Area Sport Fishing Reports
North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay

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: Salt waters within 200 miles of shore from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh waters between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Salmon fishing in the open portions of Resurrection River and Salmon Creek has been slow, but a few coho (silver) salmon are entering the creek daily. It is expected to remain slow compared to previous years.
  • Attention: Snagging is not permitted in freshwater and salmon must be hooked in the mouth. Effective Monday, August 24^th, the bag limit for coho salmon in this section of freshwater will be reduced to 1 per day and 1 in possession, by emergency order.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present in Seward streams. Fishing has been slow, but anglers may find success by fishing egg fly patterns or small spinners.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been fair to good for anglers traveling outside of Resurrection Bay, when weather has allowed. Anglers have been returning with catches of mostly smaller halibut, but fishing is beginning to slow down. Fishing a large herring on a circle hook with a chum bag on anchor has been the best method for halibut.
• Halibut fishing inside Resurrection Bay has been slow to fair. Try drifting jigs tipped with herring near drop-offs and kelp beds near the outer portions of Resurrection Bay.

Lingcod

Anglers continue to catch legal lingcod late into the season. Anglers should try fishing large twister-tail jigs tipped with herring while drifting over pinnacles.

Rockfish

Rockfish catches have been excellent near the entrance of Resurrection Bay and along the Gulf Coast. Anglers are having no trouble filling their limit of pelagic rockfish.

Other Finfish

There have been a few reports of Pacific (gray) cod catches, but not as many early in the summer.

Salmon

• King salmon fishing has been fair to good inside Resurrection Bay. It has been good fishing compared to previous years, but the kings are on the smaller side. Anglers are mainly catching king salmon while trolling and mooching inside Resurrection Bay.
• Coho salmon are available in Resurrection Bay. Fishing has been slow for boat anglers. There has been mixed success while trolling closer to Seward.
• Anglers are reporting fair catches of coho salmon from shore near the lagoon outflow. It has been hit-or-miss as schools of fish move in and out with the tide, so expect to put in your time.
  • Attention: Effective Monday August 24^th, the bag limit for coho salmon in Resurrection Bay, including from shore, is be reduced to 3 per day and 3 in possession by emergency order. The bag limit for coho salmon in the North Gulf Coast (outside of Resurrection Bay) is be reduced to 1 per day and 1 in possession.

Local Lakes

• First Lake was stocked with rainbow trout early in the summer and most fish have been caught out, so expect very slow fishing. Try casting small spinners or fishing bait under a bobber.
• Troop Lake can be accessed by an easy 1-mile hike. Rainbow trout can be good where the trail meets the lake. This lake can be very productive in the early fall. Small spinners or streamer fly patterns work well.

Special species information

New in regulation as of 2024: the rockfish bag and possession limits in North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay has been changed to three per day and six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession can be nonpelagic.

Emergency Orders

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-8-59-24 reduces the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to six fish per day of which only three fish per day, and three in possession may be a coho salmon in the salt waters of Resurrection Bay north of a line from Aialik Cape to Cape Resurrection. In the salt waters south of a line between Cape Resurrection and Aialik Cape bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, is six fish, of which only one per day and in possession may be coho salmon. In addition, bag limit for coho salmon in the freshwater drainages in Resurrection Bay is reduced to one coho salmon.

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.