Kodiak Alaska Salmon, Halibut & Trout Weekly Fishing Forecast and Report

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 AUGUST 17th, 2011

Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes

For full details of all emergency orders that have been issued this year, click on the links in the ÒKodiak Emergency OrdersÓ box, above.
Effective June 15, in the Afognak River drainage, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limit is increased to 10 fish.
Effective June 17, in the Buskin River drainage, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limit is increased to five fish.

FRESHWATERS

SALMON

King salmon fishing at the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers is now closed for the remainder of the year.
Sockeye salmon weirs are now closed at Saltery and Pasagshak rivers. The bag and possession limit for Saltery River drainage sockeye salmon remains at five fish.
Enhanced king salmon returns along the Kodiak road system at the American and Olds rivers as well as Monashka Creek are over for the season.
Salmon counting weirs are currently operating on the Afognak (Litnik), Buskin, Karluk, Ayakulik, Olga (Upper Station) and Dog Salmon rivers. Anglers can find updated counts for most Kodiak weirs at http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FishCounts/.
Pink salmon fishing along the Kodiak road system is now in full swing, with large numbers of fish now present in most streams and near shore saltwaters of Womans and Kalsin bays. The beaches at Olds River, Russian, Pillar and Myrtle creeks are currently excellent places to catch pinks.
Silver salmon reportedly are just beginning to appear at Shuyak and North Afognak islands, and at least one angler reported catching silvers over the last weekend at the Pasagshak River.

DOLLY VARDEN, Trout, Grayling

Dolly Varden are now in local fresh waters but may also be found in salt waters along beaches near most rivers along the Kodiak road system. The beaches of Roslyn, Myrtle and Chiniak creeks are favorite locations for local anglers.

LAKE Fishing

August is an excellent time to fish rainbow trout in the stocked lakes along the Kodiak road zone. Check water temperatures at your rainbow trout fishing destination, since most fish will be found near shore in warmer lakes, while deep water is usually a better bet during daytime in lakes with cooler temperatures. During early evening rainbows in deep water lakes will move inshore to feed on insect hatches.

SALTWATERS

HALIBUT & SALMON

Halibut fishing reportedly continues to be excellent. Anglers typically catch halibut at various locations within Chiniak Bay, including "buoy #4", the north end of Long Island, as well as and the "Three Humps area to the east. Halibut fishing should remain productive throughout August.

SALMON
- Trolling for Chinook (king) salmon in KodiakÕs 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 trolling success has improved dramatically, especially off Cape Chiniak and Cape Gravelle. Buoy #4 and the deeper waters on both sides of Long Island typically are also productive areas.
- Kodiak king salmon average 20 pounds, but fish up to 70 pounds are occasionally caught.
- The annual Kodiak King Salmon Derby ended on July 31.
- Silver salmon trolling this year in Kodiak waters reportedly continues to be slow, but in a typical year anglers frequently hook up with saltwater silvers by now. Buoy #4 and waters between Woody and Long islands are usually good bets for slivers.
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.
- The Kodiak lingcod season opened on July 1.
Helpful Links

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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