Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 30, 2024
Freshwater Fishing
- The Anchor River and Deep Creek are closed to all sport fishing through July 15, 2024.
- The Ninilchik River is open to fishing for hatchery king salmon June 1-3. Except slow fishing but should be improving. The counts of both wild and hatchery fish are low so far. Try cured salmon roe under a slip bobber. Size 4 or 5 pink or chartreuse spinners could be effective, too. If you incidentally hook a steelhead or wild king salmon, get them to the bank as quickly as possible and release them without removing them from the water.
Saltwater Fishing
Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet
Halibut
Halibut fishing was more consistent in locations like Flat Island last week but for those looking for bigger fish, try the shallow water from Bluff Point to Anchor Point. Fishing around slack tide is the best time for targeting halibut so you can hold the bottom with less weight. Herring on a circle hook is the most popular bait; however, octopus, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
King Salmon
King salmon fishing south of Bluff Point has been hit or miss, with scattered reports from the Bluff area as well as throughout inner Kachemak Bay. Small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher is the most popular setup, but hootchies and tube flies will also produce fish. To find king salmon at any location, try setting the gear at different depths including mid-water column and 10 feet off the bottom.
Surf Fishing
Surf fishing anglers were finding success on several of the Cook Inlet beaches last weekend. Popular locations for halibut include Kasilof, Clam Gulch, Ninilchik boat harbor, Deep Creek campground, and Whiskey Gulch. Anglers are catching a variety of groundfish including halibut, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, and cod. Regulations changed at the December 2023 Board of Fisheries meeting to allow surf fishing for groundfish in the conservation zones surrounding the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik River. You still may not fish within 200 yards of the stream mouths – look out for posted orange regulatory signs. Don’t forget about fishing off the tip of the Homer Spit – that location can be productive for a variety of groundfish.
Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon
King salmon are beginning to show up to the NDFL in very small numbers - expect slow fishing to continue throughout the week. Fishing the incoming or outgoing tide is typically your best bet – the tide should be flooding into the lagoon around the +11 ft height. Roe or a chunk of herring under a bobber and spinners are both effective methods for king salmon here.
Local Lakes
The Homer Reservoir (located on Skyline Drive) is a great place to take kids and catch a Dolly Varden. The fish are small, but can be voracious. Dollies are often found along the shore by the road, or the south shore. Try a variety of very small spinners and spoons. Nymphs and dry flies, such as mosquitoes, can work great when the wind is calm.
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-KS-7-10-24: Anchor River and Deep Creek Closed to Sport Fishing
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-07-24:Sport Fishing For King Salmon Closed in Upper Cook Inlet Salt Waters
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-12-24:King Salmon Bag Limit Reduced from 2 to 1 in Lower Cook Inlet Salt Waters
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-13-24:Changes to King Salmon Limits and Gear in the Ninilchik River
- Press Release:Cook Inlet Sport Fishing Regulation Changes
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 Homer office at (907) 235-8191.