Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

September 19, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• Coho runs in Road System rivers are a mixed bag this season. The Olds and Pasagshak have decent numbers of fish but seem about average. While the American, Pillar and Monashka haven’t had many fish yet this season. Fishing has been best first thing in the morning.
• Buskin River weir counts have fallen a bit due to the dry weather, but there are good numbers of fish building up in the lower river and decent schools of fish in the salt water off the mouth. Fishing has been good at times but there is a lot of fishing pressure.
• Saltery Cove has been having a great coho run this season and is one of the better spots so far, but the warm weather often makes fishing slower.
• 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. Other popular locations for dollies are the American and Salonie. There are plenty of dollies around, but sounds like they are getting picky and mostly only going for beads right now.

Saltwater Fishing

• Whale Pass is still the place to go for kings right now, with most of the usual places near town being unproductive. Ugak Bay has also been productive for kings at times.
• There haven’t been any reports of good coho fishing in the salt water right now. The likely place is Monashka and Mill Bays but there aren’t the same large schools of coho salmon this year as last year.
• Halibut fishing sounds like its slowed down recently but, when the weather allows, people are finding some fish on the outer reefs like Williams Reef and Triple Lumps.
• Lingcod fishing has been good at most reefs in Chiniak Bay and beyond and anglers continue to find 15-20lb lingcod regularly.
• 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

Fall is often a great time to find wild rainbows in Buskin and Saltery lakes as they follow spawning salmon up into the lakes. Look for schools of salmon and target the areas around them or behind them or focus on the mouths of tributary streams coming into the lakes for the best rainbow fishing. Remember that it is catch and release for rainbow trout in road system drainages unless they are actively stocked by ADF&G and KRAA.

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-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.