Yakutat Fishing Report: Silvers Biting On The Situk

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

Yakutat Fishing Report
August 27, 2024

Freshwaters

Salmon

Fishing for coho salmon or “silvers” is good on the Situk River right now. Good numbers of coho have been observed in the Situk since last week. The 10-day forecast shows the probabililty of large amounts of rain over the next week. Get the fish while you can before water levels rise too high. Try using spinners or jigs with single hooks early in the morning or during the evening hours.

Fishing for pink salmon is slowing down quickly on the Situk River. The lower river is the best place to hook fresher fish compared to the upper river. Try using anything with a single barbed hook that has color or dances around.

Saltwaters

King Salmon

Sportfishing for king salmon is CLOSED in Yakutat area marine waters. Fishing was closed effective Monday, August 26th. No king salmon may be retained and any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Coho Salmon

Coho fishing remains decent to good with anglers getting anywhere from 3-6 fish a day. Anglers are doing good outside of Kahntaak Island and Ocean Cape. Fishing should be good inside Yakutat Bay for the next few weeks. There are alot of storms forecasted this week which will make it difficult to get out to fish so be careful. Most anglers troll spoons or herring behind a flasher, or try mooching herring or jigging small dart jigs.

Halibut

Halibut fishing has been a struggle recently with smaller fish being caught and more incliment weather making getting out to the grounds more difficult. Fishing success should start to decline with fish thinning out over the entire Yakutat Bay and along the coastline. For halibut, try sitting on anchor while using herring, salmon carcasses, or squid/octopus for bait, or try drifting with jigs baited with herring or unbaited.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing is excellent in the Yakutat area. Lingcod are spread out throughout the area but like to hang out near rocky structures or pinnacles. Typically using herring as bait, or using any type of jig will work.

Rockfish

Fishing for black rockfish is excellent in the Yakutat area. The best location to catch them are along the pinnacles and rocky structures found underwater along the entrance to Yakutat Bay. Try using small dart jigs or mooching herring near shallow rocky structures.

Check out the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

For further information, please get in touch with the Yakutat Area Sport Fish management biologist Jason Pawluk at (907) 784-3222.