Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 05, 2023
ADF&G News
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Freshwater Fishing
- Ninilchik River king salmon fishing slowed over the last week. Expect king salmon fishing to continue to wind down over the next week.
- Dolly Varden fishing in Bridge Creek Reservoir has remained good. Anglers reported catches of good numbers of small fish. For best success, try casting bait, small lures or spoons from shore.
Saltwater Fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing continued to improve in Cook Inlet over the past week. Weather permitting, the more distant locations have been producing larger fish and better numbers, but anglers willing to spend more time soaking bait can be successful in nearshore locations.
- Consider drifting in new locations to locate fish before setting the anchor.
- Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work.
- When anchoring, try using a chum bag to attract more fish to your location.
King Salmon
- Trolling for king salmon throughout the Kachemak Bay area slowed some over the last week. Some success was reported at Bluff Point and Point Pogibshi but fish are widely scattered throughout the bay.
- The most popular set-up is small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher, but spoons, hootchies, and tube flies may all produce fish.
- Snagging for king salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is closed after July 4th. Expect slow king salmon fishing in the lagoon but there may be a few late arrivers to catch.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- China Poot personal use dip net fishery for sockeye salmon opened on July 1. Dippers had moderate success over the past weekend but will be slow until more fish arrive.
- There have not been many reports of sockeye salmon in Tutka Lagoon but anglers should expect to see a buildup of fish there soon.
- Lingcod fishery opened on July 1 and anglers had good success along the outer coast over the first few days of the season. Use leadhead jigs with a white grubtail for best results.
- Surf fishing in Cook Inlet has been fair. Anglers are finding success with halibut on the Clam Gulch beaches. Whiskey Gulch provides good shoreline access as well. Homer Spit is the best bet for variety and numbers of fish.
Shellfish
- Clamming on east Cook Inlet beaches is closed after July 4th.
- Minus tides through Friday of this week will provide digging opportunities at the popular locations in west Cook Inlet. Both Crescent River bar and Polly Creek have good numbers of large clams.
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.
- Emergency Order 2-RC-7-22-23 reduces the razor clam bag and possession limits to the first 15 clams dug and shortens the season to July 1 through 4 in the personal use fishery.
- Emergency Order 2-RC-7-23-23 reduces the razor clam bag and possession limits to the first 15 clams dug and shortens the season to July 1 through 4 in the sport fishery.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can 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.