Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 09, 2017

Homer Area

Week of May 8 to May 14
Issued May 9, 2017

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

Razor Clam Emergency Order

• All Eastside Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are closed for all clamming through December 31, 2017.

Regulation Reminders

• The 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations are now available online, license vendors, and at ADF&G offices.
• It’s a good idea to consult the sport fishing regulation booklet before starting your fishing trip. Make sure to consult pages 70-71 before heading out to fish for king salmon in Cook Inlet salt waters.
• See the department’s web page for emergency orders and news releases including a summary of regulation changes adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries for 2017.
• New regulations for all salt waters between 60°03.99’N (about 1 mile north of the Ninilchik River) to the latitude of Bluff Point 59° 40’N apply. This entire area of Cook Inlet is affected by the following new regulations:
  • Anglers may not continue to fish for king salmon after harvesting a king salmon, but can fish for other species such as halibut.
  • Guides and their crew may not sport fish while a client is present or within the guide’s control or responsibility, unless the guide is providing assistance to a client with a disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Anglers are also reminded a king salmon that measures 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who hooked the fish.
• Regulation changes are in effect for guided anglers that fish for halibut. A more extensive description of these federal regulations can be found at the following link. 
• Tanner crab will open from October 1 through the end of February.
• Lingcod season will open by regulation on July 1.

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Early season halibut fishing is fair though most fish are small. The fishery will improve as more fish move from deep, overwintering waters back to the shallower summer feeding areas.
• Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.

King Salmon

• Early-run king salmon are available this time of year in the nearshore salt waters of Anchor Point, Whiskey Gulch, and Deep Creek.
• Trolling success for feeder king salmon is reported as very good from Bluff Point south and in Kachemak Bay.
• Trolling success for feeder king salmon is reported as fair to excellent north of Bluff Point. Feeder king salmon are often mixed with maturing Cook Inlet king salmon making their way to Cook Inlet streams.
• Popular trolling set-ups for king salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.
• To find fish, try fishing a variety of depths up to 100 feet near rocky points and kelp beds.
• As part of the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative, the Department is looking at the genetic stock composition of the marine king salmon fishery. There are port samplers stationed at the Homer Harbor, and Deep Creek and Anchor Point tractor launches conducting quick interviews and collecting biological information, scales, and genetic clips from sport caught king salmon. If you fished for king salmon in Cook Inlet, regardless of success, we’d like to talk to you! More information on the Chinook Salmon Research Initiative can be found at the following link. 
• King salmon are showing up at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon. On May 1, we received a report of a king salmon caught at the entrance of the lagoon but expect slow fishing over the next week. For better success fish the incoming tide. Popular gear includes using eggs under a bobber.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way to spend time. Species available include Walleye Pollock, Pacific cod, a variety of flatfish species and an occasional king salmon.

 Fresh Waters Fishing Report

• All lower Kenai Peninsula streams are closed to all fishing this week.

Lake Fishing

• The ice is gone from most Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes and fishing conditions are good. Most of these lakes are stocked with rainbow trout, which, at this time of year, are taken on dry or wet flies, small spoons, spinners, or bait. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the Sport Fish web site and at ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• Clamming tides are May 10-13.
• Razor clams can be found on beaches along the West side of Cook Inlet and can be accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include the Crescent River, Chinitna Bay, and Polly Creek. Boaters should use caution before traveling across Cook Inlet because of strong currents and should check the weather forecast before traveling.
• Littleneck (steamer) clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island.
• Good numbers of butter clams are found on the islands in China Poot Bay. Butter clams can be found up to two feet deep. Littleneck clams can be found in a variety of habitats from Jakolof Bay to Bear Cove. Try exploring new beaches for success. Typically, littleneck clams are found shallower in the substrate, up to eight inches deep.
• There are occasional PSP advisories issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contact the DEC at (907) 269-7501, or visit the PSP page on the DEC's Shellfish website for more information.
• Shrimp, Dungeness, and King Crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2017.