Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 17, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Fishing for resident species such as rainbow trout, arctic char, arctic grayling and northern pike is reported to be good. Spinners, spoons, flies and egg imitations should work well. As salmon spawning continues to progress through August, egg imitations become will continue to be very productive.
• Coho salmon fishing should continue to pick up through the week and into the weekend as coho have arrived throughout the bay and should continue to show up for the next few weeks.
• Sockeye salmon numbers have dropped dramatically throughout Bristol Bay as the runs tail off. Some drainages may still have sockeye available in river to target, however very few new fish are entering the rivers. Standard “flossing” methods that are applied to fishing sockeye throughout the state should be productive in Bristol Bay as well.

Saltwater Fishing

• Halibut fishing near Protection Point is reported to be slow with mixed success.
• Halibut fishing near Togiak Bay is reported to be slow to fair.

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-RS-5-35-23 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination (chum, pink, coho salmon combined to total a bag limit of five fish) with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-5-36-23 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Wood River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Purchase your 2023 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, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Bristol Bay Area Office at (907) 842-2427.