Area Sport Fishing Reports
Sitka

July 17, 2024

Salmon

Peak timing for king salmon has passed for the season and catch rates have dipped accordingly. That said, there are still kings in the area. When weather allows, Vitskari Rocks, Biorka, and Cape Edgecumbe are traditional hot spots for kings and coho. There have been numerous reports of jellyfish fowling of trolling gear, which has contributed to the lack of success.

Sport fishing has reopened at Medvejie hatchery (Bear Cove) although many of these kings will have darkened up as they develop spawning colors.

Coho have yet to show up in significant numbers in Sitka, but reports from further south indicate they may be on their way shortly. Typically, angler success for coho increases through August.

Pink salmon are being caught regularly, but harvest is down from previous years. Pink salmon should be hitting the streams in the next few weeks.

Sockeye opportunity is limited in Sitka, with an exception being Redoubt Bay, which is seeing record returns this year. The bag limit has increased to 6 sockeye per day. Please note snagging restrictions on page 24 of the Southeast Regulations Summary.

Halibut

Fishing for halibut is good and stays relatively consistent through the summer. There were recent changes for guided halibut anglers. The reverse slot limit was reduced and halibut retention is prohibited on Fridays, beginning July 19-September 13. See NOAA for sport fishing regulations for halibut.

Lingcod

Alaska residents may harvest lingcod through the end of November, however nonresident anglers have a midseason closure from June 15th through the end of July. Fishing will again reopen August 1^st and run through November as well.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)

In 2022, Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) was opened to provide opportunity for residents. Resident anglers are allowed one DSR rockfish daily, two in possession, EXCLUDING YELLOWEYE. DSR are a subset of nonpelagic rockfish including: Yelloweye, Quillback, China, Tiger, Rosethorn, Copper, and Canary.

Slope Rockfish

All anglers are allowed one daily, two in possession. The most common slope rockfish include: Redbanded, Rougheye, Silvergray, Shortraker, and Vermilion.

Pelagic Rockfish

Fishing for rockfish is good year-round. The most commonly caught pelagic rockfish in the Sitka Area are the Black and Yellowtail, although Duskys aren’t uncommon. Try fishing around underwater structures near kelp beds with a dart or jig. These rockfish make for excellent table fare.

Nonresident anglers are allowed 2 daily, 4 in possession, in CSEO (Sitka Area), where residents are allowed four a day, eight in possession. See the Sitka Area Special Exceptions for a map of CSEO on page 23 of the Southeast Regulations Summary.

The department has developed a guide to assist anglers in identifying species groupings. If you’d like a copy of this on waterproof paper, stop by the office for a free one.

Shellfish

Be sure to check your local fishing regulations to be aware of harvest limits, size requirements and necessary permits for shellfish. Also be aware that certain types of shellfish in Southeast Alaska have been known to cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) which can be fatal.

For Dungeness crab, try placing pots in bays and around the mouths of river where crabs congregate to feed. If fishing with friends, be sure to keep each angler’s catch separate to avoid pooling bag limits.

Check out the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

For further information, please feel free to contact the Sitka area sportfish management staff at (907) 747-5355.