Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 02, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible, and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Freshwater Fishing

  • The Anchor River and Deep Creek are closed to all sport fishing effective this Saturday, June 5 through Thursday, July 15, 2021. See emergency order 2-KS-7-16-21 regarding the closure below.
  • The Ninilchik River will open to sport fishing on Saturday, June 5 through June 7, 2021. New king salmon continue to enter the Ninilchik River every day in low numbers and should continue to improve over the next week. Water conditions are favorable. The best fishing is in the early morning hours but explore the harbor with spinners at high tide for newly arriving fish. Also try fishing with salmon roe clusters suspended close to the bottom for hatchery king salmon. See emergency order 2-KS-7-10-21 regarding king salmon bag and possession limits below.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut fishing continues to improve as more fish move into Cook Inlet from overwintering waters.
  • The tidal exchanges are more mellow this week which will provide more time for effective anchoring. Trying drifting in new locations to find fish before anchoring.
  • The Compass Rose area usually produces steady action this time of year.
  • Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.

King Salmon

  • In Upper Cook Inlet, king salmon fishing will be limited to beyond one mile from shore starting Saturday. See emergency order 2-KS-7-17-21 regarding the king salmon closure below. Anglers should look for feeder king salmon in 60 to 90 feet of water north of Bluff Point and south of Anchor Point.
  • Trolling for king salmon was fair in Kachemak Bay last week and fish are scattered throughout the bay.
  • Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
  • King salmon at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit was fair over the weekend and more fish should be arriving every day. Best fishing has been in the early morning hours using size 4 or 5 spinners. There will be a youth-only fishery area established across from the entrance on Saturday June 5.
  • King salmon have also started to return to the Seldovia Slough and are moving in and out with high tide. Try drifting salmon roe clusters or running plugs from the bridge. Casting spinners from shore should be effective in the lagoon area.

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.

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-7-17-21 closes sport fishing for king salmon within one mile of shore in the saltwaters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.). This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-16-21 closes the Anchor River and Deep Creek to all sport fishing effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-10-21 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 14, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-08-21 reduced the king salmon annual limit north of Bluff Point from five to two fish through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-04-21 and 2-RCL-7-05-21 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 2021.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 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 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing for before you head out.

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

Archives

Lower Cook Inlet Area Archives for:
Aug 30, 2021 Aug 24, 2021 Aug 17, 2021 Aug 10, 2021 Aug 03, 2021 Jul 27, 2021 Jul 20, 2021 Jul 13, 2021
Jul 07, 2021 Jun 29, 2021 Jun 21, 2021 Jun 15, 2021 Jun 08, 2021 Jun 02, 2021 May 25, 2021 May 18, 2021