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Alaska Department of Fish & Game's
Southcentral - Kodiak
Weekly Fishing Forecast
Disclaimer
This report is reproduced from information provided by Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Kodiak Office, and will be updated weekly throughout the fishing season. The same message can be accessed on their Record-A-Phone "Sportfishing Forecast" at (907) 486-5176.
| DATE: Week of MAY 22, 2013 |
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- Effective June 1, in the Ayakulik River drainage, king salmon sport fishing is restricted to a daily bag limit of one fish and an annual limit of two.
- Effective June 1, in the Karluk River drainage, including Karluk Lagoon, sport fishing for king salmon is restricted to catch and release only. All king salmon caught must be released without being removed from the water. In addition, the use of bait is prohibited for all sport fishing downstream of Karluk Lake.
SALMON
- Department of Fish and Game counting weirs on the Buskin, Afognak, Karluk, Ayakulik, and Dog Salmon rivers will be installed between May 15 and May 22 to count returns of sockeye salmon. King salmon returns will also be counted at Karluk and Ayakulik weirs. Current escapement goals for these two runs are 3,000 – 6,000 and 4,000-7,000 fish, respectively. The current Buskin River sockeye salmon escapement goal is 5,000-8,000 fish.
- In anticipation of relatively poor returns in 2013, sport fishing for king salmon in the Karluk River drainage (including Karluk Lagoon) is restricted to catch and release only. In addition, the use of bait for all sport fishing is prohibited downstream of Karluk Lake.
- Poor returns are also expected this year for the Ayakulik River king salmon run. Consequently, king salmon sport fishing is restricted to a daily bag limit of one fish over 20”, and an annual limit of two.
- Relatively healthy returns are anticipated for the Kodiak Road Zone’s Buskin River sockeye salmon run, which usually peaks during mid-June, and in the last 10 years has averaged about 15,000 fish. The daily bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon within the Kodiak Road Zone is two fish.
- Now is the time to try for that first sockeye of the year, there are reports of a few sockeye near the beaches and in the Buskin River. It’s a bit early, but more should be showing up any day now.
DOLLY VARDEN, Trout, Grayling
- Dolly Varden are beginning to leave their over-winter fresh waters. Recent fishing success has been reported on the Buskin River at the outlet of Buskin Lake. Dollies are also often caught during early May at Buskin River above Bridge #6 at the “Beaver Pond”. By early June Dollies typically are also caught along beaches at Pillar and Monashka creeks and Mission Lake. By late June, Dolly Varden should be available in salt waters near most rivers along the Kodiak road system, the beaches of Roslyn and Myrtle creeks being two favorite locations for local anglers.
LAKE Fishing
- May is an excellent time to fish for rainbow trout in the stocked lakes along the Kodiak road zone. During and shortly after ice-out, the fish travel along shoal areas in search of food. Visit lower elevation lakes for rainbow fishing, since some of the higher elevation lakes may still be frozen and ice thickness is a safety hazard. It’s always a good idea to check water temperatures as fish will be more active in warmer lakes. Although ADF&G currently stocks only sterile juvenile trout, some lakes with a stocking history dating to the 1950s may also contain spawning populations of adult fish. Rainbows typically spawn during the month of May, and anglers wishing to avoid catching these fish should target their efforts away from flowing waters into or out of the lakes.
HALIBUT
- Halibut fishing reportedly has been picking up a little. As fish move into shallower water, fishing should get progressively better for the remainder of May and during June.
SALMON
- Trolling for Chinook (king) salmon in Kodiak’s marine waters has become very popular in recent years. Kings can be fished successfully year-round, though fishing tends to be spotty and difficult to predict. Recent reports indicate that trolling has been slow, but the fishing appears to be picking up with anglers reporting catching kings in Chiniak Bay, particularly in Kalsin Bay and between Woody and Long islands.
- The current near-shore abundance of herring can occasionally produce results for anglers fishing kings from local beaches. Shore fishing along the Pasagshak River beach is one of the more popular destinations for this prospect.
- Some of the best-known trolling spots along the road system are Cape Chiniak, Buoy #4 and the deeper waters on both sides of Long Island. Kodiak king salmon average 20 pounds, but fish up to 70 pounds are occasionally caught.
Other Saltwater Fishing
- Black rockfish can currently be caught at depths of 10 fathoms or less near kelp beds along rock pinnacles and other natural or man made structures. Rockfish are also frequently caught from shore at locations such as the breakwater barrier shielding St. Paul Harbor.
- Aglers are reminded that the lingcod season does not open until July 1.
Area webpage: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/areas/kodiak/kodhome.cfm
Salmon and trout identification pages: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/2001/html/pdfs/01ayksalmonid.pdf
River levels: http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?pacr
Lake stocking: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm
Maps to stocked lakes: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/LAKEMAPS/HTML/LAKEMAP1.stm
Southcentral informational handouts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pubs.cfm
Safety in bear country: http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/hunt_trap/hunting/huntak/huntak14.cfm
Enforcement: http://www.dps.state.ak.us/fwp/index.asp
Regulations: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/reghome.cfm
Northern pike: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/areas/anch/pikepage.cfm
OEO/ADA statement: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/oeostate.php
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