Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
Archived Sport Fishing Report
August 02, 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-4-47-18, effective July 31, 2018, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was restored to five fish per day, five in possession in the Saltery Cover drainage.
- Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-4-34-18, effective July 12 through December 31, 2018, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon fishing.
- Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-33-18, effective July 13 through August 9, 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.
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
- Saltery Cove has seen more fish than other local sockeye salmon systems and has achieved escapement objectives. About 16,000 sockeye salmon have been counted and the bag limit was restored to five fish per day on July 31. This run usually continues through mid-August.
- The Pasagshak sockeye salmon run is still very weak with about 1,300 fish counted and is currently closed to subsistence and sport fishing. At this point, it is unlikely the Pasagshak River drainage will reopen as the run is past its historical peak.
- 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 returns to the Road System are basically over and ADF&G is done collecting broodstock for the season. Any king salmon left will be getting close to spawning by now.
- Pink salmon are showing up in some locations but appear to be weak in others. Recently, the Olds and Russian seem to be the best spots for pinks, but there should be some showing up at Buskin, American and many of the Chiniak creeks as well.
- Coho salmon will start to trickle into bigger streams any day now, there are always a few early coho salmon caught in the first week of August in Pasagshak and Buskin rivers.
- Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.
Trout, Dolly Varden
- Dolly fishing has been good by most accounts, rivers such as the Olds, Russian, and American have been good with very large fish.
- Other good Dolly streams are Buskin and Salonie.
- This is an excellent time to fish our stocked lakes as rainbows are actively feeding. Some anglers have reported rainbows actively feeding on insect hatches recently.
- 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 this summer. Some anglers report good success but many 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 and many times they can be caught within a few miles of town.
Salmon
- King salmon fishing has still been good near Woody Island and at Buoy 4. Lots of bait fish and whales are still around so it’s likely to continue.
- Other popular spots to fish king salmon are the capes of Chiniak and Grevel, Ugak Island, as well as in between Woody and Long islands though few reports from these areas have come in, likely due to the weather.
- Coho salmon are also in and being caught at Buoys 3 and 4 with good success, though they will be returning to freshwaters soon and fishing typically tapers off by mid-August. Anglers are reminded that within 1 mile of shore of the Kodiak Road System, the coho salmon bag limit is two 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.