Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 18, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• The Buskin sockeye run continues, weir counts are steady, but not impressive. Fish are being caught regularly behind the weir and in the lower river but they are not holding long.
• Litnik continues to see good numbers of fish every day but nothing spectacular. Fishing has been good below the weir with most tides.
• There’s a few sockeye around at Pasaghsak and Saltery already with many reports of schools milling around but not as many reports of catches.

Saltwater Fishing

• Dollies are out feeding in the salt water and can be caught from most local beaches. Mission, Pillar and the beaches in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak are the go-to spots.
• King salmon fishing was good over the weekend with lots of effort with the nice weather. Most effort has been at the Fingers and between Woody and Long Islands.
• Halibut fishing has been great with fish in the 40 lb range common. The Buoy 4 area, Williams Reef and Whale Pass have been some of the more popular areas.
• Still lots of cod around and many folks are catching nice sized fish up to 15 lbs. Lots are being caught while trolling for kings.
• Rockfish are also being found in all the usual spots around Chiniak Bay, Spruce Island and down to Ugak Island. See below for more info on the new rockfish regulations that became effective June 1 by emergency order.
• 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

Rainbow fishing has been particularly good on the few sunny days we’ve had as the lakes on the road system are starting to warm up. Dragonfly Lake out on Cliff Point fished well last week. Public access is allowed to this lake, the turn off to the lake is a little bit before the gated area. Contact the Kodiak office if you need directions!

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 Strait. 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.