Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai

May 26, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area at its Seward December 2019 and Anchorage February 2020 meetings. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Lower Cook Inlet sport fisheries regulations.

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-7-07-20 reduced the king salmon bag and possession limits in the Ninilchik River to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-06-20 restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-05-20 reduced the king salmon annual limit north of Bluff Point from five to two fish through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-03-20 and 2-RCL-7-04-20 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 2020.

Freshwater Fishing

• The Ninilchik River fished better than Anchor River or Deep Creek for king salmon over Memorial Day Weekend, and it is likely to do the same this weekend as the hatchery run continues to enter the stream. Anglers were successful using herring or salmon roe under a bobber. Anglers using plugs and spinners were able to harvest a few fish as well.
• The Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River water conditions are favorable for sport fishing right now.
• Fishing was slow at the Anchor River and Deep Creek over Memorial Day weekend but could improve quite a bit by this weekend. Check the fish counts online, and consider fishing just after day break or with the tide at the mouths of both streams.
• Consider switching up your approach to entice a bite. At the Ninilchik, you can try eggs and herring with and without bobbers. Add split shots to your line, if your spinner or other tackle isn’t near or on the bottom.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has continued to improve. Reports of good-sized halibut were caught out of both Anchor Point and Deep Creek.
• The tides are building this week which will reduce the amount of time available for fishing with less weight to stay on the bottom. Try drifting through new areas first to find fish before setting the anchor.
• Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.

King Salmon

• The marine weather has been favorable and king salmon fishing has been improving north of Bluff Point. The Anchor Point and Deep Creek tractor launches are now operational. This week is one of the best times of year to target king salmon in the nearshore waters around the Anchor Point light and Whiskey Gulch area. Anglers will likely catch a combination of feeder and mature Cook Inlet fish in this area. Consider fishing early in the morning at these locations, or near the slack point of either tide.
• King salmon fishing has been poor to fair south of Bluff Point. Fish can be scattered everywhere throughout Kachemak Bay, but anglers have found king salmon just south of Bluff Point and on the south side of Kachemak Bay.
• Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
• There have been some reports of king salmon caught in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit. Watch the tides and be ready to fish as soon as the tide starts flooding the lagoon. Try herring or salmon eggs under a bobber and adjust the depth of the bait as needed.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• If you are limited by access to a boat or by the weather, fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a great way to wet a line. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Dolly Varden, a variety of flatfish species, and the occasional king salmon.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king salmon stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 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 and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.