Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

July 23, 2024

Freshwater Fishing

• The Buskin River sockeye run is winding down but there are still fish in the river. Below the markers near the weir is the best spot right now. The weir will be moved to the lower river location next week.
• The Saltery sockeye run is strong again this year with fish coming in a little earlier than the last several years. The limit is up to 10 per day now and there continue to be strong pushes of fish every few days.
• Pasagshak is having a strong run so far and is above the 10 year average. Fish are moving with the larger of the daily tides mostly at night right now and fishing is slower during the day.
• There have been a few hatchery kings caught at the Olds and Salonie, but is has not been a strong run. ADF&G staff will be out most days collecting brood stock and both rivers have been closed to all sport fishing about a mile upstream from the bridges to protect king salmon brood stock.
• Pinks are slowly coming in to the road system with a few in the Buskin, but not many in other rivers yet.
• Dolly fishing is picking up and most road system rivers have quite a few dollies in them. The Olds and Salonie have some big ones!

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing has been hit and miss again, with some days being very productive and others not as much. Most effort has been between Woody and Long and at the Fingers/Buoy 4 area. Reports indicate schools of bait are hard to find and the fish are pretty spread out.
• A few silvers are being caught at the Fingers but no large schools yet. Pinks are showing up, be prepared to sort through some pinks to get your silvers.
• Halibut fishing has been good with lots of fish being caught trolling for salmon. There seems to be quite a few fish in the 30-50lb range being caught at most of the reefs to the North of town.
• Lingcod fishing has been excellent with lots of fish in the 15lb range around. No particular hot spots but nearly all of the reefs and rock pinnacles North of town and behing Long Island have been productive.
• Rockfish are also plentiful but now is the time to practice your rockfish ID and take advantage of the increased limit for rockfish. ADF&G has rockfish ID guides if you need one!
• This is a great time of year to fish dollies and pinks from the beach. They are usually plentiful off of Pillar Creek and White Sands beach and out in Kalsin Bay and Chiniak.

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.
• Some anglers have commented on black rockfish being the only rockfish they are able to catch. When looking for other species, like dark or dusky rockfish look to the deeper part of reefs and pinnacles and fish closer to the bottom and off to the side of the shallower areas. Black rockfish will often be up off the bottom and in the shallowest water.

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-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.