Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 22, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Coho are starting to show up around the road system with fish being caught at Pillar Creek, Mill Bay, the Olds and Pasagshak. A few fish are being found at Buskin and Russian as well, but the volume of pink salmon is making fishing tougher in some places for coho.
• Afognak coho runs are a little late this year with most places just getting going. Fish are starting to show up in decent numbers at Litnik but no news from Paul’s Bay, Shuyak or Danger Bay yet.
• There are still some sockeye coming in at Saltery and Pasagshak. Many anglers are reporting a mix of sockeye and coho. Lots of pinks at Saltery too Remember that the coho bag limit at Saltery is 2 per day until September 16, when it changes to one per day just like Pasagshak and other road system streams.
• Pink and Dolly fishing continues to be good throughout the road system with bright pinks still being found easily and lots of fish in the saltwater still as well. Dollies are thick in all local streams right now.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing keeps on going with good catches every day the weather allows. Most effort is at the Fingers now.
• Silvers fishing has picked up some with fish moving in closer to shore in the last week. They are being found in about equal number as kings at the fingers and also out at Chiniak and occasionally between Woody and Long islands.
• Halibut and lingcod fishing continues to be steady as well and the weather is the limiting factor.
• Rockfish and lingcod are being found throughout Chiniak Bay too, with most anglers catching both species while trolling.

Local Lakes

Seventeen local lakes were stocked with rainbow trout in the last week. It will take about three years to get up to a catchable size, however. Check out the Southwest Alaska Fishing Regulations booklet for a map and summary of all the stocking locations on Kodiak.

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.