Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 05, 2024

General Area Description: includes all waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Sockeye salmon are returning to the Eyak River near Cordova. Fishing has been slow but should improve.
  • Remember: Effective June 1, Eyak River Special Regulations are in effect (see 2024 regulation summary).

Cutthroat Trout/Dolly Varden

• From April 15 - June 14 there is no retention of cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, or steelhead trout to protect spawning fish. In addition, no bait is allowed during this time.
• Cutthroat trout fishing has been good in Cordova area lakes.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been fair to good throughout Prince William Sound. Try fishing at the entrances of a bay with a large jig tipped with herring in depths of 150-200 feet.
• Halibut fishing has been good in the outside waters of Prince William Sound, including near Cape Junken, as well as around Montague and Elrington Islands. Larger halibut have started showing up in the area. Anglers have been successful by setting a chum bag and fishing a large herring on a circle hook.

Lingcod

• Lingcod season is closed until July 1.

Rockfish

• By emergency order, Yelloweye Rockfish may not be retained from April 1–June 30.
• Large schools of pelagic rockfish are beginning to the inside waters of Prince William Sound but can be found near the entrances and the coastal outside waters.

Other Finfish

• Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod continues to be excellent throughout Prince William Sound and outside waters while targeting other saltwater species.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has picked up in Prince William Sound. Anglers have been catching kings trolling near Culross Island and in the Valdez area.
• King salmon fishing has been good to excellent near Cape Cleare (Montague Island). Trolling a large flasher with a medium-sized herring has been an effective way to catch king salmon.
• There are still no reports of king salmon having been caught at Fleming Spit (in Cordova) yet, but kings should begin showing up any day now. Try casting a larger spinner or drifting a herring under a bobber during the incoming tide.
  • Remember: Effective June 1, Cordova Terminal Harvest area is closed to snagging (see 2024 regulation summary).

Local Lakes

• Both Blueberry and Thompson lakes are starting to open up and will be fishable soon.
• Ruth Pond (Valdez area) will be stocked in late June. Fishing will be very slow until then.

Special Species Information

Shrimp

• Shrimping continues to be good in Northern Prince William Sound with catches coming from various depths between 300-450’.

Squid

• Anglers reported good catches of squid across Prince William Sound. Anglers are having success targeting them late at night or early in the morning when they can be caught shallower.

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-SHR-6-03-24 reduced the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp fishery. The pot limit per person and per vessel has been reduced to three pots; however, of those three pots only two pots can be set in areas of historical high effort including areas near the Port of Valdez, near the Port of Whittier, and in portions of Port Wells and Culross Passage.

• Emergency Order 2-RF-6-04-24 reduces the rockfish bag and possession limits in Prince William Sound to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, one in possession can be nonpelagic. In addition, from April 1 through June 30, 2023, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained.

Don't forget to purchase your 2024 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 it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.