Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 06, 2023

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.

Freshwater Fishing

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden

• Dolly Varden and rainbow trout fishing has been slow to fair. However, Dolly Varden have been reported at the mouth of a few Seward creeks. Fishing will continue to improve as Dolly Varden begin following salmon into the creeks.
• Casting small spinners and spoons off the beach can provide some good action when Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present. If you are fly fishing, fry and smolt patterns are good to use in Seward area streams.

Salmon

• The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers opened to salmon fishing (except king salmon) on Friday, June 16^th. Only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
  • Update: By emergency order, the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon was increased to 12 in both the fresh and saltwaters effective Wednesday, June 28. Catches have slowed but this allows for additional harvest opportunity as fish will continue to move in in smaller numbers over the next couple of weeks.
  • Update: Youth-Only king salmon fishery extension!
    • The Youth fishery for king salmon at the Seward Lagoon and Outfall stream (also known as Scheffler Creek) opened on June 17^th and has been extended through Sunday, July 16^th. See Emergency Order for details.
    • Anglers who are 15 years of age and younger are able to fish for king salmon in the Seward Lagoon and Outfall stream. Only one hook (single or treble) per line may used; artificial lures and bait are legal. The bag limit for king salmon is 2 per day, 2 in possession (no size limit).
    • Snagging is NOT permitted in the Seward Lagoon and Outfall Stream. With the added 16 days, youth anglers will have extended opportunity if the kings continue to show up late to the lagoon.

Saltwater Fishing

Port sampling efforts have begun in Seward. 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

Halibut fishing has been reported as good to excellent. On good weather days, boats fishing in the outer waters have returned with larger halibut. When fishing in Resurrection Bay, try soaking bat on the bottom near the mouth of Tonsina Creek, Caines and Callisto Heads, and Hat Island.

Lingcod

Lingcod season opened on Saturday, July 1. Rocky pinnacles and islands are good places to target these fish. Staying a few feet off the bottom will help reduce your rockfish catches when targeting lingcod.

Rockfish

• By emergency order, rockfish limits have been reduced to three fish per day, six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be a nonpelagic rockfish. For rockfish species identification information visit our website.
• A variety of rockfish are being caught near the entrance of Resurrection Bay. Fishing for pelagic rockfish has been good over rocky pinnacles and near points that receive large amounts of wave action.

Other Finfish

• Anglers are still reporting good catches of Pacific (gray) cod throughout North Gulf Coast outside of Resurrection Bay. Many anglers targeting halibut are also bringing back Pacific cod.
• Fishing for Pacific cod, pollock, and a variety of other groundfish species has been good inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell (waterfall) Creek, or off Lowell Point.

Salmon

• Update: By emergency order, the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon was increased to 12 in both the fresh and saltwaters effective Wednesday, June 28.
  • Sockeye salmon are being caught daily in Resurrection Bay saltwater. Fishing has slowed down from last month, but anglers are still finding success at Spring Creek.
• King salmon are being caught inside Resurrection Bay, but it has been slow. King salmon are being caught in close to town. Hatchery king salmon bound for the Seward Lagoon can be picked up trolling herring or spoons at depths of 30-90 feet.
• King salmon are being picked up from shore at the Seward lagoon outflow (the culvert).
• Coho salmon have arrived in the outer portions of Resurrection Bay. Anglers reported fishing as good at Pony Cove and Cheval Narrows. Once a school of coho salmon has been located, mooching with a hoochie squid and a chunk of herring can make for a hot action. This is just the beginning of this fishery, and it should continue to improve over the next two months.

Local Lakes

• First Lake was stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout in May and fish are still lingering in the lake. Small spinners or single eggs under a bobber are both good options to try.
• Troop Lake rainbow trout should be hungry and aggressive. For those willing to make the easy 1-mile hike, try casting spinners or spoons from where the trail meets the lake.

Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-23 reduces the rockfish bag and possession limits in North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-8-30-23 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon from three to 12 in the fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the saltwater markers and six to 12 in the salt waters of Resurrection Bay north of a point from Caines Head to the northern point of Thumb Cove.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-8-31-23 extends the youth-only king salmon sport fishery in the Seward Lagoon and Outfall Stream by 16 days (through Sunday, July 16, 2023) for anglers under the age of 16 years old.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can 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 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.