Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

July 31, 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 is open to all salmon fishing except for king salmon. Only unbaited, single-hook artificial lures or flies are allowed in this open section. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater. Salmon fishing will be very slow as the first few coho salmon of the season are just starting to arrive. Expect fishing to improve much later into August.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. Anglers are starting to catch more Dolly Varden in the Seward area creeks. Try fishing egg imitations or beads as these fish will be feeding behind spawning salmon.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been reported as good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Recent marine weather been conducive for finding halibut outside of Resurrection Bay. The average size of halibut has been very good the last two weeks. The best approach will be to anchor up with a chum bag and to fish large herring or salmon viscera on circle hooks.
• Halibut fishing inside Resurrection Bay has been slower than usual all season long. Anglers are catching the occasional small to medium-sized halibut. Halibut fishing in Resurrection Bay will require more patience, but fishing anchored up on a chum bag will help. The closer you can get to the Gulf, the better your odds are of catching some halibut in Resurrection Bay.

Lingcod

Lingcod season opened on July 1 outside Resurrection Bay. In outside waters, the bag limit is 1 lingcod per day, 2 in possession and the whole fish must exceed 35 inches. Lingcod catch rates are holding up a month into the season. Target rocky pinnacles and outcroppings with large twister tail jig tipped with herring.

Rockfish

Anglers have reported excellent catch rates of mostly black rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and near the Chiswell Islands. Schools of rockfish can be readily find by looking for structure and fish marks on your fish finder.

Other finfish

Pacific cod have been very abundant in Resurrection Bay and fishing has been hot. Many anglers are reporting having difficulty keeping cod off and are topping off their haul with cod to bring home extra meat.

Salmon

• King salmon continue to be caught inside Resurrection Bay but fishing continues to be spotty. Try trolling cut plug herring or spoons along the shoreline from the town of Seward out to Caines Head. Anglers are even picking up a few kings mixed in while coho fishing.
• Coho salmon fishing has slowed down a bit this week but remains fair. Anglers are picking up coho salmon from Chiswell Islands, Pony Cove, and the Cheval Narrows and all the way in as close as Caines Head. Try trolling medium-sized herring along the shoreline near the entrance of Resurrection Bay, and once a school is located, switch to mooching herring with a hoochie squid through the school.

Local lakes

• The rainbow trout in First Lake have all been mostly caught out and fishing will be very slow. Anglers would be better off putting their trout fishing efforts at another location.
• Troop Lake can be an excellent location to target rainbow trout and Arctic char. This is a highly underutilized lake. 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, improve catch rates, and give anglers access to Arctic Char.

Emergency Orders

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

• Effective July 1, Emergency Order 2-KS-8-34-26 extends the youth only king salmon fishery in Seward Lagoon and the outfall stream through July 31.
• 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.

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.