Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 02, 2017

Week of August 2 to August 9

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• The Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek opened on August 1 to fishing for Dolly Varden and steelhead/rainbow trout upstream of the two mile markers. Steelhead/rainbow trout may not be harvested, must not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.
• The lower portions of the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek are open to sport fishing except for king salmon. Anglers are reminded that king salmon may not be targeted and if hooked, they must be released immediately. The bag and possession limit for other salmon is three per day, three in possession, with only two per day, two in possession that are coho (silver) salmon.
• On the Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Stariski Creek, bait and treble hooks are legal gear through August 31 on these streams.
• The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is closed to snagging.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-7-34-17 the personal use bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the China Poot Creek dip net fishery will increase from six fish to 25 fish per day effective Friday, August 4, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. and the season is extended through 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 14, 2017. Complete regulations are found on pages 12-13 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.
• The marine waters of Tutka Bay Lagoon within 100 yards of the hatchery net pens are closed to sport fishing for any species.
• Lingcod season opened July 1. Anglers are reminded that the bag and possession limit is two fish and the minimum legal size is 35 inches with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
• Unguided anglers can retain two halibut per day with four in possession.
• The bag and possession limit for spiny dogfish sharks is five per day and in possession with no recording requirement. The bag and possession limit for all other sharks is one per day and in possession, which applies to the annual limit of two and must be recorded immediately on the back of your fishing license.

Youth-Only Fishery

• The Youth fishery at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is Saturday, August 5. A portion of the lagoon will be open to youth 15 years of age or younger from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Department staff will be present from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to help young anglers fish, tie egg loops and fishing knots, and learn the best way for releasing fish.

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

• The average weight of halibut harvested is improving as the larger fish move in from deeper waters. Halibut sampled at the Homer harbor now average ~14 lbs., up from ~11 lbs. earlier in the season.
• Halibut fishing slowed for some anglers while others report consistent catches.
• Anglers report catching spiny dogfish while targeting halibut. Spiny dogfish are long lived and highly migratory. Anglers are advised to move to another location if spiny dogfish bycatches are high.
• Anglers targeting halibut are having success using herring on circle hooks. Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
• Try fishing around and during slack tide. This allows anglers to keep their bait on the bottom using less weight.

Salmon

• Trolling success for king salmon has been fair to good from the Eldred Passage area, Point Pogibshi, and the south side of Kachemak Bay. Other salmon species are being caught in these areas as well, especially pink salmon.
• North of Bluff Point anglers are reporting king salmon fishing as slow with improved catches of coho and pink salmon. Decent numbers of coho salmon have been caught in the Point Adam and Point Pogibshi areas.
• Anglers are reporting good catches of pink salmon along the south side of Kachemak Bay. Anglers are reminded that pink salmon may be used as bait in the salt water fisheries, but are counted as part of your daily bag limit.
• Downriggers are essential for trolling in deeper water. Try various depths between 15-90 feet. Small herring trolled behind a flasher or dodger is the most effective presentation. Small thin blade spoons and large spoons have been working as well. Try fishing in deeper water over 50 feet, to avoid pink salmon when targeting king or coho salmon.
• Anglers are reporting decreased catches of late-run king salmon from Anchor Point to Deep Creek over the last week. Try trolling in shallow water at high tide for best success.
• Coho salmon are entering the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and fishing is expected to improve as more fish enter the lagoon. Try salmon eggs or herring suspended under a bobber. Some anglers also have success with spinners. The best time to try for newly arriving fish would be as water starts flooding into the lagoon on the incoming tide.
• In Tutka Bay Lagoon there is a high number of pink salmon available and the numbers of sockeye salmon have declined.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Fishing for lingcod has been slow since the season opened on July 1. Those anglers returning with lingcod are most successful near Chugach or Elizabeth Islands.
• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way to pass the time. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, a variety of flatfish species and an occasional salmon. Be certain to check regulations regarding bag and possession limits and know which species it is that you’re keeping before harvesting them.
• Anglers are reporting catches of black, dark, and dusky rockfish along Bluff Point and near Point Pogibshi and around the Chugach Islands
• Anglers use a variety of gear including spoons, jigs, herring and flies to catch rockfish. They are also commonly caught when trolling with downriggers for salmon.
• Rockfish caught in deep water suffer injuries from decompression. Recent research by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff indicates the survival of released rockfish can be substantially improved by releasing fish at the depth of capture. For more information on the use of deep water release mechanisms, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Freshwaters Fishing Report

Personal Use Fishing

• Dipnetting success for sockeye salmon in China Poot continues to be good.

Streams

• Expect good Dolly Varden fishing this week in the upper streams. Most of the Dolly Varden have moved upriver behind spawning king salmon. Flesh flies and egg patterns will have the best success.
• Anglers are reporting good success for pink salmon. Fish near the mouth of streams and rivers for newly arriving fresh pink salmon as they enter these areas.
• Good numbers of pink and chum salmon are available in streams on the south side of Kachemak Bay.
• Coho salmon are arriving in area streams; try fishing early in the morning or at the mouth of the stream during the incoming tide. More coho salmon will enter these streams as the water levels start to rise from rain. Fishing salmon roe clusters and herring are the most effective method to target coho salmon.

Lake Fishing

• The Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes 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 Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes is available on the ADF&G Sport Fish web site and at ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• The next series of clamming tides run from August 6 - August 11.
• Occasionally there are Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contact the DEC at (907) 269-7501, or visit the DEC Shellfish webpage for more information regarding PSP.
• 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 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 other crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2017.