Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

September 09, 2022

General Area Description

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.

ADF&G News

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Freshwater Fishing

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden

• Dolly Varden will be migrating back into Seward creeks. If you are fly fishing, egg patterns are good to use in Seward area streams this time of the year or small spinners.
• Troop Lake fishing is a nice day hike and fishing adventure. Casting small spinners or flies into the deeper sections can be an effective method for catching fish.

Salmon

• The Seward Lagoon and Outfall Stream opened to fishing for coho salmon for anglers 15 years of age or younger on Thursday, August 25^th and was extended by Emergency Order through Friday, September 30^th to provide additional opportunity for young anglers. See full EO below. Spinners and bait are both good options.
• The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers is open to salmon fishing (except king salmon) through December 31. Only single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
  • Coho salmon have started passing the Bear Creek weir and anglers are starting to pick up more fish in streams near the head of the Bay.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish

• Halibut fishing has been reported as fair to good when weather allowed boats to get out last week. Many anglers are headed all the way to Prince William Sound after larger halibut if weather allows.
• Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one per day and two in possession can be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
  • A deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska, and they must be used to release rockfish back down to depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Never heard of deepwater release? Check out our webpage for more info!
• Lingcod fishing opened on July 1 and anglers continue to have fair success. Look for rocky pinnacles when targeting these fish. Also, if you reel up a few feet off the bottom it can help you avoid catching excess rockfish.

Salmon

• Coho salmon catches continue to pick up for boat anglers throughout the Bay. Shore anglers are picking up more coho around the bay at Spring Creek, the culvert, and Lowell Point.
• Don’t forget that the bag limit for silver salmon outside of Resurrection Bay is 3 per day/3 in possession while the bag limit inside Resurrection Bay is 6 per day/6 in possession. Anglers that have caught 6 silvers inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay, so its best to start outside and work your way in.
• The king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is now one per day, one in possession through April 30^th. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest reporting requirement, but a king stamp is required. Anglers targeting coho salmon are also having success picking up kings while trolling.

*Reminder: your possession limit is the maximum number of unpreserved fish a person may have in possession. Fish are out of your possession once they are preserved. A preserved fish is a fish prepared in such a manner, and in an existing state of preservation, as to be fit for human consumption after a 15-day period and does not include unfrozen fish temporarily stored in coolers that contain ice, dry ice, or fish that are lightly salted. An example of unpreserved are those that are on ice in your cooler. An example of a preserved fish is one that is frozen solid in your freezer.

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-SS-8-65-22 extends the youth-only coho salmon sport fishery in the Seward Lagoon and waters draining out of the Seward Lagoon (lagoon outfall streams) through 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2022.

Don’t forget to bring your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Purchase your 2022 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 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

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