Youth-Only Fishing Days In Southcentral Alaska

Homer Spit photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The following press release is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game: 

Homer – Two youth-only sport fisheries are scheduled in June. The first will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit and the second on Wednesday, June 7, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:59 p.m. at the Ninilchik River.

Youth–only sport fisheries are open to anglers age 15 and younger and were established by the Alaska State Legislature and implemented by the Alaska Board of Fisheries to provide special opportunity for young people to catch fish.

During the June youth-only fisheries, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff will be present at the times listed below to help young anglers gear up and fish for king salmon. Fishing rods will also be available for kids to check out and use. Other activities will include tying egg loops and fishing knots, and learning the best way for handling and releasing fish.

At the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon, the youth-only area will be posted and the remaining area of the lagoon will be open for fishing by anglers of all ages. ADF&G staff will be present at the Fishing Lagoon from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All other sport fishing regulations remain in effect for the Fishing Lagoon and are found on page 72 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet. Another youth-only fishing day will be held in the lagoon onSaturday, August 5.

The Ninilchik River, youth-only fishery will extend from the mouth upstream to the ADF&G markers near the Sterling Highway Bridge. ADF&G staff will be present at the river section under Sterling Highway Bridge from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Sport fishing regulations for the Ninilchik River youth-only fishery are found on page 69 of the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet.