Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 25, 2017

Week of August 24 to August 30

General Area Description: includes all waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling.

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• CORDOVA STREAMS crossing the Copper River Highway from Eyak River to the Million Dollar Bridge: Once you reach your daily limit of coho salmon (three fish) between August 15 - September 15, you may not fish with bait in any of these streams for the remainder of the day. A coho salmon that is removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the daily bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. A person may not remove a coho salmon from the water before releasing it.
• From June 1 - September 30:
  • Cordova Terminal Harvest Area is closed to snagging.
  • On the Eyak River only single-hook, artificial flies with a hook gap of 3/8 inch or less between point and shank are allowed from a point 200 yards upstream of Eyak Lake dam and to a point 200 yards downstream from the bridge at the outlet of Eyak Lake. No additional weight may be attached to the line when fishing in this area.
• Ibeck Creek is closed to all sport fishing upstream from a point 3 miles above the Copper River Highway.
• Power Creek and Eyak Lake in Cordova are CLOSED to salmon fishing year-round.
• Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing is OPEN. Anglers are reminded to check the Prince William Sound regulations on the legal size limit for retained trout in the area they are fishing.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SHR-6-11-17, the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in Prince William Sound was reduced from five pots per person with a maximum of five pots per vessel, to four pots per person with a maximum of four pots per vessel.
• The non-commercial Prince William Sound shrimp fishery closes on September 15, 2017. Please send in your harvest record or report it online if you are done shrimping for the year.
• Lingcod season opened July 1. Daily limit is two per day, two in possession, and minimum 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches with head removed. A gaff may not be used to puncture the fish if the intent is to release it.

Freshwaters

Salmon

• Coho salmon fishing is picking up on Eyak River. The best fishing can still be found down river. Water levels will likely be fluctuating with all the rain forecasted but anglers can still have good luck if they put in the time. Bait is a better option when water is murky and high.
• Ibeck Creek is starting to see more fish showing up. Anglers are having success even with less than ideal water levels and clarity. Limits have been reported by the morning anglers.
• Alaganik Slough has also had a few reports of coho. Watch the tides when fishing up from the lower boat launch so you don’t get stuck swimming home.
• Pink and coho are around Fleming Spit. Although it’s still pretty slow for coho.
• Chum and pink salmon are in Hartney Bay. Fishing for salmon is only open below the bridge.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing in the Cordova area opened June 15. Pipeline Lake makes for a great family outing to catch cutthroat.
• Dolly Varden are present in many of the streams throughout Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta. Try egg patterns near spawning salmon or fry/smolt imitation flies or small spinners at lake outlets or stream confluences.
• Don’t forget to try Ruth Pond or Blueberry Lake in Valdez for some fun catchable sized rainbow trout action.

Saltwaters

Salmon

• Top fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby are all over 14 lbs. The new third place fish was caught this week. Most folks are still traveling just outside the port to get limits. Better coho fishing usually hits town close to Labor Day so get ready! The derby ends on September 3.
• Pinks and a few coho salmon are being caught at Fleming Spit from the shore.
• Eshamy Bay is seeing good numbers of sockeye but they are starting to slow.
• Anglers have reported success trolling for coho salmon outside of Main Bay and the Crafton Island area. Some reports of fish being picked up in Passage Canal as well.
• Fishing around the Sound is easier when there are not commercial openers happening…check here to get updates on when those are happening.
• Pink salmon are being caught around Allison Point. A few coho have been reported but most are being caught further out of the Port. They should start showing up in good numbers in the upcoming week.
• Pinks are jumping near the Whittier harbor. Some coho were reported caught just outside the harbor.
• Reminder: Whittier harbor is closed to snagging.

Halibut, Lingcod, and Rockfish

• Few lingcod are being caught. Weather this last week limited those who could travel to good lingcod spots.
• Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Make sure you know the regulations! Unguided and guided anglers have different rules to follow.
• A new fish moved into the 3rd place spot in the derby last week weighing in just shy of 200 lbs.!
• Rockfish can be caught year round throughout Prince William Sound. Bag limits starting May 1 - September 15, are four per day, eight in possession of which only two may be non-pelagic.

Fishing Tip: Brush up on your rockfish identification before you head out by reviewing page 90 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

REMEMBER if you are targeting multiple species, target rockfish last and use a deepwater release mechanism on all released rockfish. These devices can turn the chance of survival for a rockfish from near zero to near 100%! Never heard of deepwater release for rockfish??? For details, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Shellfish

• Shrimp season opened April 15. Good catches are still being reported with both deep and shallow sets. Be sure to make sure you have enough line when setting your pots!
• You are encouraged to get your permit online but you must have a printed and signed copy with you while fishing. Permit needs to be in possession as you are shrimping and harvest needs to be reported before your catch is concealed.
• Don’t forget to record when you drop your pots in the water the first trip out and remember only four pots are allowed per vessel in 2017.
• Don’t forget you can report your harvest online during the season at any time! If you are done shrimping for the season, go ahead and submit your harvest report now. Remember your harvest report is due by October 15.