Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 27, 2023

Freshwaters

Steelhead Trout

Water levels on the Situk River have started to rise due to the recent rains. Currently, the discharge is around 225 cfs and rising. The extended forecast calls for about 4-5 inches of rain over the next 6 days. This should raise water levels and make angling more effective. It becomes difficult to wade across the river at about 450 cfs, so we'll have to keep our eyes out for that.

Reports from anglers and staff are that more fish have started entering the system with the rising waters. The Upper Situk has seen a more fish enter that section of river as well. Anglers should be aware that there is no fishing in a 2-mile section of the Upper Situk River through May 15th. Fishing is still considered slow in this section with the fish being hard to get to in this low water, but that should change with the rise in water levels expected over the next week. The Lower and Middle Situk have had reports of better fishing over the last few days. The overcast conditions and the rising waters have helped move more fish into the river and should only improve from what has been rather slow fishing.

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout are in the Tawah River drainage in good numbers. Fishing should be decent over the next couple of weeks.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sportfishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat area marine waters. Staff have received a couple of reports of sport fishing out in Yakutat Bay this week, but so far, fishing continues to be slow. The large schools of herring are exiting the bay which will help make fishing conditions better as the days progress. Most anglers troll spoons or herring behind a flasher.

Anglers are required to have a king salmon stamp when targeting king salmon.

Halibut

There have been a few reports this last week that some halibut were caught near Yakutat. Fishing should only continue to improve as spring progresses.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing is closed until May 16th.

Rockfish

Fishing for rockfish should be excellent in the Yakutat area. Try working small jigs or darts, or mooching herring for the best results.

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