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Alaska Department of Fish & Game's
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
Weekly Fishing Forecast

Disclaimer

This report is reproduced from information provided by Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Anchorage 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) 267-2516.


DATE:  Week of JUNE 30 to JULY 6, 2009 


Emergency Orders and Regulation Changes

  • Waters upstream of the Eyak River dam to a point 200 yards downstream of the bridge are fly-fishing only. Please see the 2009 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more information.
  • Cutthroat and rainbow/steelhead trout fishing opened June 15. Check page 61 of the 2009 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more information about fishing for trout on the Copper River Delta.
  • Shrimp permits are mandatory for all user groups (sport, subsistence, and personal use) in Prince William Sound. Permits are free of charge and available at popular sporting goods retailers in Valdez and local Fish and Game offices in Anchorage, Cordova, and Soldotna.
  • Rockfish daily bag limit in Prince William Sound from May 1 through September 15 has been reduced to 4 per day, 8 in possession, of which only 2 per day may be non-pelagic species. The first two non pelagic rockfish caught must be retained.
  • Lingcod fishing opens on July 1. The limit for lingcod is 2/day and 4 in possession. Only fish with a minimum overall length of 35 inches may be harvested. Please check the regulations.


FRESHWATER
Salmon
  • Anglers in the Cordova area found sockeye throughout the streams on the Copper River delta this weekend with excellent fishing being had on the Eyak River and Alaganik Slough. Try dark coho flies for sockeye during sunny days and when rivers are low and clear.
  • Sockeye numbers in the Coghill River remained high through the weekend although reports on fishing are limited.

Resident Fish - Trout & Dolly Varden
  • Cutthroat trout are concentrated in the pools near stream confluences and beaver dams. Try small fry patterns mimicking juvenile coho and sticklebacks.
  • Dolly Varden fishing continues to be good in the Cordova area and fish are being caught in many of the delta streams. Small silver spinners and spoons work well for catching these Dollys. Fly-fishers should "match the hatch" and try smolt or fry patterns.
  • Lakes and streams throughout Prince William Sound Dolly Varden this time of year.

SALTWATER
Halibut, Lingcod & Rockfish

  • Halibut angling throughout the sound remained spotty this last weekend, especially in the eastern half of the sound. As always, the areas around the ocean entrances (Hinchinbrook Entrance and Montague Strait, for example) produced the most consistent action. The current leader in the Valdez halibut derby is holding strong after three weeks at 275 pounds.
  • Small chickens continue to be caught in Orca Inlet and off of the ferry terminal dock in Cordova.
  • Keep your bait or lure on the bottom. This is easiest during slack tides.
  • Lingcod fishing opens this Wednesday, July 1! Check the regulations for size limits.
  • For lingcod, try large jigs off steep rocky shoals such as those found around Knight, Montague and Hinchinbrook Islands.

Salmon
  • King salmon returns at stocked sites in Cordova and Valdez have been slow this year. However, patient and persistent anglers fishing an hour before and after high tide may be rewarded.
  • Try trolling for king salmon off headlands and near shore. Use a flasher and small herring. The presence of killer whales will take salmon off the bite.
  • Sockeye numbers are spiking at Main Bay however reports from anglers are sparse.
  • Look for sockeye to start showing up at Eshamy in the coming weeks.
  • Chum and a few pinks are already in a few streams in the eastern part of the sound. Staging areas in the estuaries of these streams should produce some fun filled action this week.

Dolly Varden
  • Stream mouths are good bets this time of year to catch Dolly Varden as they feed on emigrating salmon smolt; Hartney Creek near Cordova is a good bet. Try silver spinners and spoons; start fishing just before the peak of the high tide and fish through the first hour or so of the ebb.

Shrimp & Shellfish
  • Shrimping has slowed down in the Valdez area although deeper sets have produced some good catches.
  • Shrimping has been good out of Whittier, but these tasty shellfish are, for the most part, in deeper water.
  • Bays with large pink salmon runs will be good areas to target in the coming weeks as spawned-out pink salmon carcasses start to build.
  • Report all suspected shrimp pot theft to your local fish and game office or a state trooper.
  • Remember to weight down your trap so that the current won't sweep it away into deeper water.


Helpful Links

Area webpage: HYPERLINK "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/AREAS/PWS/AHPR2PWS.cfm" http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/AREAS/PWS/AHPR2PWS.cfm
Rockfish identification pages: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/2001/html/pdfs/01scrockfish10pdf.pdf
Salmon and trout identification pages: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/2001/html/pdfs/01ayksalmonid.pdf
Sonar estimates/weir counts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm
River levels: http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?pacr
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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