Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 31, 2023

Current Fishing Opportunities

The day has finally arrived! Harvesting of king salmon in the Juneau hatchery area OPENS TOMORROW, JUNE 1. Once the hatchery area opens, Juneau shoreside anglers can cast large spoons or small herring at locations such as Lena Cove, False Outer Point, the mouth of Fish Creek, and next to the DIPAC Macaulay hatchery for king salmon. Marine boat anglers looking to go king salmon fishing in the Juneau area should troll using flashers, spoons, or herring rigs in Auke Bay and Fritz Cove. Here are some recommendations on king salmon tackle and gear set-ups for both shoreside and marine boat anglers. The rest of the marine waters near Juneau will open June 15 under the regionwide king salmon regulations (EXCEPT Seymour Canal, upper Lynn Canal, and Taku Inlet). Make sure to consult the 2023 Juneau hatchery area king salmon Advisory Announcement and 2023 regionwide king salmon Advisory Announcement. Remember to purchase your 2023 fishing license and king salmon stamp either at the ADF&G online store, the nearest ADF&G office, or from local vendors before going king salmon fishing.

Furthermore, the sport bottomfish fishery has really started to kick off, particularly for black cod and dusky rockfish. Other than that, a few silvergray rockfish and some halibut migrating to the inside waters have started to come across the docks. The freshwater and shoreside fishing is still good for trout and Dolly Varden either in local streams or at the creek mouths along the road system (EXCEPT Peterson Creek, which is currently CLOSED to all sportfishing).

Juneau Hatchery Area Sport Fishing Regulations - OPEN JUNE 1

The sport fishing regulations for hatchery-produced king salmon in a designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area near Juneau consisting of the contiguous waters of Stephens Passage, Auke Bay, Fritz Cove and Gastineau Channel, enclosed on the west by a line running from the tip of Point Louisa to the navigational aid at the northern tip of Portland Island (58° 21.13' N., 134° 45.52' W) then along the eastern shore of Portland Island to its most southern point and ending on Douglas Island at the northern tip of Outer Point, and enclosed on the east by the Juneau-Douglas Bridge and all salt waters of Lena Cove south of a line from Pt. Lena to a regulatory marker on the mainland shore located at 58° 24.20' N. lat.,134°45.64' W. long. (see attached map). These regulations are intended to provide opportunity to harvest surplus Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon returning to the Juneau area.

Within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area, the following regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023:

• The daily bag and possession limit is four 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 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.

Southeast Regionwide King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations - OPEN JUNE 15

Alaskan resident:

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From March 10 through March 31, 2023, and October 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024, a resident sport fish angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon.

Nonresident:

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From January 1 through June 30, the nonresident annual harvest limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
• From July 1 through July 15, the nonresident annual harvest limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply towards the two fish annual harvest limit;
• From July 16 through December 31, the nonresident annual harvest limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 15 will apply towards the one fish annual harvest limit;
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record;

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Juneau:

Marine waters near Juneau except Seymour Canal and upper Taku Inlet

(The waters of District 9 north of a line from Patterson Pt. to Pt. Ellis, District 10, Sections 11-A, 11-B, 11-C, District 12, Portion of Section 13-C southeast of a line between Nismeni Pt. and a point on the Chichagof Island shoreline at 57° 35.59' N. lat., 135° 22.33' W. long., Sections 14-B and 14-C, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock; see map below)

• April 1 through June 14, 2023: No retention of king salmon. All king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters adjacent to the Taku River

(Taku Inlet north of a line from Point Bishop to Point Greely, see map below)

• April 1 through June 30, 2023: No retention of king salmon. All king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters adjacent to the King Salmon River

(Section 11-D, Seymour Canal north of 57° 37' N. latitude, see map below)

• April 1 through June 30, 2023: closed to king salmon fishing, all anglers may not target or retain king salmon.

Bottomfish

Rockfish anglers have had the best luck targeting duskies and silvergrays in the deeper (300+ ft), rocky waters of Saginaw Channel, Favorite Channel, and Lynn Canal between Pt. Retreat, Shelter, Lincoln, and Benjamin Islands. The limits for dusky rockfish are 5 per day, 10 in possession, no size limit. For silvergrays, the limits are 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Marine boat anglers have also reported harvests of sablefish (black cod) along the deep and silty ocean bottom (500+ ft) of Lynn Canal between Pt. Couverden and Pt. Retreat. The limits for sablefish are 4 per day, 4 in possession, 8 fish annual limit for nonresidents, no size limit. Lastly, a few halibut have been harvested in the Icy Strait corridor, particularly in the shallower waters (-250 ft) near Sisters Reef, Couverden Island, and Couverden Rock. Please review the 2023 halibut regulations for unguided and charter (guided) anglers issued by NOAA.

Other Spring Fishing Opportunities

Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond

Anglers are reminded that the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon in the all freshwaters crossed by the Juneau roadsystem including Fish Creek and Fish Creek Pond are 4 fish, any size and any king salmon harvested by non-residents do not count toward their annual limit. Please note that within Fish Creek Pond, from 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. However, in Fish Creek itself, anglers may NOT use bait, or snag, or use the aforementioned large treble hooks. The marine waters at the mouth of Fish Creek fall under the Terminal Hatchery Area (THA) regulations, and snagging is allowed in salt waters.

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout Fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout have moved into saltwater and are congregating at the mouths of local creeks such as Sheep Creek, Montana Creek, Fish Creek and Cowee Creek to feed on emigrating salmon fry and smolts. Using small smolt imitation fly 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 "overwintering" 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. Windfall Lake and the Dredge Lakes area are the best locations to find resident Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout.

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 2023 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.

Steelhead trout Fishing

Steelhead fishing is winding down, with kelts returning to the ocean post-spawn. If you are still looking to catch-and-release a steelhead on the Juneau road system, Montana Creek, Fish Creek, and Cowee Creek, are the best locations to find them. In Southeast Alaska, most streams that contain steelhead have small annual returns (in the hundreds) and thus can be vulnerable to over-fishing. Retention of steelhead in the Juneau area is prohibited. Any steelhead caught in a drainage crossed by the Juneau road system must be released immediately. Current regionwide regulations elsewhere, away from the road system, prohibit any steelhead under 36" from being harvested and require that a harvest record be completed in ink immediately upon landing a steelhead that is to be harvested. Keep in mind that all fish should be treated with great care regardless of size to ensure the best chances for survival upon release. Please keep fish in the water while releasing. Our website has more advice on proper catch-and-release methods.

Anglers should note that all sport fishing in Peterson Creek from the falls to the intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at saltwater is CLOSED April 1-June 30 to protect spawning steelhead. The Advisory Announcement can be found here and is provided below.

Sport Fishing Closed in Peterson Creek

A portion of Peterson Creek, north of Juneau, is closed to sport fishing for all species. Specific restrictions are as follows:

• The waters of Peterson Creek, including Peterson Lagoon, from the intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at saltwater to the falls approximately 1.5 miles upstream are CLOSED to sport fishing from April 1 - June 30, 2023, to protect spawning steelhead.

Based on snorkel survey expansions, in years when concurrent weir counts were available, overall production of steelhead in Peterson Creek has declined in recent years. For the last eight years (2015–2022), snorkel survey index counts conducted each spring have been below the 1997–2014 average of 28 (equivalent to about 116 fish) when steelhead abundance in the creek appeared to be relatively stable. In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 the snorkel survey counts were 6, 3, 11, 24, and 18 fish, respectively. A conservative approach is necessary to manage the Peterson Creek steelhead stock during this period of very low escapements.

Shellfish

Except for red and blue king crab, other shellfish are currently available to harvest. Personal use red and blue king crab fishing is CURRENTLY CLOSED. In addition, golden king crab and Tanner crab fishing will close beginning JUNE 16. These closures are in place to protect molting and mating crab. These fisheries will reopen July 1.

King Crab

Personal use king crab fishing is only open to Alaskan residents. A sport fishing license and a Southeast Alaska Regional Personal Use King Crab Permit are required. These are available at the ADF&G online store. Please check for Personal Use Emergency Orders, legal-size and pot configurations, and restrictions online. Section 11-A is currently CLOSED to Alaskan resident PU king crab fishing. Stay tuned for the Juneau area PU announcement later this year using the link above. Harvest must be reported online. Please check the 2023 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet, pages 33-36, for regulations specific to shellfish.

Dungeness and Tanner Crab

For Alaskan residents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 20 Dungeness males, a 6.5" minimum width. While taking Dungeness crab, 5 pots or 10 rings per person may be used, with a max of 10 pots or 20 rings per vessel. While taking Tanner crab, no more than 4 pots or 10 rings per vessel may be used. In total, no more than 5 pots per person and 10 pots per vessel may be used for taking shellfish regardless of pot type.

For nonresidents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 3 male Tanner and Dungeness crab (in combination). Tanner males need to be 5.5" minimum width and Dungeness males need to be 6.5" minimum width.

Shrimp

Sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in the Juneau area will remain CLOSED until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Section 11-A north and west of a line extending from a regulatory marker near point Bishop to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden, extending to a line at the latitude of Little Island light, and east of a line from Little Island light to Point Retreat light. Check the Sport and Personal Use News Release.

Outside of the 11-A area, sport and personal use shrimp fishing remain open, except Tenakee Inlet, which is CLOSED. All marine waters in Tenakee Inlet west of the longitude of Corner Point at 135° 06.50' W long. are closed to personal use and sport shrimp pot fishing. The Tenakee Inlet shrimp closure Advisory Announcement has more information. Sport and personal use shrimpers who have a valid sport fishing license must also have a free shrimp permit available on the ADF&G online store. Participating anglers must sign their permit in ink to make it valid and have the permit in possession while taking shrimp in Southeast Alaska. Shrimp limits and gear requirements for sport and personal use shrimp fishing cab be found on pages 33-36 of the 2023 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary. Reporting of effort and harvest is required and must be submitted to the department even if you did not fish.

Clams

ADF&G does not recommend harvesting clams from any waters in the Juneau area due to the possibility that the clams may contain Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins. Currently, no beaches in the Juneau area are monitored on a regular basis (i.e- "certified") for PSP toxins. If you harvest, you do so at your own risk of PSP poisoning. Sporadic sampling has been conducted by the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) project, but clams of any species and at any time during the year may still contain toxic levels of PSP. Please navigate to the following Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) web page for more information about PSP.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

NEW! Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new Juneau-Glacier Bay Interactive Map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips thru the Sport Fish gofishak application.