Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 25, 2022

ADF&G News

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Freshwater Fishing

• The Saltery sockeye salmon run has been good in the last week and water levels remain up compared to recent years. The bag limit has increased to ten per day and fishing sounds good right now with many people saying they are getting their limit. See the emergency order below for more info.
• Fishing at Pasagshak was almost nonexistent with the mouth of the river bermed up from low water and strong onshore winds. With the recent rain, look for the river to be open again, but it may take some time to reestablish the channel to be fishable again.
• King fishing on the road system has been slow still with just a few fish caught at the Olds this season. ADF&G staff have removed most of the kings at this point for broodstock.
• Pinks are showing up in many road system rivers but Buskin and Monashka Creek are having some of the better runs from the sounds of it. There are also some pinks showing up at the Olds and beaches in Chiniak but to a lesser degree.
• Dollies are thick this year and are being caught easily in most road system rivers and from most beaches.

Saltwater Fishing

King Salmon

King salmon fishing continues to be great with lots of kings caught around Buoy 4 and the Fingers. Most reports indicate a lot of small fish, many less than 5 lbs., but fish in the 10-20 lb. range are being found after some sifting.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon are near Buoy 4, the Fingers and Buoy 3 now, though the number of kings and pinks out there this year means fewer cohos are being caught for many anglers so far.

Halibut

Halibut fishing has been good still by most accounts, but no new hot spots have popped up. Many folks trolling around the Fingers have been picking up halibut on a regular basis.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing also continues to be good with some caught trolling as well. They seem to be in the usual spots: Kodiak Rocks, behind Long Island, and Triple Lumps.

Rockfish

Rockfish are being caught in most areas of Chiniak Bay and beyond. See the emergency order below for more info for nonresident limits.

• Check your 2022 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.
• The use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to a depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Ever heard of the deepwater release? Check out our webpage for more info.

Local Lakes

• Lake temperatures typically hit their peak right about now, so lakes with some shaded cover can be good places to look for rainbows. For one close to town, check out Abercrombie (Lake Gertrude) and for a little bit of an outing, check out Dolgoi Lake on Long Island. Both can offer great rainbow fishing even when the air and water temperatures are high.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-58-22 increases the bag limit for sockeye salmon in the Saltery River to 10 per day effective through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-42-22 reopens the Buskin River drainage for sockeye salmon fishing effective through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-16-22 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. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 pm. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-15-22 closed the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-14-22 closed the Karluk River drainage including the lagoon and its outlet stream to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2022.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.