Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 23, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

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, 2018, Pasagshak River drainage is closed to sockeye salmon 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 that there are no longer closed waters above the highway bridges for streams flowing into Chiniak Bay; however, on September 16 the coho salmon bag limit will change from two fish to one fish, excluding stocked returns.
  • 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 three per day, six in possession, only two per day, four in possession may be nonpelagic, and only ONE per day, TWO 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

  • Coho salmon are returning to most local rivers now with good catches reported in Buskin. Returns to Monashka and Pillar creeks are showing up too. Returns appear strong so far but fishing may be hampered by the number of pink salmon around.
  • Pink salmon are still coming in to most rivers with some bright ones still to be found. After recent rains most rivers have a large amount of pinks in them. Look to the mouths of rivers on incoming tides for bright fish.
  • About 320 coho salmon have been counted through the Buskin weir but recent rains flooded the weir and an estimate will be added soon that will bring this number up.
  • Remote rivers have been seeing good coho salmon returns. About 2,500 were counted through the Litnik weir before it was pulled, and most reports indicate a very strong run there and in other Afognak Island streams.
  • Weir counts are posted daily on the ADF&G Fish Count webpage.

Trout, Dolly Varden

  • Dolly fishing has still been very good by most accounts. Rivers such as the Olds, Russian, and American have been good with very large fish. Look to the tail end of pools holding spawning pink salmon for the best Dolly fishing this time of year.
  • 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, but recent reports indicate good success. This time of year, look to waters between 80 and 120 feet for good halibut fishing and many times they can be caught in very shallow water near river mouths. Popular areas include Buoy 4, Kalsin Reef, Cape Chiniak, and Kodiak Rocks.

Salmon

  • King salmon fishing has started to taper off near Woody and Buoy 4, but kings are still being caught. Early morning and tide changes seem to be the best time to find king salmon right now.
  • Coho salmon are also still being caught at Buoys 3 and 4 with good success, as well as in front of Woody Island, though they will be returning to freshwaters soon and fishing typically tapers off after mid-August.
  • Anglers are reminded that within 1 mile of shore of the Kodiak Road System, the coho salmon bag limit is two per day and 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.
  • Anglers report good numbers of rockfish near Buoy 4 and most rocky areas close by.
  • Few reports of lingcod catches have come in lately; however, no reports to indicate fishing is poor.

Archives

Kodiak Area Archives for:
Sep 05, 2018 Aug 29, 2018 Aug 23, 2018 Aug 16, 2018 Aug 08, 2018 Aug 02, 2018 Jul 26, 2018 Jul 20, 2018
Jul 12, 2018 Jul 05, 2018 Jun 28, 2018 Jun 21, 2018 Jun 06, 2018 May 30, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 18, 2018
May 11, 2018 Apr 26, 2018