Kodiak Fishing Report Includes Saltery Sockeye, Good Pink, Dolly Varden Numbers

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

Kodiak Fishing Report

August 28, 2023

Freshwater Fishing 

• Coho are starting to show up around the road system with fish being found at Pillar Creek, Buskin, Pasaghsk and Mill Bay. There are a lot of pinks around and the silver will be hidden within the groups of pinks.
• Afognak and Shuyak coho runs have picked up with Shuyak, Paul’s Bay and Portage having decent numbers of fish. Litnik has been slow so far but picking up.
• There are still some sockeye coming in at Saltery and Pasagshak. Many anglers are reporting a mix of sockeye and coho. Remember that the coho bag limit at Saltery and Pasagshak is 2 per day until September 16, when it changes to one per day just like Pasagshak and other road system streams.
• Pink and Dolly fishing continues to be good throughout the road system with bright pinks still being found though they are getting harder to find. This is probably the last week to find many bright pinks if you are after them.

Saltwater Fishing 

• King salmon fishing keeps on going with the weather being the limiting factor most days now. Effort is at the Fingers now, but Chiniak and Outer Humpback rock have been productive too.
• Silvers fishing has picked up some but seems to be spotty. Many folks say they are getting equal numbers of kings and silvers around Buoy 4 and the Fingers.
• Halibut fishing seems a little slower near town, likely in part due to weather, but has been good around Whale Pass.
• Rockfish and lingcod are still being found throughout Chiniak bay when the weather allows.

Local Lakes 

Dragonfly Lake on Cliff Point offers relatively easy access and can be fished both from shore and from a float tube or a boat. You can drive an ATV or 4 wheel drive vehicle right to the lake or its just a 5 min walk from Cliff Point Road. Public access is allowed but be aware of the private property at the end of Cliff Point Road. Rainbow fishing has been good this summer at Dragonfly Lake by most accounts!

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.