Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 16, 2019

Marine Boat Fishing Reports

Salmon: Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Coho and King

Marine boat anglers are starting to see more coho in the marine waters near Juneau. Catch rates for coho were best at Homeshore, Couverden and Lizardhead near Hawk Inlet. Anglers targeting coho typically troll a herring or green hoochie behind a flasher. Fishing for coho usually means that the lines are set shallower to improve hooking into one of these great fighting fish. Kings are typically found deeper this time of year and are considered to be feeder kings as they will not be spawning this year. Pink and chum salmon fishing has improved somewhat since last week, with a few more fish being caught at Homeshore, Lizardhead and Pt Retreat. Pinks typically are agressive and will attack any hoochie or fly or spinner. Try using bright pink to produce the most strikes. Chum salmon typically hit smaller lures and tiny hoochies sometimes called chum bugs. This time of year the chums and pinks are beginning to darken up so now is the time to get some before they head up stream to spawn. Look for pink and chum fishing to drop off over the next few weeks and look for coho fishing to improve. Catches in Elfin and Gustavus have been getting better over the past two weeks, with those fish moving closer inside to Juneau waters.

Bottomfish: Halibut, Sablefish, Lingcod & Rockfish

Halibut catches in the Juneau area were better last week. Folks seemed to still be getting a few fish from the north Pass/Vanderbilt reef area. The backside of Douglas also had a few fish harvested and catch rates were better out in the Icy Strait/Cross Sound area as is typical for this time of year. Look for halibut fishing near Juneau to improve over the next few weeks as post spawn salmon start to become available as they flush out of their natal streams. Try fishing on humps located in Southern Lynn Canal and Stephens passage and look to target stream mouths after a good rainfall. Rockfish catches were decent over the last couple weeks and consisted mostly of Duskies, Quillbacks, Silver greys and Rougheyes, but fewer rockfish were reported since more anglers are now targeting coho 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 keying in on a very important food source in the form of salmon eggs. Pinks and chums have begun to spawn and 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. Since the trout and char are feeding voraciously on salmon eggs try using small egg pattern flies or small spinners and spoons in bright orange. Upper Montana Creek is another great place to catch Dolly Varden and trout. Try fishing the upper "canyon" section near the rifle range. Anglers should continue to use egg imitations and bright orange coloring over the next few weeks. In fact during salmon spawning season 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

Regulations

King Salmon (caught outside the THA) in the Juneau area:

August 16 - December 31, 2019:

Alaska residents -regulations remain unchanged:

• The bag and possession limit is TWO king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. No annual limit. For more information refer to the news releases issued on June 10 for the Juneau, Petersburg/Wrangell and Ketchikan areas.

Nonresidents:

• The closure is rescinded. The nonresident bag and possession limit is ONE king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; annual limit of ONE king salmon and any king salmon harvested earlier in 2019 apply toward the one fish annual harvest limit.
• Immediately upon retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

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 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.

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 FOUR 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. No annual limit.

Nonresident:

• The closure is rescinded. The nonresident bag and possession limit is ONE king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; annual limit of one king salmon and any king salmon harvested earlier in 2019 apply toward the one fish annual harvest limit.
• Immediately upon retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.