Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay
Archived Sport Fishing Report
August 08, 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 fair and it will continue to improve into the fall. Dolly Varden making their spawning migration are following in the variety of salmon species entering the creeks in Seward.
- Egg and flesh patterns will be effective for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout as salmon begin to spawn 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 16th. Only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
- Coho (silver) salmon fishing in freshwater is slow as most coho are still offshore, and it should start to pick up in the coming weeks.
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. Halibut fishing is at its peak inside Resurrection Bay and halibut will be attracted to salmon carcasses flushing out of area streams. 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 July 1. Lingcod have been very aggressive and can be caught by actively jigging the water column from top to bottom over rocky pinnacles. 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 catches of Pacific (gray) cod throughout North Gulf Coast outside of Resurrection Bay. Most anglers targeting halibut are also bringing back a few 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 Tonsina Point.
Salmon
- King salmon are being caught inside and outside Resurrection Bay, but it has been slow. King salmon being caught in close to town are mixed-in with silvers and pinks.
- King salmon tend to be caught deeper than other species, so trolling with flasher at depths between 60-90 feet is great place to start.
- Coho (silver) salmon have arrived in Resurrection Bay. Anglers continue to report that trolling has been good in the bay as far in as Caines Head and a few silvers are being caught from shore. Pony Cove, Cheval Narrows, and Agnes Coves are good places to start trolling. Shore fishing for silvers will pick up in the coming weeks.
- Once a school of coho salmon has been located, mooching with a hoochie squid and a chunk of herring can make for hot action.
Local Lakes
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.
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.