Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak

October 3, 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.

Freshwater Fishing

• Coho runs in Road System river are average, there is a possibility of pushes of coho all the way through October. The Buskin, Pillar Creek, Monashka, Olds and Salonie have all seen decent returns through October.
  • Reminder: other than stocked runs, the coho bag limit reduced to 1 fish by regulation on September 16.
• The Buskin weir was pulled on September 30, however there are still fish in the lower river and fish coming in with the larger tides. The best fishing will be after rain events.
• The American River was closed by Emergency Order due to a weak run. Dolly fishing is allowed, but bait is prohibited.
• Saltery Cove and Pasagshak had some of the better coho runs this season and fish should continue to come in through most of October.
• ADF&G staff will be out monitoring spawning coho in most road system drainages this fall as well as tagging fish in Lake Rose Teed.
• Dolly fishing at the Buskin has been great, with the Lake and upper river having lots of dollies. They are starting to get some color to them. There are quite a few dollies to be found at the American and Salonie as well. Remember that bait is prohibited in Road System drainages on November 1.

Saltwater Fishing

• King salmon fishing picked up at the end of September with a few fish caught between Woody and Long Islands. Buoy 4 and the Fingers is often a popular fall/winter spot when the weather allows.
• Halibut fishing slowed down a fair amount in September but should pick back up in October and into early November before fish head for deeper waters.
• Lingcod fishing, has been excellent with lots of fish in the 15lb range. Halibut are being found at most reefs around Chiniak Bay and beyond. Remember Lingcod season closes January 1.
• Rockfish are also plentiful and remember that the new rockfish regulations are very similar to salmon bag limits. You can have a total limit of 5 rockfish, that can be any combination of species as long as you have no more than 2 of each species or only 1 yelloweye.

Local Lakes

Fall rainbow fishing can be excellent in our stocked lakes. Bait is allowed in stocked lakes year round as well. Check out some of the higher elevation lakes before they freeze: Heitman, Lee, Aurel, Cicely and Caroline are all great fall fishing for rainbows.

Special Species Information

• Coho salmon bag limits in the Kodiak Road Zone change throughout the season. Most rivers change from a 2 fish bag limit to a 1 fish bag limit on September 16 annually.
• Exceptions to this are that the stocked waters in Pillar and Monashka creeks and saltwaters of Monashka Bay, Mill Bay and Mission Beach remain at 2 year-round, as well as Saltery, Miam and Sacramento drainages.
• Road Zone waters also include saltwaters in front of most local drainages such as Buskin. See the map on page 23 of the Southwest Alaska Regulations Summary Booklet.
• New rockfish regulations took effect June 1 for Kodiak and Afognak waters north of Dangerous and Outlet Capes. This includes all the waters of Afognak, Raspberry and Shuyak Islands as well as Chiniak, Ugak and Marmot Bays and all of Whale Pass and Kupreanof Strait. It is also in effect for all anglers, both resident and non-resident.
• Anglers fishing in these waters can keep 5 rockfish per day, but for only 2 can be of a single species. This is similar to salmon bag limits in the Kodiak Road Zone and an example would be that an angler could harvest 2 black rockfish, 2 dusky rockfish and a yelloweye. Species ID guides are available in the Southwest Alaska Regulation Booklet, on the ADF&G website and in the Kodiak ADF&G office.
• The standard bag limit for non-pelagic and yelloweye is still in effect Island wide, only 2 of your rockfish bag limit may be non-pelagic species and only one of these may be a yelloweye.

Emergency Orders

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

• Emergency Order 2-SS-4-64-24 closed the American River drainage to sport fishing for coho salmon and prohibited the use of bait in the drainage.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-53-24 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to ten fish in the South Olga Lakes (Upper Station) drainage. The combined bag limit for salmon is ten fish, of which no more than five can be a combination of coho, chum or pink salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-24 reduced the bag and possession limit for a single species of rockfish to 2 per day, 4 in possession north of Outlet Cape and Dangerous Cape. This emergency order is in effect from Saturday June 1, 2024 through 11:59 pm. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-16-24 closed the Karluk River drainage (including the lagoon and its outlet stream) and the Ayakulik River drainage to king salmon fishing and restricted fishing gear to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-37-24 increases the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to four fish in the Pasagshak River drainage. The combined bag limit for sockeye, chum and pink salmon remains at five fish, 20 inches or greater in length, of these, two may be coho salmon through September 15. From September 16 through December 31, the bag limit for coho salmon is one fish, 20 inches or greater in length. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-38-24 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king salmon, to 10 fish in the Saltery Cove drainage all of which can be sockeye salmon, but only 5 may be chum and pink salmon, and two can be coho salmon, 20 inches or greater in length. Anglers may not harvest more than 10 salmon per day or possess more than 10 total salmon, all species combined. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

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 ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.