Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 01, 2020
* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.
* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian Islands at the Kodiak January 2020 meeting and the Anchorage March 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Kodiak and Aleutian Islands sport fisheries regulations.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
- Emergency Order 2-RF-4-12-20 reduced the nonresident rockfish bag and possession limits on the eastside of Afognak and Kodiak islands from Big Fort Island near Shuyak Island to Dangerous Cape on Kodiak Island through 11:59 pm. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-4-11-20 closed the Karluk River drainage including the lagoon and its outlet stream to king salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-4-10-20 closed the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020.
Freshwater Fishing
- Sockeye salmon runs are slowly trickling in around the island and most are well behind normal run timing, but not out of the realm of just showing up late.
- In the Buskin, sockeyes just started showing up regularly and being caught regularly this weekend. The run should start to build now with the usual spots producing catches at Pumphouse Hole, above the Beaver Pond, downstream of the weir.
- At Litnik, most effort concentrates on fish pushing up with the incoming tides near the ‘lagoon’ in the lower part of the river, and some fish have been pushing upstream this weekend as well. There were some reports of build ups of fish in the lagoon and bay as well.
- Dollies are still around in the Buskin and are migrating to the saltwater for the summer. They can be caught in all parts of the drainage and leech flies, alevin patterns, or small spinners are usually good. Dollies will mostly have left the river within the next week or so, though.
Saltwater Fishing
- King salmon fishing has been spotty with some days being great at places like Kalsin Bay or Buoy 4 and some days being very slow. Fish are being caught but without many trends or hotspots right now.
- Halibut fishing has been great by most reports, with fish being caught in most of the usual summer spots of Kodiak Rocks, Kalsin Reef, Cape Chiniak, and even inside Kalsin Bay.
- Pacific cod are being caught regularly while fishing for halibut. Some consider them a nuisance, but they are excellent eating and easy to catch!
- Dollies should be able to be caught from local beaches right now, Mission Beach is a good bet in June for Dolly fishing. Most often anglers are casting small spinners or Kastmaster lures, but streamer flies can be a good bet too if you can cast a ways out.
Local Lakes
- A little known lake that is stocked annually and is very productive is the lake on the Coast Guard Base called Nyman’s Pond Lake or Lilly Pond Lake. There are generally not huge fish caught in the lake but it is known for consistently producing 12-18 inch fish that are easy to catch from shore, a float tube, or boat.
Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southwest Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.