Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 26, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases for the Kodiak Area before heading out on their next fishing trip.

Emergency Orders

• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-35-18, effective July 12, through July 31, 2018, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was reduced to two fish per day, two in possession in the Saltery Cove drainage.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-34-18, effective July 12 through July 31, 2018, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon fishing.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-33-18, effective July 13, 2018, Chignik River drainage is closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, only one unbaited, single hook, artificial lure may be used for sport fishing.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-17-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Afognak River drainage (Litnik) is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-16-18, effective June 16, 2018, the Buskin River drainage is closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-08-18, effective June 1 through August 1, 2018, Monashka Creek and Bay are closed to king salmon fishing. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited in Monashka Creek.

Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded there are new rockfish regulations for the Kodiak Area.
  • The bag and possession limits for rockfish in Chiniak and Marmot Bays has been reduced to 3 per day, 6 in possession, only 2 per day, 4 in possession may be non-pelagic, and only 1 per day, 2 in possession may be a Yelloweye. Please review the 2018 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a detailed map of the affected area.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The Pasagshak sockeye salmon run is very weak with just over 1,000 fish counted and is currently closed to subsistence and sport fishing. At this point, it’s unlikely it will reopen as the run is past its historical peak.
• Saltery Cove has seen more fish than other local sockeye systems and is projected to make escapement goals. About 12,000 sockeye salmon have been counted and when the sockeye salmon goals are able to be met with an additional harvest, the bag limit of five sockeye salmon will be restored.
• Other sockeye salmon runs on the south end of the Island and westside of the island met early run escapement objectives and those with late runs are just starting. Sportfishing for sockeye salmon has still been good by most accounts at Karluk, Ayakulik, and Dog Salmon rivers.
• Hatchery king salmon are returning in very small numbers to the Olds, American, and Salonie creeks and these runs are pretty much over. Returns were far less than expected and fishing has been slow. ADF&G staff are on the rivers everyday collecting fish for the egg take now and will continue through early August.
• Monashka Creek is still closed to king salmon fishing and the use of bait.
• The freshwaters of Pillar Creek will be open to king salmon fishing, but the immediately adjacent saltwaters are closed.
• Pink salmon are showing up in some locations but appear to be weak in others. Pink runs can be in full swing anytime from mid-July to late-August depending on the year. This year’s returns are the offspring of fairly weak returns in 2016.
• Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

• Dollies have come in strong in most rivers in the last week. Anglers report that they are very large too! All rivers are open to dolly fishing even though some may be closed to other species.
• Dolly fishing has still been great off local beaches too. Many of the beaches in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak have had great dolly 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.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been spotty in the last several weeks. Some anglers report good success but many anglers report having a hard time finding halibut in the usual spots. This time of year, look to waters between 80 and 120 feet for good halibut fishing.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been great in the last week with reports of more bait around in waters close to town. Many people have been fishing right off of Woody Island as well as at Buoys 3 and 4. Reports are that limits have been caught readily and within a short time frame.
• Other popular spots to fish kings are the capes Chiniak and Grevel, Ugak Island, as well as in between Woody and Long islands, though king fishing in Ugak Bay has been reported to be slow.
• Coho salmon also being caught off Woody Island and at Buoys 3 and 4, coho will be returning to freshwaters in the next 2 weeks, so fishing is likely at its peak right now. Anglers are reminded that within 1 mile of shore of the Kodiak Road System, the coho salmon bag limit is 2 fish per day. Some places on Woody Island are within 1 mile of the Kodiak shoreline.

Other Saltwater 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.
• Lingcod season opened July 1 and anglers report good lingcod catches though few are directly targeting them but instead catching them incidentally to rockfish and halibut.