Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

July 2, 2026

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The freshwater section of Resurrection River up to Nash Road opened to salmon fishing on Tuesday, June 16th. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed in this open section. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater. The bag and possession limits are 3 for salmon other than king salmon (in combination), of which, only 2 may be coho salmon. Fishing will be slow but sockeye are still available.
• The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream opened to King Salmon fishing for youth anglers only (15 years old and under), June 17th and will continue through July 31st, by emergency order. Fishing will be slow until more king salmon build in the lagoon.
  • Reminder: Only one hook (single or treble) may be used during the youth-only fishery, but bait is permitted. Harvest recording is required as these fish count towards the combined annual 5 King salmon limit caught in Cook Inlet fresh and saltwaters.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. There have been a few reports of Dolly Varden being caught at stream mouths, and they are likely to start to follow salmon upstream. Try fishing smolt pattern flies or small spinners.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been reported as good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Anglers returning to Seward have reported catches of chicken halibut with larger fish mixed in. Fishing will continue to pick up as we move deeper into summer.
• Small to medium-sized halibut catches have started to pick up inside Resurrection Bay but fishing has still been slow for this time of year. The outer portions of Resurrection Bay have been most productive for targeting halibut.

Lingcod

• Lingcod season opened today, July 1 outside Resurrection Bay and extends through December 31, 2026. In outside waters, the bag limit is 1 lingcod per day, 2 in possession and the whole fish must exceed 35 inches. Fishing is expected to be very good around the lingcod opener. Target rocky pinnacles and outcroppings with large twister tail jig, tipped with herring.
• Fishing for and retention of Lingcod is closed inside Resurrection Bay.

Rockfish

• Anglers have reported good catch rates of a variety of rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
• Yelloweye rockfish retention opened today, July 1 and continues through the remainder of the year.

Other finfish

Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell (waterfall) Creek, or off Lowell Point.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been good inside Resurrection Bay. Try trolling herring and spoons along the shoreline from the town of Seward to Caines Head.
• King salmon fishing is still productive for anglers who make the long journey out to Cape Cleare on Montague Island.
• Sockeye salmon fishing at the mouth of the Resurrection River has slowed down considerably. Large numbers of fish have passed through the Bear Creek weir to the lake, and those remaining at the weir are shifting to spawning coloration as the season progresses.
• King salmon are being caught at the mouth of the Seward lagoon outflow stream, but fishing has been spotty. Try fishing the rising and falling tide with spinners and spoons.
• There are reports of people picking up coho salmon along the coves near the entrance of Resurrection Bay. Fishing will be slow for coho salmon but will build over the next few weeks and peak in early to mid-August.

Local lakes

• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout a few weeks ago and the fish have thinned out considerably. Try bait under a bobber along shaded and treed areas of the lake.
• Troop Lake can be an excellent location to target rainbow trout and Arctic char. It is a short hike, but where the trail meets the lake, anglers can catch rainbow trout easily. A pack raft could be used to explore the lake and improve catch rates.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Effective July 1, Emergency Order 2-KS-8-34-26 extends the youth only king salmon fishery in Seward Lagoon and the outfall stream through July 31.
• Effective April 1, Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-26 reduces rockfish bag and possession limits in the salt waters of North Gulf Coast area (including Resurrection Bay) to 3 per day and 6 in possession of which only 2 per day and 4 in possession may be a pelagic rockfish and only 1 per day and 2 in possession may be nonpelagic rockfish from April 1–September 15.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print them off from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Office at 907-267-2218.