Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 16, 2018

King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations (saltwater) BEGINNING JUNE 15 (including the Juneau Area except Seymour Canal which opens July 1)

• The bag and possession limit (resident and nonresident) is ONE king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• For nonresidents, annual harvest limits and recording requirements apply as follows:
  • From January 1 through June 30, the annual limit is THREE king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From July 1 through December 31, the annual limit is ONE king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the one fish annual limit;
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or harvest record.

HATCHERY KING SALMON FISHING NEAR JUNEAU

Sport Fishing for King Salmon OPEN in Hatchery Terminal Harvest Areas near Juneau JUNE 15 - AUGUST 31

The hatchery king salmon regulations in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (Auke Bay, Fritz Cove, North Gastineau Channel and Lena Cove) will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2018. These new regulations are as follows:

• The daily bag and possession limit is TWO king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

The department is liberalizing sport fishing regulations in the designated hatchery sport harvest area due to the number of returning hatchery fish exceeding broodstock needs for the hatchery program.

Anglers are reminded that Macauley Hatchery Area is CLOSED to King Salmon Fishing until August 15. Sport fishing for king salmon and snagging will be prohibited from the shoreline to 200 yards offshore between the end of Channel Drive and a point near the Samson Tug and Barge property. King salmon may not be snagged, targeted, retained or possessed and must be released unharmed immediately, if caught. This closure is necesary to ensure that enough king salmon make it up the fish ladder to meet egg-take goals. Anglers may still fish for and harvest chum and silver salmon. Please see the associated news release for a map of the closed area: www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.NR&NRID=2590

Juneau area (Section 11-A) Remains CLOSED to Sport and Personal Use Pot Shrimp Fishing.

Surveys conducted in the Section 11-A area this spring indicated that shrimp size composition and abundance have not yet rebounded and are not favorable to allow fishing. The intention of these closures is to allow spot shrimp abundance to rebound to sustainable levels. The department will continue to monitor Section 11-A shrimp. The sport and personal use pot fisheries will remain closed in this area until data indicates that spot shrimp abundance can again sustain harvest. 

Sport, Personal Use, and Subsistence Shrimp Permits REQUIRED All Anglers starting June 25

Anglers should obtain their FREE shrimp permits for sport pot shrimp and personal use and subsistence pot and trawl shrimp online at ADF&G's Online Store or at the Headquarters Office downtown near the whale sculpture or at the Douglas Office. Anglers are required to have shrimp permits in possession prior to fishing. 

Salmon Fishing in Juneau Area Marine Waters

With the re-opening of the marine waters for the retention of king salmon around the Juneau area and within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (THA) in Gastineau Channel/Auke Bay and Lena Cove on June 15, marine anglers took to the waters around the Juneau area. From July 9-16, ADF&G Sportfish's Marine Creel staff observed fewer king salmon harvested from the THA, with the majority of the catch from the Fritz Cove/inner Auke Bay areas and a few fish also caught near Outer Point and Lena Cove. Lena Cove was also a good area to fish, with the highest success from the beach. Outside of the THA, a few fish were reported from Near Pt Adolphus and Lemesieur Island. According to longterm data collection on the Taku and Chilkat River, by mid-June most adult king salmon are already upriver, thus current catches are predominantly adult fish stocked by the hatchery to the remote release sites within the THA. Coho salmon are beginning to be seen in increasing numbers on the outer coast in Elfin Cove and Gustavus with a few having been harvested from the west side of Admiralty from Funter Bay to Point Retreat this past week. Lena Point has seen a few Pinks caught and Chum salmon were harvested at Amalga. ADF&G Marine Creel personnel continue to survey anglers returning to area harbors and boat launches, anglers are asked to please help them collect the requested information by keeping all king and coho salmon, lingcod and nonpelagic rockfish carcasses, so that ADF&G can take length measurements.

Halibut, Rockfish, and Lingcod

In addition to king salmon fishing, anglers also bagged a variety of bottomfish this past week as well. Poundstone and Vanderbilt Reefs, Point Retreat, Point Howard, and Favorite Reefs all produced halibut and rockfish. Rockfish species harvested included Black, Copper, Quillback, Dusky, Harlequin, Silvergrey, Widow, Yellowtail, and Yelloweye. Most were harvested from the reefs and kelp beds around Shelter Island, but Scull Island also produced a few fish. Anglers are reminded that beginning January 1, 2020, all marine boat anglers will be required to carry and utilize Rockfish Deepwater Release Devices. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for additional information.

Other Fishing Opportunities

Windfall Creek Sockeye Fishing

From the outlet of Windfall Lake to the confluence of Herbert River: sport fishing is ONLY allowed during the month of June on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Dolly Varden/Cutthroat Trout Fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are beginning to move back into freshwater ahead of the salmon runs. Creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek may provide opportunity to catch these fish. Using small smolt imitation flies or egg-sucking leach patterns or small spinners and spoons is the best way to catch these fish.

There will also be some fish that do not leave their “over wintering” sites and head for the ocean. Known as “residents”, these fish stay in their home lake, pond, or stream the entire year. While these fish may move around in the system to take advantage of food or environmental conditions, they will be present for your fishing pleasure all year.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are:

• 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum size limit.
• Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Anglers should check the 2018 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.