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- An emergency order closed the Tanner crab fishery east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi through the March 15 spring season closure date.
- The flowing waters of the Anchor River, Ninilchik River, Deep Creek and Stariski Creek are restricted to single hook and no bait through October 31.
- The areas upstream of the two-mile regulatory markers on the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers and Deep and Stariski creeks opened on August 1 to fishing for Dolly Varden and steelhead/rainbow trout. Salmon may not be targeted or harvested upstream of the 2-mile regulatory markers.
- Anglers need to be aware of the new regulation affecting all Kenai Peninsula streams: A coho salmon may not be removed from the water prior to release; a coho removed from the water counts toward the bag limit of the person hooking it, and must be retained.
- An emergency order has been issued to reduce the sport, personal use and subsistence bag and possession limits for littleneck and butter clams in Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay from 1,000 littleneck clams and 700 butter clams to a combined limit of 80 clams.
- Anglers fishing the lower sections of the Anchor and Ninilchik Rivers and Deep Creek report poor catches of silver salmon. The run should be winding down over the next week. Fishing for Dolly Varden has been slow in the lower stream sections but has been fair to good on the upper sections. Try using small bright spinners, or fly patterns that resemble fish such as muddler minnows or egg patterns.
- Some steelhead trout have been caught in the lower sections of the streams. Remember that steelhead trout hooked in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Stariski Creek and the Ninilchik River must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
- The numerous Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes provide great fishing opportunities. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the Sport Fish website and at ADF&G offices.
- In the Homer area, try the Bridge Creek Reservoir for Dolly Varden. A variety of gear is effective including bait, spinners and fly fishing gear.
- Halibut fishing is fair to poor in Kachemak Bay, but good if you travel to central or southern Cook Inlet from Homer, or fish out of Anchor Pt. or Deep Creek.
- Try fishing around and during slack tide. This allows anglers to keep their bait on the bottom using less weight. Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
Reports of "mushy" halibut, where the flesh is very soft or flabby, sometimes with pockets of jelly-like tissue, are declining. Anglers report that the fish are mushy after being cooked as well. ADF&G has not yet tested these fish, but reports are similar to incidences in 1998 and 2005, which the ADF&G pathology lab diagnosed as a nutritional myopathy. The incidence of flabby or jelly-like flesh can be high for anglers fishing in certain locales, so if you catch a fish that feels flabby, release it immediately unharmed. You might consider moving to a different area to avoid these fish.
- Silver salmon fishing in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay has been poor to fair at Flat Island, Point Pogibshi and offshore. Trolling has been the most effective way at targeting silver salmon.
- The silver salmon run in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit is over. A few anglers have still been fishing in the lagoon.
- Anglers are reporting good catches of feeder kings near Bluff Point.
- Popular trolling set-ups for king and silver salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.
- Lingcod fishing has been fair to good. Many anglers target lingcod near the rock piles and pinnacles by Elizabeth Island and Kennedy Entrance. There is a minimum size limit of 35 inches and a bag limit of 2 per day/2 in possession. A gaff may not be used on any fish intended for release.
- Cod, pollock, and a variety of flounders are plentiful off the end of the Homer Spit. Try using herring or jigs for the best success. Familiarize yourself with the identification of the different species so you know which ones will be good to eat.
- Tanner crab fisheries will remain open through the 2011-2012 season in Cook Inlet Area waters west of the Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi line, including Kamishak and North Gulf Coast waters. A free permit is required and available at Fish and Game offices in Homer, Soldotna and Anchorage and at the Fish House in Seward.
- Individuals possessing a Tanner crab harvest permit should retain the permit if they plan to fish in open waters. However, individuals that do not plan to fish in areas outside Kachemak Bay are encouraged to return their permits to ADF&G Homer office as soon as possible.
- The next tides suitable for clamming are in the evenings September 26-29.
- Razor clams can be found on the sandy beaches from Kasilof to Homer and are exposed on any minus tides. Tides of minus -2.0 feet or lower are suggested.
- The Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast sport and personal use Tanner crab fisheries are now open. A free permit is required and available at Fish & Game offices in Homer, Soldotna and Anchorage and at the Fish House in Seward.
- The Kachemak Bay coho salmon gillnet fishery opened August 16. A permit is required and available at the Homer ADF&G office.
- The China Poot personal use fishery is closed.
Good luck fishing!!
This concludes the Homer - Lower Kenai Peninsula fishing forecast.
The Fish and Game web page was redesigned. Below are some useful links.
Fishing regulations
Fish identification
Weir counts and sonar estimates
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