Kodiak Fishing Report: Good Coho Fishing On Island’s Rivers

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

Kodiak Fishing Report

September 12, 2023

Freshwater Fishing 

• Coho are in most rivers around the road system with Pasagshak, Olds and American getting most of the effort. Bait has been the ticket for most folks fishing rivers to get around the pink salmon and find coho.
• Monashka Bay has lots of coho as well, but few in either Pillar or Monashka creeks. We will need some significant rain for them to move upriver.
• Buskin River weir counts are low, but there are decent numbers of fish in the lower river. The water is very warm and with the pinks dying off now fish are pretty lethargic. Fishing has been good at the mouth at times, however.
• Dolly fishing continues to be good throughout the road system with Salonie and Buskin being the latest hot spots.

Saltwater Fishing 

• Silvers are schooling up at Mill Bay, Mission Beach and in Monashka Bay with excellent fishing in the last week. Most success in Monashka has been from boats but fishing from shore at Mission and Mill Bay has been good.
• King salmon fishing is still good by most reports with a lot of small kings moving in recently. The Fingers, Chiniak and Kalsin Bay have each been good, though some reports indicate fishing is still sporadic.
• Halibut fishing has been reported as slow near town with a lot of folks saying their usual go-to spots have been dead. Sometimes, in years with large pink runs, halibut can be found inside bays in shallow waters near rivers.
• Rockfish and lingcod are still being found throughout Chiniak Bay, with a lot of lingcod being picked up trolling.

Local Lakes 

Rainbow fishing in the Bell’s Flats lakes has been good this summer with Aurel and Cicely producing the best fishing by most accounts. You can access these lakes from a trail that starts near the end of Middle Bay Dr. by the gravel pit entrance or from the end of Sargent Creek Rd. It’s a 15-20 minute walk up from Middle Bay Dr. and a bit longer from Sargent Creek. The ADF&G office in Kodiak has maps of the trails to each of our stocked lakes available.

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-4-50-23 opens the Pasagshak River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023, 2 fish per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-46-23 increases the bag limit for sockeye salmon in the Saltery Cove drainage to 10 per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-26-23 closed the Buskin River drainage to fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-23 reduced the nonresident rockfish bag and possession limits on the eastside of Afognak and Kodiak islands from Big Fort Island near Shuyak Island to Dangerous Cape on Kodiak Island. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 pm. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-4-19-23 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. Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and 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 in before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Kodiak Area Office at (907) 486-1880.