop Lake can be an excellent location to target rainbow trout and Arctic char. It is a short hike, but where the trail meets the lake, anglers can catch rainbow trout easily. A pack raft could be used to explore the lake and improve catch rates.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Effective April 1, Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-26 reduces rockfish bag and possession limits in the salt waters of North Gulf Coast area (including Resurrection Bay) to 3 per day and 6 in possession of which only 2 per day and 4 in possession may be a pelagic rockfish and only 1 per day and 2 in possession may be nonpelagic rockfish from April 1–September 15. In addition, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained from May 27 through June 30, 2026.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print them off from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Office at 907-267-2218.