Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

June 11, 2026

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 are closed to salmon fishing at this time. The freshwater section of Resurrection River up to Nash Road opens to salmon fishing on Tuesday, June 16th.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. There have been a few reports of Dolly Varden being caught near the mouth streams in Seward and are likely feeding on out-migrating salmon fry. Try fishing small spinners or smolt fly patterns.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been fair to good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Anglers returning to Seward have reported mostly catches of chicken halibut with a few larger fish mixed in. Fishing will continue to pick up more as we move deeper into summer.
• Small to medium-sized halibut catches have started to pick up inside Resurrection Bay but fishing has still been slow for this time of year. The outer portions of Resurrection Bay has been most productive for targeting halibut.

Lingcod

Lingcod season is closed until July 1.

Rockfish

• Anglers have reported fair catch rates of a variety of rockfish near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
• As a reminder, yelloweye rockfish season is closed from April 1 throughuntil June 30 by emergency order.

Other finfish

Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell (waterfall) Creek, or off Lowell Point.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing continues to be slow inside Resurrection Bay. Try trolling herring from Tonsina Creek to Caines Head to target hatchery king salmon that are bound for the Seward Lagoon. Anglers have had better success by leaving Resurrection Bay and fishing near Montague Island.
• Sockeye salmon fishing at the mouth of the Resurrection River has been very good over the last week. Anglers have reported picking up a few at the Spring Creek area as well. Anglers can expect fishing to be variable from day-to-day as the Cost Recovery vessel harvest fish to fund hatchery operations.
• King salmon are being caught at the mouth of the Seward lagoon outflow stream. Try fishing the rising and falling tide.

Local lakes

First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout a few weeks ago and the fish have started to thin out. Try bait under a bobber along shaded and treed areas of the lake

Emergency Orders

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

• Effective April 1, Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-26 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 April 1–September 15. In addition, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained from May 27 through June 30, 2026.

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.