Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

June 25, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• Deep Creek is closed to all sport fishing through July 1, 2024.
• The Ninilchik River is still open to fishing for hatchery king salmon through July 15. The fishing should be fair and there should be plenty of new hatchery fish arriving through the week. 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 should be the most 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 is off to a slow start. Water conditions are high and the sockeye salmon run is just getting started. Fishing should improve over the week.

Saltwater Fishing

Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet

Halibut

Halibut fishing remained productive for large fish over last week with fish coming from many locations including 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 poor over last week. Expect small numbers of king salmon scattered throughout 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 is slowly improving. Expect better fishing later in the week.

Surf Fishing

Persistent surf fishing anglers were finding success on several of the Cook Inlet beaches last weekend, including the Deep Creek area and the Homer Spit. Anglers are catching a variety of groundfish including halibut, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, and cod.

Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon

King salmon fishing has been poor to fair 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. This fishery is now open to snagging for the rest of the season.

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-7-07-24: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
• 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.