Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 18, 2020

Freshwaters

Steelhead Trout

Steelhead fishing continues to be very good on the Situk River. Fresh fish are continuing to enter the river and are present throughout the river system. Spawning is also occurring throughout the drainage. Water levels are good with slightly above average flows and fishable conditions throughout. The heavy snowload has kept water levels slightly higher than average, while water temperatures have recently been slightly warmer than average. The next week will be bringing more clouds and rain which should cool off the water and raise water levels.

Based on later fish entry timing, late spawning events on typical spawning beds, and cooler water temps and heavy snowload, it’s looking like later run-timing this year. More fish continue to pass upstream at the weir rather than going down. As peak spawning continues, we encourage anglers not to target spawning fish and to take care to avoid stepping on redds while wading the river.

As a reminder, the upper Situk closure area, 2 miles upstream of 9-mile bridge and 2 miles downstream from Situk Lake, will be closed from April 15 to May 15.

King Salmon

King salmon fishing in the Situk River is Closed.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sport fishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat Area marine waters. Sport fishing continues to be very good for king salmon. Anglers are having success in Yakutat Bay trolling herring behind flashers. Hot spots include the Pinnacles, Redfield Cove, Johnstone Passage, and Broken Oar Cove.

Halibut

The halibut fishing is just getting started.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing opened on Saturday, May 16th.

Rockfish

Fishing for rockfish should be excellent in the Yakutat area.

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