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Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast \ Resurrection Bay

September 11, 2020

Falling Fishing 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the North Gulf Coast Area at its Seward December 2019 meeting and the Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the North Gulf Coast sport fisheries regulations.

*For anglers visiting Seward, please see the City of Seward’s Covid-10 webpage.

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.

Effective January 2020, the use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sport fishing vessels in Alaska and they must be used to release rockfish back down to depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Never heard of deepwater release? Check out our rockfish conservation webpage for more info!

Freshwater Fishing

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed for the season.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden

  • Dolly Varden are beginning to migrate back into Seward area creeks. Try creek mouths for Dolly Varden this time of the year especially creeks where chum and pink salmon spawn. Casting small spinners and spoons can provide some good action.
  • If you are fly fishing, egg patterns or flesh flies are effective in Seward area streams as salmon are spawning.

Salmon

  • The Resurrection River, downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road to the ADF&G markers opened to salmon fishing (except king salmon) on June 16. Only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed. Snagging is NOT permitted in freshwater.
  • Coho salmon have arrived at the head the bay and are being picked up steadily near the lagoon outflow culvert. Fishing continues to improve, and numbers should increase over the next few weeks.
  • The Seward Lagoon and Outflow Youth-Only coho salmon fishery closed on September 7.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut/Lingcod/Rockfish Salmon

  • Halibut fishing remains good. Larger halibut are typically being caught by anglers in the outer portion of the North Gulf Coast or outer PWS when weather cooperates, and boats can safely get out further.
  • Halibut are federally managed by NOAA. Please check Federal Regulations under NOAA Fisheries Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska webpage.
  • Lingcod fishing opened on July 1 in the North Gulf Coast and closes on December 31; however, it is always closed in Resurrection Bay.
    • Try using large jigs on rocky pinnacles, a few feet off the bottom. Remember, the minimum size to retain a lingcod is 35 inches with the head attached (or 28 inches with the head removed). Do not use a gaff to puncture any fish you think you might release.
  • When targeting lingcod your chances of catching rockfish are high. Make sure you have a deepwater release mechanism on board your vessel as this is now mandatory.
  • Rockfish limits year-round are four fish per day, eight in possession of which only one per day, two in possession may be a nonpelagic rockfish. Check the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for species identification information.

Salmon

  • A few kings continue to get picked up near town. These fish are mainly being caught by boats out trolling.
    • From September 1 - April 30, the king salmon limit in Resurrection Bay is one per day of any size. There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest reporting requirement, but a king stamp is required.
  • Coho salmon continue moving into Resurrection Bay. Anglers are having good luck from shore and boat anglers are also having good luck near town trolling and mooching.
    • Don’t forget that the bag limit for coho salmon outside of Resurrection Bay is three per day and three in possession while the bag limit inside Resurrection Bay is six per day and six in possession. Anglers that have caught six coho salmon inside Resurrection Bay may not leave the bay.

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan is closed in saltwaters.

Local Lakes

  • Troop Lake is a fun hike and good place to try if you are looking for a new lake to explore.
  • First Lake in Seward is a nice little spot to take the kids to try for some rainbow trout. This lake will be stocked again in May 2021.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

  • There are currently no Emergency Orders for the North Gulf Coast Management Area.

This is the last fishing report for the 2020 fishing season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available. For current seasonal information, please contact the ADF&G Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.

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