Area Sport Fishing Reports
Yakutat

September 18, 2023

An excellent resource for planning a trip is the gofishak interactive map for Yakutat which provides information on popular fishing locations, species run timing, fishing gear selections and boat and angler access.

Freshwaters

Coho Salmon

Coho fishing on the Situk River has been tough the last two weeks due to heavy rain events and rises in water levels. Yakutat ontinues to get a steady stream of storms moving through which has kept Situk River levels above 700 cfs since September 8th. The higher water levels have made fishing for coho more difficult as a result. Boat anglers will have better access to fishing locations while foot anglers will be more limited.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sportfishing for king salmon is open in Yakutat area marine waters. King fishing is very slow. The best location to get into a king would be inside the islands near Log Dump or Johnstone Pass. Most anglers troll spoons or herring behind a flasher in about 40-80 feet of water along the shoreline or around pinnacles.

• Anglers are required to have a king salmon stamp when targeting king salmon.
• All king salmon less than 28" must be released.

Coho Salmon

Fishing for coho salmon in salt waters has been difficult lately due to the many storms moving through the area. The best fishing continues to be on the outside of Kahntaak Island, and near Point Munoz and Ocean Cape. Fishing is decent inside the islands as well. Limits are being caught. Anglers are trolling herring, spoons, and hoochies with flashers, or you can mooch for them once you find a school. Anglers should be able to identify the different salmon species so as not to inadvertently or illegally keep a king salmon.

Halibut

Reports from anglers indicate fishing for halibut continues to be tough. With the bad weather and the low abundance of halibut, anglers are struggling to connect with fish. The majority of halibut being caught conitnue to be smaller fish. As the pink and coho salmon move further into Yakutat Bay fishing for halibut should improve within the islands.

Lingcod

Fishing for lingcod continues to be excellent. Try using jigs, darts, or mooching cut-plug herring near rocky structures or pinnacles.

Rockfish

Fishing for rockfish is excellent in the Yakutat area. Try working small jigs or darts or mooching herring near any rocky structures or pinnacles under the water for the best results.

For further information, please get in touch with the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist Jason Pawluk at (907) 784-3222.