Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 15, 2019

Week of May 14 - May 20

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been slowly improving over the last couple of weeks and will continue to improve throughout May as more fish move from overwintering waters back to summer feeding areas in the Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay areas.
• With the large tidal exchange later in the week drifting and anchoring around the slack tide will be the best ways to catch halibut in deeper water.
• Anglers also tend to be successful anchoring in shallower water between Bluff Point and the Anchor Point light this time of year. Catch rates tend to be slower for this approach but produces above average size fish.
• Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.

King Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been fair to good north of Bluff Point but weather has limited effort. The Anchor Point and Deep Creek tractor launches are operational. Mid-May is one of the best times of year to target king salmon in the nearshore waters around the Anchor Point light and Whiskey Gulch area. Anglers will likely catch a combination of feeder and mature Cook Inlet fish in this area.
• King salmon fishing has also been good south of Bluff Point. Fish can be scattered everywhere throughout Kachemak Bay but anglers have been consistently catching king salmon from Glacier Spit and Bear Cove areas.
• Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
• It’s probably too early for there to be fishable numbers of king salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit, but some anglers have caught them from shore at the end of the spit. Try casting heavy spoons into the surf.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• If you’re limited by access to a boat or by the weather, fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a great way to wet a line. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Dolly Varden, a variety of flatfish species, and the occasional king salmon.

Shellfish

• The next clamming tides are May 17-21.
• Razor clams can be found on beaches along the WESTSIDE of Cook Inlet and can be accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include the Polly Creek beach, Crescent River Bar, and Chinitna Bay. Boaters are advised to use caution before traveling across the Cook Inlet because of strong tidal currents and variable weather conditions.
• Littleneck and butter 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.

Freshwater Fishing

• Bridge Creek Reservoir is a great place to explore for Dolly Varden. There are some shore fishing opportunities along the reservoir but it is best fished from a canoe or float tube.

Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-01-19 and 2-RCL-7-02-19 closed all EASTSIDE Cook Inlet beaches to clamming for all species from the mouth of the Kenai River to the southernmost tip of the Homer Spit for 2019.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-11-19 limited the fishing season on the Anchor River to fishing being allowed May 25-27, June 1-3, and June 8-10, 2019, through July 15, 2019.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-12-19 restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-13-19 reduced the king salmon bag and possession limits in the Ninilchik River to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-14-19 combined the annual limit for king salmon to two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik, and all marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.