Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 11, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area at its Seward December 2019 and Anchorage February 2020 meetings. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Lower Cook Inlet sport fisheries regulations.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-07-20 reduced the king salmon bag and possession limits in the Ninilchik River to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-06-20 restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-05-20 reduced the king salmon annual limit north of Bluff Point from five to two fish through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-03-20 and 2-RCL-7-04-20 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 in 2020.

Freshwater Fishing

• The Anchor River will open to sport fishing on Saturday, May 16, 2020, but the fishing will be slow for king salmon. The run is off to a slow start but there may be a few fish moving through by the weekend. Don’t forget to review the table on page 68 of the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet which shows the dates the Anchor River is open to fishing.
• The water conditions are high but favorable to sport fishing. Try size 4 or 5 spinners or small plugs to get a king salmon’s attention.

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.
• The tides are more moderate this week which should provide more effective fishing time while anchored.
• 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 produce 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

• The marine weather has been favorable, but king salmon fishing has been poor to fair north of Bluff Point. The Anchor Point and Deep Creek tractor launches are now 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 poor to fair south of Bluff Point. Fish can be scattered everywhere throughout Kachemak Bay, but anglers have found king salmon just south of Bluff Point.
• Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
• It is probably still too early for seeing king salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• If you are 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.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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