Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai

June 15, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face covering when social distancing is not possible and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Freshwater Fishing

• The Ninilchik River will open to sport fishing on Wednesday June 16 and will remain open through October 31. Fishing was fair for hatchery king salmon last weekend and should have new fish arriving every day. The bag and possession limits were increased for hatchery king salmon from one to two fish and there is no annual limit. Please review emergency order 2-KS-7-18-21 below for more info.
• The most successful approach will be drifting eggs under a bobber but plug cut herring, spinners, plugs, and flies will all catch fish.
• Try fishing in the harbor for targeting newly arriving fish or fishing in the early morning hours when the fish are more active and moving upstream.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing continues to improve, and some anglers have been catching some larger ones.
• Marine weather forecast looks favorable for the week in Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet which should allow anglers get to the offshore locations.
• Trying drifting in new locations to find fish before anchoring.
• Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.

King Salmon

• Trolling for king salmon was fair to good in Kachemak Bay last week and fish are scattered throughout the bay. Anglers have found a consistent bite at Point Pogibshi.
• Most anglers use downriggers and fish with troll sized herring or spoons behind flashers.
• There were good numbers of king salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit over last week, but the fishing was just fair. Best fishing has been in the early morning hours using size 4 or 5 spinners, but herring has been working too.
• The Seldovia slough and lagoon are still producing king salmon. Try drifting salmon roe clusters or running plugs from the bridge. Casting spinners from shore should be effective in the lagoon area.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• If you are limited by access to a boat or by the weather, fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a great way to wet a line. Species available include walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Dolly Varden, a variety of flatfish species, and the occasional king salmon.

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-7-18-21 increases the hatchery king salmon bag and possession limits from one fish to two fish 20” or greater in length and removes the annual limit effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 12 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 31, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-17-21 closes sport fishing for king salmon within one mile of shore in the saltwaters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.). This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-16-21 closes the Anchor River and Deep Creek to all sport fishing effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-7-08-21 reduced the king salmon annual limit north of Bluff Point from five to two fish through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-RCL-7-04-21 and 2-RCL-7-05-21 closed all EASTSIDE Cook Inlet beaches to clamming for all species from the mouth of the Kenai River to the southernmost tip of the Homer Spit in 2021.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Homer office at (907) 235-8191.