Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 15, 2017

Week of June 13 to June 20

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Snagging is not allowed in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi until June 24.
• Snagging in Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is open by emergency order only.
• It’s a good idea to review the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet before starting your fishing trip. Be sure to review pages 70-72 before heading out to fish for king salmon in Cook Inlet saltwaters areas. Before heading out to fish on freshwater streams, review pages 64-66 for the Anchor River; pages 66-67 for Deep Creek, and page 69 for the Ninilchik River.
• Anglers are reminded that:
  • Hooked steelhead trout must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
  • A king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt or fresh water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who hooked the fish.
  • After taking a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the Anchor River, Deep Creek, or Ninilchik River, anglers may not fish for any species for the rest of the day.
  • Anglers are reminded that in freshwater, the bag and possession limit for king salmon less than 20 inches is 10 fish.
• Regulation changes are in effect for guided anglers fishing for halibut. A more extensive description of Federal Regulations can be found on the NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
• Rockfish caught in deep water suffer injuries from decompression. Recent research by ADF&G staff indicates that the survival of released rockfish can be substantially improved by releasing fish at the depth of capture. For more information, visit the ADF&G's Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.
  • Remember that while you may retain five rockfishes per day, only one may be a non-pelagic species (review the rockfish identification chart on page 90).
• Lingcod may not be harvested until July 1. All lingcod caught accidentally must be carefully released and may not be punctured with a gaff.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

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

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Early-season halibut fishing is good and some larger halibut are being harvested. This fishery will continue to improve as fish move from deep, overwintering waters back to the shallower summer feeding areas.
• Herring is the most popular bait; however, octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
• Unguided anglers can retain two halibut a day, four in possession. Regulations for guided anglers can be found by following the link in the ‘Regulations Reminders’ section.

Salmon

• Trolling success for feeder king salmon is reported as poor to fair from Bluff Point north and throughout Kachemak Bay. There has been a high prevalence of bait fish within the Bay and the king salmon are not concentrated in any particular location.
• Herring in a variety of sizes have been the most effective but small thin blade spoons and large spoons have been working as well. Most anglers are using flashers to attract king salmon.
• To find fish, try fishing a variety of depths up to 100 feet near rocky points and kelp beds. Look for bird activity or whales to find the location of bait fish.
• King salmon are continuing to enter the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit, and fishing success has slightly improved. For better success, fish the incoming tide.
  • Popular gear for fishing king salmon at terminal fishing areas (Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and Seldovia Lagoon) includes using eggs or plug cut herring under a bobber.
• King salmon fishing at Seldovia Lagoon is improving as more fish enter the lagoon. The best time to fish is during the incoming tide as new fish arrive. Anglers are using spinners, herring, and shrimp as bait.
• Few anglers have been fishing Halibut Cove Lagoon this season and there have been no reports of king salmon being caught.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way to pass time. Species available include Walleye pollock, Pacific cod, a variety of flatfish species, and an occasional king salmon.
• Anglers are reporting catches of black, dark and dusky rockfish along Bluff Point and near Point Pogibshi.

 

Freshwaters Fishing Report

• The Ninilchik River will open continuously to fishing for hatchery only king salmon from the mouth upstream approximately 2 miles to the ADF&G regulatory markers on June 16.
• The Anchor River will open to fishing from the mouth upstream approximately 2 miles to the ADF&G regulatory markers on Wednesday, June 14, 2017; and Saturday, June 17 through Monday, June 19.
• The Anchor River and Ninilchik River weirs are operational and fish counts are available on the ADF&G webpage.
• River conditions on the Anchor River and Ninilchik River are expected to be good.
• Expect fair to good fishing for king salmon on the Anchor River over the next week. Fishing should be fair for hatchery king salmon on the Ninilchik River and will improve through the rest of June.
• Salmon roe clusters and herring suspended under a bobber have been the most effective; however, spinners, spoons, flies, jigs and yarn also work.
• Try fishing near the mouths of these streams during the incoming tide to target newly arriving fish.

Lake Fishing

• The ice is gone from Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes and fishing conditions are good. Most of these lakes are stocked with rainbow trout which, 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 ADF&G Sport Fish webpage or at local ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• The next clamming tides run from June 20 through June 29.
• Occasionally there are PSP advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contact the DEC at (907) 269-7501, or visit the DEC PSP webpage for more information.
• Razor clams can be found on beaches along the WEST SIDE of Cook Inlet and are accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include Crescent River, Chinitna Bay, and Polly Creek. Boaters should use caution before traveling across the inlet because of strong currents and should check the weather forecast before traveling.
• Littleneck (steamer) and butter 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 will be a tanner crab fishery opening October 1, 2017, and closing February 28, 2018.
• All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2017.