Coho fishing is good in the island’s rivers

The following is provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Kodiak Fishing Report

September 12, 2023

Freshwater fishing

• Coho are found in most of the rivers surrounding the trail system, with the Passagechuck, Olds, and American getting most of the action. Bait has been the ticket for most people fishing rivers to hook up with pink salmon and find coho.
• Monashka Bay has plenty of coho trees as well, but few in Pillar or Monashka creeks. We’ll need some heavy rain for them to move upriver.
• Buskin River weir numbers are low, but there are good numbers of fish in the lower river. The water is very warm and with the pink dying, the fish have become very lethargic. However, the fishing has been good in the mouth at times.
• Dolly fishing remains good throughout the trail system, with Saloni and Buskin being the newest hotspots.

Saltwater fishing

• Silver is learning at Mill Bay, Mission Beach and Monashka Bay with excellent fishing last week. Most of the success at Monashka has been by boat, but fishing from shore at Mission and Mill Bay has been good.
• Salmon fishing is still good by most reports, with a lot of small kings moving in recently. The Fingers, Chiniac and Calcine Bay areas have been good, although some reports indicate the fishing is still spotty.
• Halibut fishing has been reported to be slow near the city, with many people saying the places they used to go have died out. Occasionally, in years when pink runoff is large, halibut can be found within bays in shallow water near rivers.
• Rockfish and cod are still found throughout Cheniac Bay, with many lingcod being caught by trolling.

Local lakes

Rainbow fishing on Bell’s Flats lakes has been good this summer with Aurel and Cicely producing their best fishing ever. You can access these lakes from a trail that starts near the end of Middle Bay Dr. Via the gravel pit entrance or from the end of Sargent Creek Road. It’s a 15-20 minute walk from Middle Bay Dr. And a little longer than Sargent Creek. The ADF&G office in Kodiak has maps of trails to each of our lakes.

Emergency orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before setting off on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-50-23 Opens the Passagchuck River drainage for sockeye salmon fishing until 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 31, 2023, two fish per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-46-23 increases the salmon bag limit in the Saltery Cove drainage area to 10 bags per day.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-4-26-23 closed the Buskin River drainage to salmon fishing until 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-RF-4-17-23 reduced Non-resident Rockfish bag and possession limits on the east side of Afognak and Kodiak Islands from Big Fort Island near Chuyak Island to Cape Danger on Kodiak Island. This emergency order is in effect until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023.
• Emergency Order No. 2-KS-4-19-23 Close the Karluk River drainage (including the lake and its outlet spillways) and the Ayakolik River drainage to king salmon fishing and limit fishing gear to only one unbaited artificial lure and one hook through 11:59 p.m. Sunday. December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 Sport Fishing License and King’s Seal! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2023 Sport Fishing License and King’s Seal through the ADF&G online store and print them from the comfort of your home. Also be sure to review the Emergency Orders, Advisory Declarations, and the 2023 Southwest Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before heading out.

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