North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay Fishing Report
May 26, 2023
General Area Description: Saltwater within 200 miles of the coast from the longitude of Gore Point to the longitude of Cape Fairfield. All fresh water between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield.
freshwater fishing
Thug
- The hooligan showed up in the Seward area at Resurrection River and Salmon Creek. Dipnetters have reported good hooligan catches near the mouth of the Resurrection River and Salmon Creek on Nash Road. Catches are best a few hours after high tide. We anticipate Seward’s hooligan streak to stay decent at least through the holiday weekend.
- Dipnetting for hooligan (smelt) opened on April 1st and will remain open until June 15th. There is no bag or possession limit.
- This is a personal use fishery and only Alaska residents may participate. Permit is not required, but you do need a valid 2023 Alaska Resident Sport Fishing License or ADF&G Permanent Fishing License ID Card with you.
- For additional information on hooligan netting, see page 16 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations 2023 summary brochure.
Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden
- With the cold and late spring, fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout is expected to be slow. As the weather warms and salmon fry begin to move in, fishing in the creek mouths near Seward should begin to pick up.
- Throwing little spinners and spoons off the beach can provide some good action when Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are around. If you are fly fishing, the Fingerling and Fingerling patterns are good to use in Seward area streams.
Salmon
- There are no freshwater drainages in Resurrection Bay open to salmon fishing at this time of year.
saltwater fishing
Halibut
- Halibut fishing has been reported to be fair to anglers traveling out of Resurrection Bay. Fishing should improve as more halibut begin to migrate closer to shore.
- Occasionally halibut is caught within Resurrection Bay. The halibut is following the bait fish into the bay. Try near the mouth of Tonsina Creek, Caines and Callisto Heads, and Hat Island.
long cod
- The long cod season is closed until July 1st.
rock fish
- Per emergency order, bass limits have been reduced to three fish per day, six in possession of which only one per day, two in possession may be a non-pelagic bass. For information on rockfish species identification, visit our website.
- A variety of rock fish are being caught near the entrance to Resurrection Bay.
other fish
- Fishing for Pacific (grey) cod, pollock and a variety of other species has been good within Resurrection Bay. Try to catch a small piece of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell (waterfall) Creek, or at Lowell Point.
Salmon
- King salmon fishing has been slow within Resurrection Bay. Farm-raised king salmon bound for Seward Lagoon should enter the bay very soon and trolling should increase in the coming weeks.
- A few sockeye salmon have been reported at the mouth of the Resurrection River. Fishing has been described as very slow both in the salt water off the Resurrection River and from shore at Spring Creek. At this time, no sockeye salmon have been counted at the Bear Creek landfill. The fishing could improve at any time.
- No catches of salmon have been reported from the mouth of the Seward Lagoon outfall.
local lakes
- First Lake was recently stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. This is a fun and easy place to take the kids!
- Troop Lake is still frozen. But as the lake begins to open up, hungry rainbow trout can easily be caught along the edge of the ice and close inshore.
emergency orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory notices below in their entirety before embarking on your next fishing trip.
- Emergency Order 2-RF-7-20-23 reduces the Rockfish bag and possession limits on the North Gulf Coast/Resurrection Bay to three per day and six in possession, of which only one per day , two in possession may be non-pelagic.
Don’t forget to get your 2023 sport fishing license and king seal! You can purchase your 2023 Sport Fishing License and Royal Seal through the ADF&G Online Store and print it from the comfort of your home. Also, be sure to review the emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations 2023 Summary brochure for the area you are fishing in before you head out.
For additional information, contact the Anchorage area office at (907) 267-2218.
