Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 16, 2022

Freshwater Fishing

• Dolly Varden is being caught in Buskin Lake and also in the river as well. They are starting their migration to salt water and will be active and feeding as they move that way over the next several weeks.
• Steelhead and rainbow trout are moving around and active right now too. Both should be nearing peak spawning activity for the next two weeks. A good practice for anglers is to avoid fishing where steelhead and rainbow trout are actively spawning in redds.
• No reports of any sockeye salmon catches have come in from the Buskin yet, but they should be showing up any day now.
• The Buskin weir is in place, and counts will be posted daily on the ADF&G fish counts webpage.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing has picked up some in the last week partially due to more cooperative weather allowing more effort. Current hot spots are Buoy 4 and Inner Humpback Rock, with some effort in Kalsin Bay as well. Fish over 30 lbs. have been reported in the last week.
• Halibut is primarily caught at Buoy 4, but other spring hot spots include Kalsin Reef and Whale Pass. Fish in the 15-30 lb. range seem to be most common right now.
• Cod is also prevalent right now, and most anglers indicate they are in most areas of Chiniak Bay and being caught from near the surface to 200 ft.
• Rockfish bag limits have been reduced to three pelagic rockfish per day for nonresident anglers for much of the east side of Kodiak Island and Afognak Island. Bag limits for resident anglers remain the same this season, with a total bag limit of five rockfish per day but only three per day inside Chiniak and Marmot bays. Nonpelagic limits remain at two per day, with only one being a yelloweye for the whole Island and for all anglers. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info.
  • The use of a deepwater release mechanism is required on all sportfishing vessels in Alaska, and they must be used to release rockfish back down to a depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower. Ever heard of the deepwater release? Check out our webpage for more info.
• Don’t forget that lingcod season doesn’t open until July 1! Most anglers report catching lots of smaller lingcod, so plan ahead to release them unharmed.

Local Lakes

• Not many reports of fishing stocked lakes have come in recently, but Abercrombie and Lilly lakes are located right in town and are typically good for fishing for rainbows in May. There may be some spawning activity in other stocked lakes at this time, so keep an eye out to avoid spawning fish if possible.

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-RF-4-16-22 reduced the nonresident rockfish bag and possession limits on the eastside of Afognak and Kodiak islands from Big Fort Island near Shuyak Island to Dangerous Cape on Kodiak Island. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 pm. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-15-22 closed the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-14-22 closed the Karluk River drainage, including the lagoon and its outlet stream to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2022.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2022 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, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.