Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 03, 2017

Week of August 4 to August 10

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases for the Kodiak Area before heading on their next fishing trip. The following Emergency Orders are currently in effect for the following areas:
  • Effective June 7, the Buskin River sockeye salmon bag limit has been increased to five per day.
  • Effective June 7, the Karluk River sockeye salmon bag limit has been increased to 10 per day.
  • Effective July 14 through August 9, king salmon in the Chignik River drainage may not be retained or possessed and bait is prohibited.
  • Effective July 19, the Saltery River sockeye salmon bag limit has been increased to 10 per day. Only five of these may be pink or chum salmon and only two may be coho prior to September 15 and one after September 16.
• In January 2017, the Board of Fisheries adopted new regulations for sport fishing for the Kodiak Area:
  • The bag limit for Rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot Bays has been reduced to three per day, six in possession, only two of which may be non-pelagics (four in possession) and only one may be a yelloweye (two in possession). See the 2017 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a detailed map of the affected area.
  • Coho bag limits for the Kodiak Road Zone have changed. Coho bag limits in all freshwaters of the Kodiak Road Zone and saltwaters within 1 mile of the Kodiak Road Zone and Spruce Island have a limit of two coho per day, two in possession January 1 through September 15. From September 16 through December 31, the bag limit is one per day, one in possession. Bag limits for the remainder of Kodiak Island remain the same.

Freshwaters

Salmon

• The Department of Fish and Game counting weirs on the Buskin, Afognak (Litnik), Dog Salmon, Saltery, Pasagshak, Karluk, and Ayakulik are counting sockeye salmon. Most locations continue to count sockeye salmon but early sockeye runs are virtually over and most locations are beginning to count late-run sockeye. The Buskin weir will soon shift to focusing on coho salmon and Litnik, Saltery, and Pasagshak will be pulled soon.
• Sockeye runs at Pasagshak and Saltery are past their peak but fishing remains good through this week. These runs continue through mid-August annually, so expect fishing to taper off soon. The bag limit at Saltery River remains at 10.
• Road system kings runs are just about over for the season as well, but recent reports indicate a couple late coming fish in the American and Olds. There may be a few straggling fish to be found but they will likely be very close to spawning by now.
• Pinks are showing up in most local drainages and most reports indicate very large fish so far, similar to last year. Currently hot spots are Russian and Sargent creeks, Olds River, Monashka Creek, and many beaches in Chiniak.
• Bright pink salmon offer an excellent opportunity for fly and spin fishers this time of year, look to the lower reaches of drainages and intertidal areas for the best fighting and best eating fish.
• Anglers can find daily updated fish counts by visiting the ADF&G Fish Count Data webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

• Dolly Varden are returning to local rivers now and will continue through the month of August. The biggest returns of dollies will be found in Buskin, American, Olds, and Pasagshak rivers but can be caught in all local drainages. In coming tides near the mouths of most local rivers can be highly productive for dollies this time of year, as well as the tail outs of pools that salmon are holding in. Recently, the Russian has been reported to be excellent.
• Most stocked lakes should be warming up now and rainbows will be active and feeding throughout the lakes. Look for high relief areas along the lake shores to catch schooling fish traveling in search of food. Harvest of rainbow trout on the Kodiak Road System is only allowed in currently stocked lakes, but many lakes have been stocked historically and rainbows can be caught in nearly all local lakes.

Saltwaters

Halibut

• Halibut fishing continues to be good with fish in the 40-70 lb. range caught in areas closer to town and in shallower water. Most recently, Outer Humpback Rock and Cape Chiniak have been the go-to spots. Other popular places to fish halibut are Whale Pass and Williams Reef, though fish may be found between Woody and Long Islands and Buoy #4 as well.

Salmon

• Recent reports indicate that trolling for king salmon has been spotty again with large schools of pink salmon impeding king fishing. Recent king salmon spots have been Ugak Bay, Chiniak, Williams Reef, and Whale Pass.
• Other well-known trolling spots along the road system are Cape Gravelle and the waters between Long and Woody Islands. Kodiak king salmon average 20 pounds, but fish up to 70 pounds are occasionally caught.
• Coho are being caught in Chiniak Bay now and should be available in saltwater fisheries through mid-August. Schooling coho can often be caught just off Woody and Long Islands, at Buoys 3 and 4 and near Chiniak. Reports indicate large schools of pink salmon have made coho fishing difficult as well.
• Pink salmon have been reported in strong numbers off shore, in the saltwater, are starting to come into local rivers as well.
• Reports of large chum runs have come in throughout the island and several anglers have caught chums while trolling. Chum salmon can be excellent fighters and when bright, can be excellent eating too.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Black rockfish can be caught almost year round at depths of 60 feet or less near kelp beds along rock pinnacles and other natural or man-made structures in most locations on Kodiak Island. Rockfish are also frequently caught from shore at locations such as the outer reaches of White Sand beach and the breakwater barrier shielding St. Paul Harbor.
• Lingcod season opened on July 1 and the bag limit is two per day of any size.