Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 22, 2023

ADF&G News

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Freshwater Fishing

  • The Anchor River and Deep Creek are all closed to all sport fishing by emergency order until July 16.
  • The Ninilchik River will be open to sport fishing Saturday May 27 through Monday May 29. Water conditions are currently high but may improve by the weekend. Expect slow fishing for hatchery king salmon since fish are just starting to show up with the late spring.
  • For the best success with hatchery king salmon, try drifting cured salmon egg cluster under a bobber. Swinging size 4 or 5 spinners would also be effective in these water conditions.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

  • Halibut fishing is off to a slow start for the season but should continue to improve. More consistent success is coming from offshore locations but those looking for bigger fish could try shallow water from Bluff Point to Anchor Point.
  • Fishing around slack tide is the best time for targeting halibut so you can hold the bottom with less weight.
  • Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
  • Anglers are reporting large numbers of Pacific cod in Cook Inlet right now.

King Salmon

  • Trolling for king salmon has been poor in lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay with anglers finding some fish scattered throughout the bay. South of Bluff Point, Point Pogibshi, and Bear Cove are likely places to try this week.
  • Small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher is the most popular setup but spoons, hootchies, and tube flies will all produce fish.
  • To find king salmon at any location, try setting the gear at different depths including mid-water column and within 10 feet of the bottom.
  • The king salmon run to the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is off to a slow start. Typically, the first king salmon of the year has been caught by now. Expect poor fishing throughout the week. Try casting large spinners or soaking bait under a bobber as the tide floods into the lagoon.
  • There have been no reports of king salmon showing up in Seldovia Slough, but fish should start to arrive in small numbers soon. Sight fishing from the bridge during the incoming tide is the best bet for catching king salmon.

Other Saltwater Fishing

  • Surf fishing in Cook Inlet has been fair so far this spring. Anglers are finding success with halibut on the Clam Gulch beaches. Whiskey Gulch provides good shoreline access as well.
  • Anglers are catching a variety of groundfish and flatfish from the tip of the Homer Spit. Soaking a small chunk of herring on the bottom will have the best results.
  • There are no minus tides available for clamming this week.

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-7-13-23 closed the Anchor River and Deep Creek to all sport fishing through July 15, 2023.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-12-23 restricts gear to single hook but allows bait, changes the king salmon bag limit to 2 hatchery king salmon 20” or longer, and prohibits the retention of wild king salmon. The bag limit for king salmon less than 20” has changed to 10 hatchery king salmon and you may not retain wild king salmon under 20”.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-14-23 reduces the king salmon bag limit to one fish any size in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay south of the latitude of Bluff Point from May 15 through July 31.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-7-15-23 closes sport fishing for king salmon in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay north of the latitude of Bluff Point from May 15 through July 31.
  • Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-23 reduces the rockfish bag and possession limits in Cook Inlet to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2023 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, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

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

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