Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 11, 2023
ADF&G News
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Freshwater Fishing
- The lower sections of the Anchor River, Stariski Creek, and Deep Creek will open to fishing for all species except for king salmon on July 16th, 2023. Expect slow fishing for Dolly Varden and pink salmon.
- There’s still a few hatchery king salmon showing up in the Ninilchik River but not enough to provide any fishing.
- 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 remained good 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 in Kachemak Bay has been fair with anglers finding fish in most places. The most consistent fishing has been at Point Pogibshi but anglers are sorting through pink salmon to find king salmon.
- The most popular set-up is small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher, but spoons, hootchies, and tube flies may all produce fish.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- China Poot personal use dip net fishery for sockeye salmon was hit or miss over last week. Expect it to continue be the same this week.
- There have been some sockeye and pink salmon showing up in Tutka Lagoon.
- Pink salmon are starting to show up into Cook Inlet. Anglers wanting to target pink salmon should try fishing from Point Pogibshi to Flat Island.
- Lingcod anglers have continued to have some success along the outer coast over the past week. Use leadhead jigs with a white grubtail for best results.
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! 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.