Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 02, 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.

Emergency Order

• There are currently no Emergency Orders in effect for the North Gulf Coast Area.

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 opened July 1, except within Resurrection Bay, which is closed. The bag and possession limit is ONE per day and ONE in possession, must be 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.

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 the NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
• Halibut fishing in the North Gulf Coast continues to be good when boats can get out further. Nice sized fish are being caught by those fishing further out. When fishing closer to town try drop offs near creek mouths where salmon will congregate before making their final spawning runs. Use larger bait to avoid catching non-target species.

Salmon

• The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is currently two per day, any size through August 31. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement. Anglers are still required to have a king salmon stamp.
• King salmon fishing has slowed down but fish are still being picked up in Resurrection Bay.
• Sockeye salmon fishing has slowed way down although a few fish are still present.
• Coho salmon fishing continues to improve but it’s still slow for many. Fish are being caught near Pony Cove and Cheval Narrows but in low numbers. Fishing deeper seems to be helpful for successful anglers.
• Reminder: the coho salmon bag limit outside of Resurrection Bay is three per day and three in possession and inside Resurrection Bay is six per day and six in possession. Anglers that have caught six coho salmon inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay and fish for any species in waters with more than three coho salmon in their possession.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Lingcod fishing opened on July 1 (except within Resurrection Bay, which is closed). Fishermen are reporting catches of nice-sized lingcod around the North Gulf Coast. Try fishing large lead-head jigs with a rubber twister-tail grub near rocky capes and pinnacles. Don’t forget to measure your lingcod! The use of a gaff is not allowed unless you plan to retain lingcod you have caught.
• Rockfish are easy to catch and have a fairly conservative bag limit, so target your rockfish last. The rockfish daily bag limit is four per day, of which only ONE may be a nonpelagic 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 king salmon fishing.
• Resurrection River, downstream of the highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers, is currently open for salmon (except king salmon) fishing. Snagging in this section is not allowed and a foul hooked fish in this section must be released immediately. Sockeye fishing is very slow as we are hitting the very tail end of the run.
• Anglers are reminded in the Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to ADFG markers, the bag and possession limit for salmon (except king salmon) is three per day and three in possession, of which only two may be coho salmon.

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.
• Troop Lake is a nice hike and good place to go catch some rainbows away from the crowds.