Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 11, 2018

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• For full details of all Emergency Orders that have been issued this year, click on the links in the “Kodiak EO’s” box, above.
• Effective June 1, in the Ayakulik River drainage, king salmon sport fishing is restricted to catch and release. All king salmon caught must be released without being removed from the water. In addition, bait is not allowed for any sport fishing and only single hooks on artificial lures may be used.
• Effective June 1, in the Karluk River drainage, including Karluk Lagoon, sport fishing for king salmon is closed. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited for all sport fishing downstream of Karluk Lake. 
• Effective June 1, Monashka Creek and Bay are closed to sport fishing for king salmon. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited in Monashka Creek.
• Remember there are new regulations for rockfish: The bag limit for rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot Bays has been reduced to 3 per day, 6 in possession, only 2 of which may be non-pelagics (4 in possession) and only 1 may be a yelloweye (2 in possession). See the 2018 Southwest Alaska regulations booklet for a detailed map of the affected area.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• In anticipation of relatively poor returns in 2018, sport fishing for king salmon Karluk River drainage (including Karluk Lagoon) will be closed beginning June 1. In addition, the use of bait for all sport fishing is prohibited downstream of Karluk Lake and single hooks must be used.
• Poor returns are also expected this year for the Ayakulik River king salmon run. Consequently, king salmon sport fishing is restricted to catch and release only beginning June 1. Bait is not allowed for any sport fishing during this time and only single hooks on artificial lures may be used.
• In recent years, returns of stocked king salmon have been poor to Monashka Creek, though they have been excellent at the American and Olds rivers. Poor returns are expected again this year and Monashka Creek and Bay are subsequently closed to king salmon fishing to aid in collection of brood stock for enhancement of road system king salmon runs. In addition, in Monashka Creek, bait may not be used and only single hooks are allowed.
• The freshwaters of Pillar Creek will be open to king salmon fishing, but the immediately adjacent saltwater’s are closed.

Trout, Dolly Varden

• Dolly Varden are starting their migration to the ocean for the summer. Recent fishing success has been reported in Buskin Lake and in the Buskin River. Look for areas where salmon fry congregate as dollies often feed on these as they make their way back to the ocean for the summer.
• Other popular spots on the Buskin include the Beaver Pond and near the upper weir site.

Lake Fishing

• This is an excellent time to fish our stocked lakes as rainbows are becoming more active as waters warm up and they begin to feed more actively. Visit lower elevation lakes first as fish will be more active in warmer waters.
• Although ADF&G currently stocks only sterile juvenile trout, some lakes with a stocking history dating to the 1950s may also contain spawning populations of adult fish. Be sure to check the local sport fishing regulations for a current list of stocked lakes as harvest of rainbow trout is only allowed in lakes that are currently stocked.
• Rainbows typically spawn during the month of May, and anglers wishing to avoid catching these fish should target their efforts away from flowing waters into or out of the lakes during that time.

Salt waters

Halibut

• Few reports of any catches of halibut have come in so far but look to deeper waters in the 2-300 ft range or more for halibut this time of year.

Salmon

• Few recent reports of king salmon in the saltwaters have come in lately, though this is likely due to the weather. King salmon fishing can be excellent this time of year as kings move in closer to shore.
• Popular spots in the spring are Kalsin Bay, Sharatin and Kizhuyak bays and in between Woody and Long islands.

Other salt water fishing

• Black rockfish can be caught just out of the boat harbor near kelp beds along rock pinnacles and other natural or man-made structures. 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. Remember to check the current regulations for the area you intend to fish. Bag limits for rockfish have been reduced to 3 per day for pelagic rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot bays.
• Anglers are reminded that the lingcod season does not open until July 1.