Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 15, 2018

General Area Description: includes 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.

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the North Gulf Coast Area before heading out on their next fishing trip.
• The Youth-Only Fishery at the Seward Lagoon and outfall stream is this Friday and weekend (June 15-17).
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-8-18-18, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2018
  • This emergency order liberalization the limits of sockeye salmon to twelve per day and twelve in possession in the northern salt waters of Resurrection Bay. The increase is for marine waters of Resurrection Bay north of a line from Caines Head to the north point of Thumb Cove. Anglers are reminded that to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-8-19-18, effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 16 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 201
  • This emergency order liberalization the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Resurrection Bay drainage specifically in fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the saltwater markers from three to six fish. Snagging is not allowed in freshwater. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed in this freshwater area open to salmon fishing. The remainder of freshwater is closed to salmon fishing.
• Anglers are reminded that to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River. Please see page 77 of the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for clarification.

Regulation Reminders

• Dipnetting for hooligan is closed.
• The personal use season for shrimp fishing with pot gear in North Gulf Coast area waters opened on April 15. A North Gulf Coast shrimp permit is required to participate in this fishery. This permit is different than the Prince William Sound Shrimp Permit and is NOT available online.
• Lingcod fishing is CLOSED until July 1.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Make sure you know the regulations! Unguided and guided anglers have different rules to follow. A more extensive description of the Federal Regulations can be found on NOAA’s Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
• Halibut fishing in the North Gulf Coast has been improving. Weather has allowed boats to get out further and get into some nice limits of fish.
• The Seward halibut derby is currently underway. Don’t forget to get your derby ticket before heading out on the water.

Salmon

• The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently two per day, any size. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement; however, anglers do need a king stamp.
• King salmon fishing has been improving in Resurrection Bay. Shore anglers are having more success this week. Anglers that have been trolling are still having success as well. Try trolling with a small- to medium-sized herring and an oversized flasher.
• Sockeye salmon are in Resurrection Bay. Some anglers are catching fish but success has depended on tide stage. See Emergency Orders and New Releases for the Resurrection Bay area for details about bag and possession limits.
  • Also, the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association cost recovery seiners have been out picking up fish as well. Commercial fishing vessels will also be out in the bay starting Monday. Anglers are reporting average size of 3 to 3.5 pound fish and mostly males. It’s still early and this run should continue to build.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Dolly Varden continue to be caught at Lowell Point.
• Lingcod fishing is CLOSED until July 1 to protect nest guarding males.
• Rockfish are easy to catch and have a fairly conservative bag limit, so target your rockfish last.
  • The rockfish daily bag limit is 4 per day, of which only 1 may be a non-pelagic rockfish.
  • 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? Stop by your local ADF&G office for a free release mechanism (and instruction on how to use it), while supplies last. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for more information.

Shellfish

• Reports from the personal-use shrimp pot fishery is that small amounts of shrimp are being caught. This fishery is now open in the entire North Gulf Coast area from Cape Fairfield to Gore Point. To participate in this fishery you must be an Alaska resident with a current sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent ID card, and a North Gulf Coast shrimp pot fishery permit. Permits can be obtained at the Anchorage, Homer, or Soldotna ADF&G offices.
• Check out the 2018 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for regulations on this fishery and the shrimp pot requirements.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• There are no freshwater drainages in Resurrection Bay open to adults (16 years old or older) for king salmon fishing.
• The Youth-Only Fishery at the Seward Lagoon and outfall stream is this Friday and weekend (June 15-17). This is only open to youth anglers, 15 years old and younger, and snagging is not allowed. The bag and possession at this youth fishery is two fish and bait is allowed. A few kings have been spotted so hopefully kids will catch some fish.
• Resurrection River, downstream of the highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers, opens for salmon (except king salmon) on June 16. See Emergency order for bag and possession limit. Snagging in this section is not allowed and a foul hooked fish in this section must be released immediately.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Fish for Dolly Varden around creek mouths, especially creeks where pink and chum salmon usually spawn.
• Try casting small spinners and spoons off the beach for some sea run Dolly Varden action.
• Fry and smolt patterns have been known to produce catches of Dolly Varden in Seward area streams.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike are not native to Southcentral Alaska. Please report the capture of any pike in unconfirmed waters to ADF&G. Do not release any pike you have caught.

Lake Fishing

• Area lakes are stocked so visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.
• First Lake was just recently stocked been stocked with rainbow trout. This is a great place to take the kids or take a break from the salt water fisheries.