Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 13, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• Sockeye continue to push into Buskin River but the high water has slowed fishing. Weir counts are down as the weir is mostly underwater and counts are impossible. We are typically about a quarter of the way through the run right now but won’t be able to fully assess the state of the run until the water comes down.
• Litnik had a strong push of fish in the last couple days and counts are near the ten-year average. Fishing has been decent, though the high water will slow things down this week. There haven’t been large build ups of fish in the lagoon yet, but fish are moving up the river with the tides.
• There’s been a few reports of fish seen at Pasagshak though doesn’t sound like anyone catching them yet. The weir will go in this week.
• Still some dollies around the Buskin, though they are fast leaving the freshwater to feed in the saltwater.

Saltwater Fishing

• June is prime time to fish dollies from local beaches. Mission Beach, the mouth of the Buskin, and the beaches in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak are great spots to catch dollies.
• King salmon fishing has been decent when the weather cooperates. There has been very little effort in the last week due to the weather.
• Halibut fishing sounds really good when folks are able to get out with the Fingers and Williams Reef being good spots right now. Fish in the 40lb range sound fairly common.
• Still lots of cod around and they are likely to start moving into deeper water as the water warms up. Sounds like Kalsin Reef has a lot of cod right now.
• Rockfish are also being found at most reefs and rock structures in Chiniak Bay. Black rockfish are found at nearly every rock and reef, but other species such as dark, dusky, yellow tail and widow rockfish can often be found by fishing just a little bit deeper and to the sides of the same rocks and reefs.
• Don’t forget that lingcod season doesn’t open until July 1! There are already lots of reports of anglers catching lingcod, so plan ahead to release them unharmed.

Local Lakes

With the poor weather, there haven’t been many reports of rainbow fishing in local lakes, but with the high water, fishing from shore can often be good. Twin Lake and Bull Lake, out at the end of the road, can be easier to fish when they are little more flooded and would be great lakes to check out.

Special Species Information

• New rockfish regulations took effect June 1 for Kodiak and Afognak waters north of Dangerous and Outlet Capes. This includes all the waters of Afognak, Raspberry and Shuyak Islands as well as Chiniak, Ugak and Marmot Bays and all of Whale Pass and Kupreanof Straight. It is also in effect for all anglers, both resident and non-resident.
• Anglers fishing in these waters can keep 5 rockfish per day, but for only 2 can be of a single species. This is similar to salmon bag limits in the Kodiak Road Zone and an example would be that an angler could harvest 2 black rockfish, 2 dusky rockfish and a yelloweye. Species ID guides are available in the Southwest Alaska Regulation Booklet, on the ADF&G website and in the Kodiak ADF&G office.
• The standard bag limit for non-pelagic and yelloweye is still in effect Island wide, only 2 of your rockfish bag limit may be non-pelagic species and only one of these may be a yelloweye.

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-4-17-24 reduced the bag and possession limit for a single species of rockfish to 2 per day, 4 in possession north of Outlet Cape and Dangerous Cape. This emergency order is in effect from Saturday June 1, 2024 through 11:59 pm. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-16-24 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and 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. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

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 ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.