Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 20, 2024
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
- Anglers have been finding pods of sockeye moving above the saltwater/freshwater markers on Resurrection River. Fishing has been very spotty with anglers reporting slow to fair catches.
- Reminder: The freshwater of the Resurrection River and Salmon Creek downstream of the Seward Highway and Nash Road opened to salmon fishing (other than king salmon) on June 16. Snagging is not permitted in freshwater and salmon must be hooked in the mouth.
Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char
- Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. Sea-run Dolly Varden are following the sockeye salmon into the rivers. Fishing has picked up and has been fair.
- Dolly Varden can be caught in the streams and off the beach by fishing small spinners and spoons or fly fishing with smolt pattern.
Saltwater Fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing has been good to excellent for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay. Anglers have been returning with larger halibut this past week. Fishing a large herring or a salmon belly on a circle hook while chumming has been the best method for halibut.
- Halibut are being caught in good numbers inside Resurrection Bay. Anglers have had success drifting jigs tipped with herring near drop-offs and kelp beds near the outer portions of Resurrection Bay.
Lingcod
- Lingcod season is closed until July 1.
Rockfish
- Black rockfish are being caught in good numbers near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast.
Other Finfish
- Pacific (gray) cod and pollock have been plentiful this year and fishing has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing with jigs or a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, off Lowell Point, or the mouths of Lowell (waterfall) or Tonsina creeks.
Salmon
- King salmon fishing has been fair inside Resurrection Bay. Anglers are picking up king salmon by trolling near Caines Head and closer to the town of Seward.
- Anglers have reported catching a few king salmon at the mouth of the Seward Lagoon outfall, but fishing has been slow.
- Fishing has been slow to start for the youth-only fishery in the Seward Lagoon, but king salmon are continually pushing into the lagoon.
- Reminder: The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream youth-only fishery for king salmon began on June 17 and will end on June 30. This fishery is open to anglers 15 years of age or younger. See page 73 of 2024 Southcentral Regulation Booklet.
- Sockeye salmon fishing at the mouth of the Resurrection River and Spring Creek was highly variable over the last week. Sockeye will continue to be available for harvest in saltwater, but fishing may begin to slow down during tail end of the run. Cost recovery efforts are underway and may impact the fishing from day to day.
Local Lakes
- First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout last month, but fishing has been slow to fair as fish have been picked out over the last few weeks. Try casting small spinners or fishing bait under a bobber.
Special species information
- New in regulation as of 2024: the rockfish bag and possession limits in North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.
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-RS-8-23-24: increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon from three to 12 in the fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the saltwater markers and six to 12 in the salt waters of Resurrection Bay north of a point from Caines Head to the northern point of Thumb Cove.
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.