Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 01, 2022

Check out the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

Freshwaters

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon fishing on the Situk River is very good. Try pitching any brightly colored lure or drifting small flies or hooks with yarn in deep runs or holding water.

Coho Salmon

Silver fishing is decent right now on the Situk River. More fish have entered the estuary and the river over the last week. The issue in the coming next week is going to be the wind and rain, and the water levels of freshwater streams. An atmospheric river is leveling Yakutat as we speak and is expected to shoot up water levels for the next week or so. Fishing conditions will be tough during the next week with shore anglers having the most difficult time. It looks like the wet and windy weather is going to continue through Saturday so take caution when wading and trying to cross the river.

Silvers are notoriously aggressive fish so really anything can be used to catch them. If pitching lures like spinners, spoons, jigs, or plugs don't work, try using smaller gear like drifting flies or octopus hooks with a little brightly colored yarn or corkies along the bottom. Remember, no treble hooks are allowed on the Situk River, so switch out your treble hooks off your spinners and other lures with single siwash hooks.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sportfishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat area marine waters. Reports of fishing by trollers and sport anglers in Yakutat Bay continue to be good over the last week, especially for this time of year. Kings have been reported to be caught in the islands, out front, and out near the pinnacles in the middle of Yakutat Bay. Most anglers are trolling spoons, hoochies, or herring behind a flasher 20-30 feet down along the beaches in about 40-60 feet of water.

Anglers are reminded that in order to sport fish for king salmon you must be in possession of a valid 2022 king salmon stamp.

Coho Salmon

Fishing for silvers in the salt is considered below average for this time of year. Anglers are doing alright along the outside of Kahntaak Island, but limits are not being attained. Other locations to try include the pinnacles and around Ocean Cape. Try trolling herring or spoons or hoochies 20-30 feet down in about 30-60 feet of water or try mooching when you find a school of silvers.

Make sure you know how to identify between silvers and smaller chinook and pink salmon. If you do not have a valid 2022 king salmon stamp you may not fish for or harvest king salmon. Also, only king salmon greater than or equal to 28" may be retained in salt waters.

Halibut

Halibut fishing continues to be good this last week. Pacific dogfish continue to make it a little difficult to get past them to get into halibut. Anglers are moving further back into the bay near the glaciers to get into colder water where the dogfish tend to avoid. Also, try avoiding chum bags while fishing as it can draw the dogfish to your area, and if they do arrive try waiting for 10-15 minutes before dropping bait down again so they can clear out. The weather over the next three days will make it difficult to get out for halibut, but next weeks weather looks decent.

Halibut are being caught within the islands and closer to shore inside the bay and might be a good place to get away from the dogfish while halibut follow pink and coho salmon salmon closer inshore. Try soaking all sorts of baited circle hooks with bait such as herring, salmon heads, carcasses, octopus, squid, etc.

Lingcod

Fishing has been excellent for lingcod in the Yakutat area, with good catches being reported. Try using all sorts of jigs, darts, or cut-plug herring while mooching

Rockfish

Fishing for pelagic rockfish should be excellent in the Yakutat area. Try using all sorts of jigs, dart, or cut-plug herring while mooching.

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

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