Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

July 24, 2024

General Area Description: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Salmon fishing in the open portions of Resurrection River and Salmon Creek has been extremely slow. The sockeye salmon run has wrapped up and it will be several weeks before coho (silver) salmon show up in freshwater.
  • Reminder: Snagging is not permitted in freshwater and salmon must be hooked in the mouth.
• Fishing has been slow for the youth-only fishery in the Seward Lagoon. Youth anglers may find a few lingering kings by walking outfall stream and the perimeter of the lagoon.
  • Reminder: The Seward Lagoon and outfall stream youth-only fishery for king salmon began on June 17 and was going to end on June 30 by regulation but has been extended by emergency order through July 31, 2024. This fishery is open to anglers 15 years of age or younger. See page 73 of the 2024 Southcentral Regulation Booklet.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

• Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. Sea-run Dolly Varden have been entering the creeks over the summer and will continue to into the fall. Finding clear water and fishing egg patterns or bright streamers will improve success.
• Dolly Varden can be caught in the streams and off the beach by fishing small spinners and spoons or fly fishing with smolt patterns.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been good to excellent for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay, when weather has allowed. Anglers have been returning with limits of halibut and the occasional halibut over 100-pounds. Fishing a large herring or a salmon carcass on a circle hook with a chum bag on anchor has been the best method for halibut.
• Anglers are catching smaller halibut in good numbers inside Resurrection Bay. Try drifting jigs tipped with herring near drop-offs and kelp beds near the outer portions of Resurrection Bay.

Lingcod

Anglers continue to catch many legal lingcod by fishing large twister-tail jigs tipped with herring while drifting over pinnacles.

Rockfish

Rockfish catches have been excellent near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast. Anglers are having no trouble filling their limit of pelagic rockfish.

Other Finfish

Pacific (gray) cod and pollock has slowed down a bit but remains excellent. Try fishing with small jigs or a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, off Lowell Point, or the mouths of Lowell (waterfall) or Tonsina creeks.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been fair to good inside Resurrection Bay. Anglers are picking up nearly as many king salmon as coho (silver) while trolling and mooching inside Resurrection Bay.
• Coho (silver) salmon are available in the outer portions of Resurrection Bay and in the outside waters of the North Gulf Coast. Fishing has been very slow to fair with few anglers or boats catching limits. Anglers should try trolling or mooching in the Cheval or El Dorado Narrows and Pony Cove to catch coho (silver) salmon.

Local Lakes

• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout early in the summer and trout are still available in First Lake. Fishing has been slow as fish have been picked out over the last few weeks but there are still fish in there. Try casting small spinners or fishing bait under a bobber.
• Troop Lake can be accessed by an easy 1-mile hike. Rainbow trout can be good where the trail meets the lake. Small spinners or streamers work well.

Special species information

New in regulation as of 2024: the rockfish bag and possession limits in North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay has been changed to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.

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-KS-8-29-24 extends the youth-only king salmon fishery in the Seward Lagoon and outfall stream through July 31^st, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-8-23-24: increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon from three to 12 in the fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the saltwater markers and six to 12 in the salt waters of Resurrection Bay north of a point from Caines Head to the northern point of Thumb Cove.

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 Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.