Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

July 2, 2025

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Freshwaters in Resurrection Bay downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road is open to salmon fishing. Fishing has slowed for sockeye salmon but anglers are still catching a few fish every tide. Fishing the high tide is a good tactic with the tail end of the sockeye coming through.
  • Reminder: Only unbaited, single hooks lures or flies are allowed in this section, and snagging is not permitted. The bag and possession limits are 3 for salmon other than king salmon (in combination), of which, only 2 may be coho salmon.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

Halibut fishing has been good when the weather has allowed boats to travel out. Anglers that made it outside of Resurrection Bay continue to catch some larger fish with the size of fish getting caught increasing. Fishing inside the bay has been productive to catch smaller sized halibut. Try fishing large jigs tipped with herring while anchored up with a chum bag.

Lingcod

Lingcod season opened on Tuesday, July 1. Anglers had good success fishing around rocky structures outside of Resurrection Bay.

Rockfish

• Anglers have reported fair catch rates of a variety of rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
  • Yelloweye rockfish retention opened on July 1.
  • Effective May 27 through September 15, only 2 pelagic may be retained as part of a total bag limit of 3 rockfish.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been slow in Resurrection Bay by boat and from shore, but a few fish continue to get picked up. Try trolling herring to target hatchery king salmon that are bound for the Seward Lagoon. Target these fish along the town front, and in most places from the Sea Life Center to Caines Head. Casting spoons or snagging as the tide rises from shore can be productive if you put in the effort.
• Sockeye fishing has slowed down. Sockeye salmon can be caught at the head of the bay near Spring Creek or Resurrection River but limiting out will take a lot of effort.
• Coho salmon are getting picked up outside of Resurrection Bay and some are even moving further inside the bay. Locating a school of coho and mooching with a hoochie squid or chunk of herring can be productive to catch coho salmon.
• The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream is currently open for a youth-only king salmon fishing opportunity. A few king salmon have been reported in the lagoon and fishing could improve if these fish have some late arrivals. By emergency order, this youth fishery is extended through July 31.
  • Reminder: Only one hook (single or treble) may be used during the youth-only fishery, but bait is permitted.

Local lakes

• Fishing at First Lake has slowed down. Try casting small spinners or fishing bait under a bobber for any straggler rainbow trout.
• Troop Lake can be an excellent location to target rainbow trout and Arctic char. It is a short hike, but where the trail meets the lake, anglers can catch rainbow trout easily. A pack raft could be used to explore the lake and improve catch rates.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Effective May 27, Emergency Order 2-RF-7-21-25 reduces rockfish bag and possession limits in the salt waters of North Gulf Coast area (including Resurrection Bay) to 3 per day and 6 in possession of which only 2 per day and 4 in possession may be a pelagic rockfish and only 1 per day and 2 in possession may be nonpelagic rockfish from May 27 – September 15. In addition, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained from May 27 through June 30, 2025.
• Effective July 1, Emergency Order 2-KS-8-27-25 extends the youth only king salmon fishery in Seward Lagoon and the outfall stream through July 31.

Don't forget to purchase your 2025 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print them off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2025 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Office at 907-267-2218.