Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 18, 2019

King Salmon (caught outside the THA)

July 1 - December 31:

Alaska resident:

  • The bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresidents:

  • The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From July 1 through December 31, the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Saltwater Hatchery King Salmon (caught within the THA)

These hatchery king salmon regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019. These regulations are as follows:

  • The daily bag and possession limit is 2 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.

Anglers should note that the bag, possession and size limits for king salmon in the salt waters outside of the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (THA) are more restrictive, and that regulations prohibit anglers from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers who catch king salmon within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area may not continue to fish outside of that area if they possess king salmon that do not comply with the regional king salmon bag, possession and size limits.

Freshwater Hatchery King Salmon (caught in drainages on the Juneau road system)

  • Fishing for king salmon is open year round in all freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system
  • Bag and possession limit for all anglers is 4 king salmon of any size
  • King salmon harvested by nonresidents in Juneau area freshwaters do not count toward their annual limit.
  • Fish Creek Pond Only June 1-August 31
    • Anglers may use bait, may snag and may use weighted hooks, lures, and treble hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank.

Southeast Alaska Regional King Salmon Regulations for the Outer Coast:

Regional king salmon regulations announced April 1, 2019, remain in effect along the outer coast in areas where restrictions on king salmon harvest were not implemented during the spring of 2019.

Alaska resident:

  • The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident:

  • The bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From July 1 through December 31, the annual limit is one king salmon. Any king salmon harvested between January 1 through June 30 will apply to the one fish annual limit.

Marine Boat Fishing Reports

Salmon: Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Coho and King

Marine boat anglers had luck catching king salmon around Juneau this past week. By this time of the year, the vast majority of the Taku king salmon are up the river, so catches were hatchery fish caught in the Auke Bay/Fritz Cove area, and from the Mendenhall Bar and Lena Cove areas. While attempting to catch the big Chinook, a few pinks and chums were also encountered at the Breadline, N. Shelter and Pt. Retreat. A few coho, or silver salmon, have also begun to show up in catches from Shelter Island, Pt Retreat, Auke and Funter bays and off Pt. Couverden. Further west, increasing numbers of pinks, chums, and coho were caught last week in the Cape Cross, Cross Sound and Pleasant Island areas. King salmon were reported from Idaho Inlet, Deer Harbor and Port Althorp, although fishing was not as good as two to three weeks ago. A few sockeye were caught by sport anglers in the Hoktaheen area.

Bottomfish: Halibut, Sablefish, Lingcod & Rockfish

Halibut catches in the Juneau area were good last week with a decent number harvested from N. Shelter and off Lincoln Islands, near Horse/Colt islands, around Benjamin, and at Pt Retreat. To the west, Pleasant Island and Pt. Adolphus, Cape Spencer, and Cross Sound have produced the best halibut catches. Rockfish catches consisted mostly of Duskies, Quillbacks, Silver greys and Rougheyes, but fewer rockfish were reported since more anglers are now targeting salmon and halibut. A few Lingcod have also been reported from Cross Sound and Deer Harbor.

Creel samplers from the Department will continue to sample marine boat anglers at Juneau, Gustavus and Elfin Cove into late August. ADF&G realizes that sometimes these creel interviews seem redundant, but weekly catch reporting is essential in collecting inseason harvest data. Thanks to all participating anglers: your patience and participation are vital to the Department, please continue to allow our samplers to check your fish and record this valuable catch, harvest, effort and biological information.

Other Shoreside Fishing Opportunities

Dolly Varden/cutthroat trout fishing and return of the salmon

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are now present in decent numbers in local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek. For the best chance to catch a Dolly Varden or cutthroat trout try fishing in Sheep Creek, Montana Creek and Cowee Creek. Fishermen in the Channel are also having luck using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners and spoons. For some of the better freshwater fishing opportunities try fishing the Peterson Creek Salt Chuck. Montana Creek is another great place to catch Dolly Varden and trout. Try fishing there at the mouth of Montana Creek where it dumps into the Mendenhall River, or try the upper "canyon" section near the rifle range. Anglers continue to use smolt imitation flies and lures and will soonswitch to using egg imitations in the next week or so once the salmon begin to spawn. During salmon spawning trout and char can be caught simply using a chunk of orange yarn on a hook. Anything that is bright orange and resembles a salmon egg should work well.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as saltwaters 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 be sure to check the 2019 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake where they intend to fish. Several areas are closed to fishing and most in most areas only unbaited, artificial lures and flies may be used year-round, except for Fish Creek pond, Twin Lakes, and Salmon Creek Reservoir.

For additional information, or questions, please contact the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Juneau at (907) 465-4270

Archives

Juneau Area Archives for:
Oct 11, 2019 Sep 27, 2019 Sep 06, 2019 Aug 16, 2019 Aug 05, 2019 Jul 18, 2019 Jul 03, 2019 Jun 21, 2019
Jun 14, 2019 May 24, 2019 May 06, 2019 Apr 08, 2019

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