Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

July 9, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• The Buskin River sockeye run has been strong in the last week with over 7,000 counted so far. The bag limit was increased to 5 and sounds like the best fishing is below the markers at the weir or on the incoming tide near Bridge 1.
• Litnik sockeye have slowed down some and fishing typically starts to trail off about now. Fishing sounds slower than it was in June.
• The Saltery sockeye run is also off to a strong start with over 6,000 counted. This is above the 10-year average and well ahead of the last several years.
• Pasagshak is having a very strong run too with nearly 2,000 sockeye counted. Fishing sounds good at times but is always dependent on the tides at Pasagshak.
• There have been no reports of hatchery kings being caught on the road system yet.
• Pinks are just starting to show up around the road system with a few in the Buskin already.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing has been good in the last week but the hot spots seem to shift around between Woody and Long Islands, Buoy 4 and the Fingers and Kalsin Bay.
• Halibut fishing has been great and fish in the 20-40 lb range are common. The most productive fishing has been in the areas further from town: Williams Reef, Triple Lumps, Cape Chiniak, Whale Pass.
• Lingcod fishing has been good since it opened, with fish in the 15 lb range common. Quite a few have been caught at the Fingers reefs.
• Rockfish are also being found at most reef and rock structures in Chiniak Bay. Lots of folks are adjusting to the new bag limits (see EO below) and rockfish ID guides are available in the harbors and at the ADF&G office.
• This is a great time of year to fish for dollies from the beach. Mission Beach and the beaches in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak are great places to find dollies. Pinks should be showing up off these beaches too.

Local Lakes

Aurel, Caroline and Cicely Lakes in Bells Flats are consistently productive and have produced some good rainbows this season so far. They are a short hike up from Middle Bay Drive and if you need a map, they are available at the ADF&G office.

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.

• NEW: Emergency Order 2-RS-4-36-24 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to five fish in the Buskin River drainage. The combined bag limit for sockeye, chum and pink salmon remains at five fish, of these two may be coho salmon through September 15.
• 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.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-37-24 increases the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to four fish in the Pasagshak River drainage. The combined bag limit for sockeye, chum and pink salmon remains at five fish, 20 inches or greater in length, of these, two may be coho salmon through September 15. From September 16 through December 31, the bag limit for coho salmon is one fish, 20 inches or greater in length. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-38-24 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king salmon, to 10 fish in the Saltery Cove drainage all of which can be sockeye salmon, but only 5 may be chum and pink salmon, and two can be coho salmon, 20 inches or greater in length. Anglers may not harvest more than 10 salmon per day or possess more than 10 total salmon, all species combined. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-39-24 closes sport fishing in the Olds River and Salonie Creek drainages upstream of markers located approximately 1 river mile upstream from the Chiniak Highway on each river through 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 2, 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.