Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

September 10, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• Coho runs in Road System rivers are doing well this season. Hot spots have been the Olds, Pasagshak, Sargent and Salonie. There are some fish in the American and Buskin but it’s a little slower at these spots.
• Saltery Cove has been having a great coho run this season and is one of the better spots.
• Stocked returns to Pillar and Monashka creeks have been slow now, though it’s hard to say if its just early or the returns are small.
• Afognak coho runs continue to do well but will be slowing down from here on out. Fishing is still good at Litnik and most southern Afognak runs.
• There are still a few bright pinks around too, with some in the Buskin and at Pillar Creek.
• Dolly fishing at the Buskin has been awesome, with the Lake and upper river having lots of dollies. They are starting to get some color to them as well.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing continues to be slow around town and most success has been reported at Whale Pass and in Ugak Bay. Very few fish have been found in the Chiniak Bay area and fishing seems to be hit and miss everywhere else.
• There are still some coho being picked up in Whale Pass, and it sounds like Ugak Bay still has good fishing for folks willing to make the trip. Chiniak Bay and places close to town are very slow.
• Monashka Bay is starting to get some coho schooling up but fishing is slow for the most part. There are some jumpers in the bay and a few fish here and there but not many caught. There are some fish in Mill Bay and at Mission Beach but it sounds slow for the most part too.
• Halibut fishing was slower in the last week with many anglers commenting on only finding smaller fish. The weather wasn’t the best, so that likely slowed fishing down, but halibut fishing often slows down around this time as fish move towards shallower waters in search of salmon.
• Lingcod fishing on the other hand, has been excellent with lots of fish in the 15lb range around. They are being found at most reefs around Chiniak Bay and beyond.
• Rockfish are also plentiful and remember that the new rockfish regulations are very similar to salmon bag limits. You can have a total limit of 5 rockfish, that can be any combination of species as long as you have no more than 2 of each species or only 1 yelloweye.

Local Lakes

Rainbow fishing in most local lakes was slow in the last week, likely due to all of the rain we had, but some of the more remote lakes we stock are found on Woody and Long Islands. Dolgoi Lake on Long Island and Long Lake and Tanignak Lake on Woody Island are all stocked with rainbows. These lakes have been stocked nearly continuously since at least 1953.

Special Species Information

• New rockfish regulations took effect June 1 for Kodiak and Afognak waters north of Dangerous and Outlet Capes. This includes all the waters of Afognak, Raspberry and Shuyak Islands as well as Chiniak, Ugak and Marmot Bays and all of Whale Pass and Kupreanof Strait. It is also in effect for all anglers, both resident and non-resident.
• Anglers fishing in these waters can keep 5 rockfish per day, but for only 2 can be of a single species. This is similar to salmon bag limits in the Kodiak Road Zone and an example would be that an angler could harvest 2 black rockfish, 2 dusky rockfish and a yelloweye. Species ID guides are available in the Southwest Alaska Regulation Booklet, on the ADF&G website and in the Kodiak ADF&G office.
• The standard bag limit for non-pelagic and yelloweye is still in effect Island wide, only 2 of your rockfish bag limit may be non-pelagic species and only one of these may be a yelloweye.
• Some anglers have commented on black rockfish being the only rockfish they are able to catch. When looking for other species, like dark or dusky rockfish look to the deeper part of reefs and pinnacles and fish closer to the bottom and off to the side of the shallower areas. Black rockfish will often be up off the bottom and in the shallowest water.

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-RS-4-53-24 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to ten fish in the South Olga Lakes (Upper Station) drainage. The combined bag limit for salmon is ten fish, of which no more than five can be a combination of coho, chum or pink salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-36-24 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to five fish in the Buskin River drainage. The combined bag limit for sockeye, chum and pink salmon remains at five fish, of these two may be coho salmon through September 15.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-24 reduced the bag and possession limit for a single species of rockfish to 2 per day, 4 in possession north of Outlet Cape and Dangerous Cape. This emergency order is in effect from Saturday June 1, 2024 through 11:59 pm. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-16-24 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-37-24 increases the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to four fish in the Pasagshak River drainage. The combined bag limit for sockeye, chum and pink salmon remains at five fish, 20 inches or greater in length, of these, two may be coho salmon through September 15. From September 16 through December 31, the bag limit for coho salmon is one fish, 20 inches or greater in length. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-38-24 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king salmon, to 10 fish in the Saltery Cove drainage all of which can be sockeye salmon, but only 5 may be chum and pink salmon, and two can be coho salmon, 20 inches or greater in length. Anglers may not harvest more than 10 salmon per day or possess more than 10 total salmon, all species combined. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

Don't forget to purchase your 2024 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 it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.