Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

July 31, 2026

General Area Description: All waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling, including salt waters within 200 miles of shore.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The sockeye run has pretty much wound down at Coghill River, but other late run locations like Eshamy Creek and Billy’s Hole should start seeing a build of first sockeye now.
• It is early yet for coho salmon in the Cordova area. The first location to see coho is the lower Eyak River. Expect very slow fishing, but improving towards the end of August.

Cutthroat Trout/Dolly Varden

Cutthroat trout fishing has been excellent in lakes in the Cordova area, and many others in Prince William Sound. Eshamy Lake is a reliable location to catch cutthroat trout. Exploring lakes for cutthroat trout in Prince William Sound can also be very fun and productive. Try fishing fry patterns and small streamers.

Local lakes

• Ruth Pond (Valdez area) was recently stocked in early July. Fishing is expected to be good for a couple more weeks. If you find yourself in Valdez, it is a great location to take the kids and family.
• Blueberry and Thompson Lakes are fishing very well. Anglers can target grayling and rainbow trout from both a boat and shore and can expect good catch, but targeting lake trout will require a boat or canoe and anglers should expect to put in time to catch these small lakers.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

Halibut are well-distributed throughout Prince William Sound. Fishing has been good this week with the spell of good weather. Anglers are producing decent catches of mostly smaller halibut inside Prince William Sound with a few larger fish mixed in. Anglers can catch larger fish more consistently near the entrances into Prince William Sound and in the Gulf of Alaska. Anchor with a chum bag and fish large herring or salmon viscera on a circle hook near the entrances of bay with salmon runs.

Lingcod

Lingcod season opened on July 1 in Prince William Sound. Lingcod catch rates are still good, and should be into August. Target Rocky pinnacles and outcroppings with large twister tail jig tipped with herring in the Gulf of Alaska.

Rockfish

Anglers are finding schools of pelagic rockfish throughout the inside waters of Prince William Sound. These schools are likely at their peak distribution for the summer. Fishing can be better and more consistent outside of Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska, such as near Elrington, Montague, and Hinchinbrook Islands.

Other finfish

Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod has been excellent this year. Catch rates throughout Prince William Sound and outside waters have been great and anglers are coming home with some extra meat by picking up a few cod.

Salmon

• There are a few kings are being caught by anglers that have been putting effort. Trolling in Northwestern Prince William Sound such as near Pigot Bay and Southeastern Prince William Sound around Orca Inlet can produce. Overall fishing has been fair to good with anglers putting in time trolling.
• Anglers are reporting good catch rates for king salmon in the Northeast portion of Prince William Sound, particularly near Glacier Island.
• Pinks are present at Allison Point, but the run has been weak this year and many fish are starting to change now.
• More coho salmon have been reported further into Prince William Sound this week. Anglers are finding schools near Goose, Glacier, Naked, and Culross Islands. Try trolling or mooching a medium-sized herring along these locations.
• Good coho salmon catch rates are still being reported from further out, including near Montague Island at Cape Cleare.

Shrimp

Shrimp fishing closed on Monday, June 8th. The reporting deadline Prince William Sound Shrimpers was Monday, June 22nd. Harvest reporting closed on July 9th.

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-6-15-26 reduces the bag and possession limit for king salmon to one fish in the Prince William Sound Management Area salt waters, excluding the Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega Terminal Harvest Areas which have a bag limit of two fish and a possession limit of four fish of any size.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 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 2026 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.