Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 31, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Sockeye fishing at Saltery continues to be good with fish coming in with each tide. Pinks are showing up in decent numbers and slowing fishing for sockeye somewhat.
• Pasagshak sockeye reopened Friday with some decent effort but no one has really mentioned how the fishing was yet.
• A few hatchery kings are still around but ADFG staff are out most days collecting brood stock for the egg take. The Olds and Salonie saw the most fish return.
• Pink and Dolly fishing has been good throughout the road system with a lot of effort at Olds and Russian. Still lots of bright pinks around.
• A few silvers have been caught and seen around the road system. Buskin and Pasagshak typically see the first ones each year.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing continues to be good with most effort at the Fingers and Buoy 4 but some between Woody and Long islands.
• Silvers are being found as well, though fishing has been hit and miss with them. Between Woody and Long and at Buoy 4 has attracted most effort.
• Halibut fishing has been steady with many anglers catching fish mostly between 10 and 30 lbs right now. A lot of fish have been caught trolling at the Fingers or between Woody and Long.
• Rockfish and lingcod are being found throughout Chiniak Bay too, with Kodiak Rocks being a perennial hot spot.

Local Lakes

An often overlooked stocked lake is Lilly Pad Lake on the Coast Guard base. There are not many large fish in the lake but it often is reported as having one of the best catch rates around and cab easily be fished from shore. Check it out if you have base access!

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-4-50-23 opens the Pasagshak River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023, 2 fish per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-46-23 increases the bag limit for sockeye salmon in the Saltery Cove drainage to 10 per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-26-23 closed the Buskin River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-23 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. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-19-23 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and 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. Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2023 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 2023 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.