Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
August 20, 2019
Week of August 20 - August 26
Personal Use
- The Kachemak Bay Personal Use Coho Salmon Gillnet Fishery opened for Alaska residents
August 19. Open periods are 6:00 a.m. Monday to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and 6:00 a.m. Thursday to 6:00 a.m. Saturday. The fishery closes when 1,000 - 2,000 coho salmon have been harvested. Permits are available at the Homer ADF&G office until the fishery closes. For more information, please see page 15 of the 2019 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.
Freshwater Fishing
- Dolly Varden fishing in the upstream sections of Anchor and Ninilchik rivers, and Deep Creek has been fair. Water conditions are really low and visibility is great. Look for schools of Dolly Varden in deeper pools. Try dry flies and bead headed nymphs for fish that won’t take beads. The best angler access is on the Anchor River from mile 160 on the Sterling Highway to the bridge at the south end of North Fork Road.
- There are a fair number of coho salmon in the lower portions of the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers, and Deep Creek. Fishing has been fair and new fish are continuing to enter these streams. Floating eggs under a bobber at the break of day is the best bet for catching coho salmon.
Saltwater Fishing
Salmon
- Fishing for coho salmon in the Nick Dudiak fishing lagoon has slowed some, but there are still fish being caught on salmon eggs during the outgoing tide.
- Trolling near the Homer Spit has been producing some coho salmon and a few king salmon.
- Coho and king salmon fishing has been spotty throughout the rest of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet with some success at Point Pogibshi, on the south side of the bay, and out at Silver Ridge.
Halibut
- Halibut are being caught closer to the spit and in the inner bay, but the most consistent fishing is still in outer Kachemak Bay and beyond. Try drifting until you run into a few bites before you set the anchor. Using a chum bag can also help to get the halibut bite started.
- Herring on a circle hook is the most popular way to fish for halibut. Jigs also work well.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- Anglers are travelling well outside of Kachemak Bay for consistent success with lingcod and nonpelagic rockfish. Most anglers drift over rocky pinnacles with jigs when targeting lingcod.
- Black rockfish can be caught by jigging and trolling near prominent points of land, with larger fish and more consistent fishing near Point Pogibshi and beyond.
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.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.