Contact:
Carol Kerkvliet
Assistant Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 235-8191

A portion of the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon will be open to fishing only by youths 15 years of age and younger on Saturday, August 19, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.  The youth-only fishing area will be posted. The remainder of the fishing lagoon will be open to fishing to all anglers of any age. All other sport fishing regulations remain in effect for the entire fishing lagoon.  See pages 13 and 14 of the Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation summary.

The late-run of silver (coho) salmon are returning to the fishing lagoon in good numbers, and anglers have been successful casting out suspended eggs or herring under a bobber, as well as casting out spinners and spoons or drifting eggs or herring in the entrance channel during the incoming tide. The daily bag and possession limit is 6 silver salmon of any size.  The lagoon area is closed to snagging until further notice.

Division of Sport Fish staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist during the incoming tide, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and some fishing gear will be available at that time for use by kids. 

Youth fisheries were established by the Alaska State Legislature and implemented by the Alaska Board of Fisheries to provide special opportunity for young people to catch fish.  Youth-only fisheries occur annually in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the first Saturday in June for king salmon, the first Saturday in August for early-run silver salmon, and the third Saturday in August for late-run silvers.  This is the final youth-only fishing day in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon for 2006.