Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince William Sound

September 12, 2024

Fall Fishing Report-Final

This is the last fishing report for the 2024 fishing season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available in the spring. For current seasonal information, please contact the Anchorage office at (907) 267-2218.

General Area Description: includes all waters between Cape Fairfield and Cape Suckling.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Coho (silver) salmon fishing has been fair to good at Alaganik Slough (Cordova area) and coho are spread throughout the entire slough. Anglers have been having success at the lower boat launch (mile 16) on the Alaganik. On the lower river, fishing on the rising and falling tides can increase your success. Try soaking salmon roe on the bottom.
• Eyak River (Cordova area) is producing a few coho salmon, but fishing has been slow. High and dirty water may impact success and anglers should expect to put in extra time to catch fish.
• Coho salmon has been fair to good at Ibeck Creek (Cordova area). Anglers are reporting catching limits when casting chartreuse or pink spinners or while soaking salmon roe on the bottom.
  • Reminder: The coho salmon bag limit for the Copper River Highway streams remains at 3 fish per day and in possession.

Cutthroat Trout/Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden are entering from many Prince William Sound streams in good numbers. Try fishing egg pattern near schools of spawning salmon.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut are still available throughout Prince William Sound, but fishing is slowing down. Try fishing at the entrances of a bay at depths of 150-300’ with a jig tipped with herring.
• Halibut fishing has been fair to good in the outside waters of Prince William Sound when weather has allowed. Anglers are reporting catches of mostly small halibut and catch rates have started to decrease. Anglers have been successful by setting a chum bag and fishing a large herring on a circle hook.

Lingcod

Anglers continue to catch legal-sized lingcod late into the season by jigging over rocky pinnacles in the outside water of Prince William Sound.

Rockfish

Fishing has been good for pelagic rockfish near the entrances to Prince William Sound.

Salmon

• Overall, fishing for coho salmon has been very slow in Prince William Sound from a boat. Anglers are having mixed success near Esther Island, Pigot Point, and Passage Canal. If you are fishing from a boat expect to put in extra effort.
  • Attention: Effective Saturday August 24, the possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, is 6 fish per day and 12 fish in possession, of which only 1 per day and in possession may be a coho salmon in Prince William Sound excluding the Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega Terminal Harvest Areas.
• Coho salmon are arriving at Fleming Spit (Cordova area) in small numbers and schools have been observed on the incoming tides.
• Coho salmon have been reported in Passage Canal including at the head of the bay and near Cove Creek. Fishing has been spotty, but anglers are having success casting large spoons.
• Fishing for coho salmon from shore at Allison Point and near the harbor in Valdez has been slow to fair.
  • Attention: Effective Friday, September 13, the Valdez Terminal Harvest Area, including Allison Point and the Valdez Boat Harbor, is closed to the retention of coho salmon.

Local Lakes

Blueberry and Thompson have been great for lake fishing. Fishing for rainbow trout in both lakes has been good to excellent. Anglers may also find lake trout in Blueberry and Arctic grayling in Thompson. These lakes can produce very good in the fall.

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• NEW: Emergency Order 2-SS-6-62-24 restricts the retention of coho salmon in the Valdez vicinity - Terminal Harvest Area through October 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-6-60-24 reduces the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to 6 fish per day, of which only 1 fish per day and 1 in possession may be a coho salmon in the waters of Prince William Sound excluding the Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega Terminal Harvest Areas.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-6-52-24 reduces the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to six fish per day and 12 fish in possession, of which only three per day, and 6 in possession may be a coho salmon in the Valdez vicinity - Terminal Harvest Area.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-6-35-24 increases the sockeye salmon bag and possession limit to 12 fish per day, 24 in possession in the Coghill River drainage. Additionally, this emergency order reduces the area closed to fishing adjacent to the Coghill River weir to 50 feet.
• Emergency Order 2-SHR-6-03-24 reduced the number of shrimp pots allowed to harvest shrimp in the Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp fishery. The pot limit per person and per vessel has been reduced to three pots; however, of those three pots only two pots can be set in areas of historical high effort including areas near the Port of Valdez, near the Port of Whittier, and in portions of Port Wells and Culross Passage.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-6-04-24 reduces the rockfish bag and possession limits in Prince William Sound to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, one in possession can be nonpelagic. In addition, from April 1 through June 30, 2023, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained.

Don't forget to purchase your 2024 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.