Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

September 11, 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 are open to salmon fishing. Coho (silver) salmon continue to enter the Resurrection River and Salmon Creek. Fishing has been fair to good and coho will be available for the remainder of the month.

• 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 slow as most halibut have migrated offshore for the winter. Anglers can find small (10-25 pounds) halibut but expect to put in extra effort. This time of year use smaller circles than you would typically use for halibut.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing has been slow. Anglers are struggling to find legal-sized lingcod this late into the season.

Rockfish

Anglers have reported excellent catch rates of a variety of pelagic rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and on rocky structure along the Gulf Coast.

• Reminder: Effective May 27 through September 15, only 2 pelagic rockfish may be retained as part of a total bag limit of 3 rockfish.

Salmon

• Coho salmon are mostly only being caught at the head of Resurrection Bay now. Coho salmon can be found from the head of the bay and all the way out to Caines, on both the west side (town) and east side (Fourth of July Creek) of the bay. Shore anglers are having better luck as the coho are hitting the beaches and staging to enter the creeks.
• Shore fishing locations worth trying including Spring Creek/Fourth of July Creek, the mouth of Resurrection River, and the mouth of the Seward Lagoon. Cast oversized spoons and spinners to target coho salmon from shore. Anglers reported the coho fishing as fair to good with many anglers able to add multiple coho to their stringers while fishing the beach.
• The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream opened for a youth-only coho/silver salmon fishing opportunity on Monday, August 25th and is extended by Emergency Order through Tuesday, September 30th. Fish have been reported in the lagoon and more should begin to build in there over the next couple of weeks. Casting spinners and spoons into the lagoon near the outlet will work well.

Local lakes

Fishing at Troop Lake continues to be the best option for lake fishing in the Seward area. Troop Lake has both rainbow trout and Arctic char. It is a short hike, but where the trail meets the lake, anglers can catch rainbow trout easily from shore. Small spinner or nymph fly patterns are great way to target these hungry fish. Fishing from now until ice up will provide for good action!

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 September 8, Emergency Order 2-SS-8-52-25 extends the youth-only sport fishery in the Seward Lagoon waters draining out of the Seward Lagoon (lagoon outfall stream) until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

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.