Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 18, 2024
Freshwater Fishing
- Deep Creek is closed to all sport fishing through July 1, 2024.
- The Anchor River will be open to catch and release fishing for king salmon on Wednesday June 19th. Gear is restricted to single-hook no bait artificial lure only. It remains closed to all sport fishing on all other days in June. Expect fair fishing. Early mornings or fishing the tide near the mouth will produce the best fishing. Try size 4 or 5 spinners in chartreuse or pink, jigs under a bobber in the same colors, streamer flies, or plugs. You may not remove king salmon or steelhead from the water before releasing them.
- The Ninilchik River is open to fishing for hatchery king salmon through July 15. The fishing should be fair and should improve over the next week as the larger tides should bring more fish into the river. Bait is now prohibited so gear is limited to single-hook artificial lures. For targeting newly arriving fish, try fishing the harbor area on the incoming tide. With these low water conditions smaller (size 3 or 4) pink or chartreuse spinners could be effective. Flies, plugs, and spoons will work well 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.
- China Poot personal use dipnet fishery opened on June 15. Water conditions are very high and there are very few sockeye salmon in the creek. The sockeye salmon run should improve later in the week.
Saltwater Fishing
Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet
Halibut
Halibut fishing remained productive for large fish over last week. Larger fish were coming from many locations including the kelp beds near Anchor Point, in Cook Inlet, and the outer coast near the Chugach Islands. Flat Island has been consistent with good numbers of smaller fish. 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 was fair to good through last week with some days with good numbers of fish. Best success has been setting the gear in the mid-water column. Bluff Point and Point Pogibshi produced the best catches with spotty success throughout the rest of 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.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye salmon fishing in China Poot and Tutka Bay Lagoon are off to a slow start since very few fish have shown up. The runs should improve over the week to provide a few fish to those looking to snag some fish.
Surf Fishing
Persistent surf fishing anglers were finding success on several of the Cook Inlet beaches last weekend, including the Deep Creek area. Anglers fishing the tip of the Homer Spit 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.
Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon
King salmon fishing slowed down later in the week at the fishing hole. Anglers were most successful closer to high tide in the southern lobe of the lagoon. A chunk of herring about 2 feet under a bobber has been working well this season. Casting spinners is another option worth trying.
Seldovia Slough
Anglers were finding slow success in the lagoon and at the bridge last week. Try cured eggs or herring under a slip bobber, or spinners. Incoming tide is the best time to get king salmon at the bridge. High tide is better in the lagoon.
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-7-23-24: Ninilchik River Gear Changes
- 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.