The weekly sport fish report is written by the Alaska Department of Fish &Game and made available to the public on a weekly basis. For more information of sport fishing regulations, visit adfg.alaska.gov.
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King salmon fishing open in the Juneau area
King salmon fishing is open in the waters of District 11 and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock, and District 12 north of the latitude of Point Couverden on June 15. King salmon fishing in District 15 north of the latitude of Sherman Rock is still closed.
Bag, possession and annual limits for the Juneau area for 2017 are as follows:
Alaskan Resident
The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. No annual limits.
Nonresident
The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident anglers shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
From Oct. 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018 resident sport anglers may use two rods when fishing for king salmon.
Taku River king salmon, like other Southeast Alaska king salmon stocks, are still experiencing a period of low productivity. The 2017 in river sampling for Taku River king salmon indicates that marine survivals are still poor and escapement is still low. The projected terminal run abundance is predicted to be below spawning escapement goal range (19,000-36,000 large fish) and below the management target of 27,500 Taku River king salmon (the midpoint of the spawning escapement goal range). However, historic run timing indicates that most of the Taku king salmon have passed upstream into freshwater by this time, thus allowing for easing of sport fishing restrictions in Juneau area marine waters.
Conservative king salmon regulations for the Haines, Skagway, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan areas, announced on March 6, 2017, are still in effect in order to protect other wild Alaska king salmon stocks.
King salmon sport limits will not be increased in the Juneau area within the designated saltwater harvest area (THA) in 2017.
Daily bag and possession limits will revert to the Southeast Alaska regional king salmon regulations described above. All king salmon must be 28 inches or greater in length
Fish Creek Pond is closed to sport fishing from July 1 until July 31, 2017.
Taking or attempting to take fish in the pond is prohibited.
Macauley Hatchery Area is closed to king salmon fishing from July 1 until Aug. 31, 2017.
Sport fishing for king salmon and snagging will be prohibited within a 300-yard radius of the Wayside Park Fishing Dock. King salmon may not be snagged, targeted, retained or possessed. King salmon caught while fishing for other species must be released immediately unharmed.
Due to concerns about low numbers of king salmon expected to return to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, and bag and possession limits for the designated saltwater harvest area will not be liberalized. This action is necessary to ensure that sufficient numbers of king salmon can be collected for broodstock needs.
Anglers are reminded that they can harvest four king salmon daily, four in possession, no size limit, for all freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system (except as noted above for Fish Creek Pond). Annual limits for king salmon do not apply in freshwater. Please note that some drainages crossed by the Juneau road system are closed to fishing. The list of closed drainages can be found on pages 20-21 of the 2017 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary.
Sport fishing emergency orders and news releases with relevant maps and bag and possession limits can be found at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm
Marine Boat fishing report: Salmon and bottom fishing
Salmon: With king salmon fishing reopened on June 15, the last two weeks have seen increased effort and catches of salmon in the area immediately around Juneau. King salmon have been harvested primarily from Auke Bay and Fritz Cove areas and the backside of Douglas Island from Outer Point to Middle Point. A few boats fishing the outer coast have also harvested king salmon. Chum salmon harvests were also reported from the backside of Douglas, Auke Bay and Amalga Harbor. A few pinks and the occasional coho are also being taken from Auke Bay, North Pass, Cordwood, and as far away as Freshwater Bay and Homeshore.
Bottom fishing: As the salmon begin to return to their natal streams of the inside waters around Juneau, halibut have been attracted to the area. Harvests of halibut have been reported from Scull Island, Favorite Reef, Vanderbilt Reef, Lynn Susters and Couverden Island. Rockfish harvests have included Dusky rockfish, Blacks and Darks, Quillbacks, Silvergreys and Yelloweye rockfish. Anglers are reminded that the daily bag and possession limits for pelagic rockfish is five daily with 10 in possession. Pelagic rockfish include: Dark, Dusky, Widow, Black, Blue and Yellowtail rockfish. Please see page 36 of the 2017 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary booklet for identification of these species. All other species are considered to be non-pelagic rockfish. Bag and possession limits for non-pelagics is one daily, one in possession. Please see page 11 of the Regulation Summary booklet.
Marine boat creel survey staff are sampling and conducting interviews at Juneau’s ports. This sport fishing information is being collected to help manage fishery stocks and to gain a better understanding of genetic makeup of fish being caught in the area. As always, your cooperation in this matter is very much appreciated.
Freshwater Fishing report: Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout
Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are being caught in saltwater near the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek as they feed on emigrating salmon smolts, sandlance and surf smelt. Using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners and spoons is the best way to catch these fish. There will also be some fish that do not leave their overwintering sites in area lakes and head for the ocean. While these “resident” fish may move around in the system to take advantage of food or environmental conditions, they will be present for your fishing pleasure all year. In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are two daily, two in possession with a 14-inch minimum and 22-inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are two daily, two in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2017 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.
