Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 24, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wear a face-covering when social distancing is not possible and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

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

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon are in the Eyak River with fish hanging around the weir above the highway bridge.
  • Remember effective June 1 - September 30, Eyak River Special Regulations are in effect. From a point, 200 yards upstream from the Eyak Lake dam/weir to a point 200 yards downstream from the bridge at the outlet of Eyak Lake only single-hook, artificial flies with a hook gap of 3/8 inch or less between point and shank are allowed. In addition, no additional weight may be attached to your line.
• Kings are getting caught at Fleming Spit (in Cordova). Fishing should continue to pick up over the coming week. Try fishing the incoming tide with spinners or bait.

Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic char

• Effective June 15 - April 14, anglers fishing in the PWS area may retain cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, or steelhead. Check the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the waters you are fishing for bag and possession limits.
• Dolly Varden/ Arctic char is open year-round with a bag and possession limit of 10 fish (no size restrictions).

Saltwater Fishing

Port sampling efforts began in Whittier and Valdez this week. Please assist our port sampling program by returning to the harbor with whole groundfish or carcasses and allowing ADF&G technicians to sample your harvest when requested. Data collected from the sport harvest is needed to manage and maintain healthy fisheries. We appreciate you supporting the port sampling program and your assistance in getting managers information that aids in managing fisheries in Southcentral.

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

• Halibut and rockfish continue to be some of the favorites to catch in Prince William Sound right now. Many anglers are reporting the success of catching some decent size halibut with bigger fish getting caught out towards Montague. Spending time anchored up and using a chum bag can increase your likelihood of success. If you want to stay closer try fishing between Perry and Culross islands for halibut.
• The Valdez Halibut Derby is underway and goes through September 5. Fish that are close to the 150lbs. mark were harvested last week.
• Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which the only one in possession can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check your 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
• The use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sportfishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to a depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Ever heard of the deepwater release? Check out our webpage for more info!
• Lingcod season will open on July 1.

Salmon

• No kings have been reported near Whittier yet but could start arriving anytime. If trolling out of Passage Canal try targeting fish at 50 - 100 feet.
• A few kings are being caught by anglers trolling in the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area.
  • Remember the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area is closed to snagging from June 1 to September 30.
• Most king salmon catches are being reported further out towards Cape Cleare.
• Chum and sockeye salmon are showing up around Ester Island and Port Wells with fish bound for the hatchery and Coghill River. Coghill weir was installed on June 11. As of June 22, a total of 3,910 sockeye salmon have passed the weir.
• Main Bay sockeye sport fishing has been reported as slow. Prince William Sound Aquaculture (PWSAC) is conducting cost recovery efforts in the Main Bay hatchery area to continue to fund PWSAC hatchery operations. The funding from this effort allows the continuation of salmon enhancement efforts at Main Bay and enhanced fisheries in PWS providing fish for all user groups. PWSAC asks that vessels in the Main Bay Area give way to seine catcher boats while harvest operations are ongoing.

Shrimp

• Don’t forget to get your shrimp permit! The sport and subsistence shrimp season is currently open and will close on September 15. You are required to have your permit with you and document it anytime you have pots in the water.
• Looking for a good starting depth? Try dropping your pots in the 300-400 range.
• After retrieval, you must record your catch on your permit immediately after you harvest shrimp. **Harvest must be reported for each individual time you pull your pots.
• You can report your shrimp harvest online at any time. Once the season closes you must report all of your harvests no later than October 15.
• Shrimpers are allowed to carry additional pots on their vessel, but those pots cannot be fished while shrimping even if they are targeting a different species (i.e. octopus).
• If your pots get lost or stolen, please contact the Alaska Wildlife Troopers (AWT).
  • Valdez AWT 835-4307
  • Cordova AWT 424-3184
  • Whittier AWT 352-5401

Local Lakes

• Blueberry and Thompson lakes and Ruth Pond have been stocked! Fishing should be good in these lakes and Ruth Pond is a fun, easy access location to take the kids to catch rainbow trout. Thompson Lake is a good spot to target Arctic grayling with small-sized flies or spinners.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-SHR-6-15-21 decreases the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound shrimp fishery from five pots per person with a maximum of five pots per vessel to two pots per person with a maximum of two pots per vessel.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing for before you head out.

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