Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 16, 2018

Coho Salmon

Heavy rainfall and high stream flows in the Situk River have made freshwater coho fishing difficult. Fish are being caught as waters recede with better weather in the later part of this week. Saltwater coho fishing remains spotty as well, some fish are being caught in the bay and in nearshore areas, but it appears coho returns to the Yakutat area are off to a slow start.

Pink Salmon

Large numbers of pink salmon are returning to the Situk River and Yakutat Bay. Fishing for pink salmon is open in the Situk and should provide good opportunity.

Sockeye Salmon

The Situk River is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.

• Sockeye salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed in the Situk. Any sockeye caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Approximately 25,000 sockeye salmon have been counted though the Situk River weir this season and the run is now over. The Situk is managed for a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 30,000 to 70,000 sockeye salmon. The BEG has not been acheived this year so the Situk will remain closed to all sport fishing for sockeye to protect sockeye currently in the upper watershed.

King Salmon

The Situk River is closed to sport fishing for king salmon.

• King salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed in the Situk. Any king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Sport fishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat Area marine waters. King salmon fishing as been spotty at best, but kings are being caught by sport anglers in nearshore areas and out in Yakutat Bay.

The following regulations for king salmon fishing in saltwater are now in effect through May 3rd, 2019:

Residents:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Residents may use two rods when fishing for king salmon from October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Residents using two rods may only retain king salmon.

Nonresidents:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• From July 1 through December 31, 2018 the nonresident annual limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon harvested January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.
• Nonresidents shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

Dolly Varden and other Trout

This is an excellent time for marine and freshwater anglers to target trout species in the Yakutat area. Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Rainbow trout can be found in area streams and some nearshore areas. Freshwater anglers may find trout in areas also being used by spawning salmon.

Other Marine Fishing

Halibut, lingcod, and pelagic rockfish fishing continues to be good. Recent poor weather has made access to the good fishing grounds difficult, but improved forecasts this week should help.

Nonpelagic rockfish regulations for Southeast Alaska outside waters, including the Yakutat area:

• Alaska Residents: 1 non-pelagic rockfish per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents: 1 non-pelagic rockfish per day, 1 in possession, no size limit; annual limit of 1 yelloweye which must be recorded in ink on the back of the angler's sport fishing license or harvest record card immediately at the time of harvest.

August Closure: Retention of nonpelagic rockfish is prohibited in the Yakutat area from August 1 through August 31. 

• All anglers fishing from a vessel in saltwater during August, regardless of target species, must have a functional deep water release device on board and use it to release nonpelagic rockfish at depth.
• Deep water release devices are available at the local Yakutat ADF&G office.

Shrimp

NEW - Anglers are now required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use, and subsistence shrimp harvest beginning Monday June 25, 2018. Print your own permit online at the ADF&G store or stop in at your local ADF&G office. This new permit requires anglers to report their harvest of shrimp and will allow ADF&G to collect more accurate shrimp harvest information from all noncommercial harvesters.

Please see the “Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary” or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.

For further information, please contact the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist: Matt Catterson at (907) 784-3222.