Bristol Bay Area Trout, Char Fishing ‘Good To Great’

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

Bristol Bay Fishing Report

July 11, 2023

Freshwater Fishing

• Fishing for resident species such as rainbow trout, arctic char, arctic grayling and northern pike is reported be good to great. Spinners, spoons and flies should work well until salmon spawning begins in late July and egg imitations become more productive.
• King salmon fishing on the Nushagak is reported to be poor to fair. Spinners, spoons, plugs, and bait should continue to work well. The Nushagak River is well past the peak of the king salmon return and bag, possession and annual limits have been reduced.
• King salmon fishing the Alagnak and Naknek rivers should be near the peak and fishing is reported to be fair. Spinners, spoons, plugs, and bait (where permitted) should work well.
• Sockeye salmon continue to show up in large numbers and should be abundant enough to target in most Bristol Bay drainages. Standard “flossing” methods that are applied to fishing sockeye throughout the state should be productive in Bristol Bay as well.

Saltwater Fishing

• Halibut fishing near Protection Point is reported to be slow with mixed success.
• Halibut fishing near Togiak Bay is reported to be good with fish up to 50lbs being caught.

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-RS-5-35-23 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination (chum, pink, coho salmon combined to total a bag limit of five fish) with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-5-36-23 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Wood River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-5-39-23 prohibiting sport fishing between ADF&G regulatory markers around the Alagnak River counting towers in the Alagnak River drainage, is effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-5-41-23 reducing the bag, possession, and annual limits for king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage to one per day, with an annual limit of two fish only one of which may be 28 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit for king salmon, less than 20 inches, remains at five fish, with no annual limit. These restrictions are effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023. Up to two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length but under 28 inches in length recorded before Friday, July 7, on the harvest portion of an Alaska sport fishing license or harvest record card do not count against the king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, two fish annual limit that may be harvested on or after July 7. King salmon 28 inches or greater in length harvested prior to July 7 count against the one fish annual limit for king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Bristol Bay Area Office at (907) 842-2427.