Fishing the
Eastern Kenai Peninsula

Sockeye (Red) Salmon

Historically, sockeye salmon were not numerous in Resurrection Bay and have not made a significant contribution to the sport fishery. Those sockeye salmon returning to Bear Lake begin to return in early June with the return to this system continuing through mid-July. Sockeye salmon returning to Dairy, Railroad, Pasture, and Grouse Creeks begin to enter fresh water in mid-July with their migration continuing through mid-August.

The Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association has an ongoing sockeye salmon stocking program in Bear Lake. This stocking program was initiated in 1990 with the goal of producing enough adults to support a commercial seine fishery in Resurrection Bay. The sockeye salmon run in 1995 peaked in mid-June and provided for a commercial seine harvest in Resurrection Bay of almost 25,000 fish with an additional 30,000 fish counted at the Bear Lake weir.

Although no one knows exactly why, sockeye salmon are generally more difficult to catch with conventional tackle than are other salmon species, i.e. they don't readily "bite" or strike a lure. Most sockeye salmon are therefore snagged by shore anglers as opposed to being caught on conventional tackle. A small but growing fishery for sockeye occurs in June adjacent to the culvert which drains Seward Lagoon and near the mouth of Resurrection River. While the large sockeye salmon runs expected in the future will be returning to Bear Lake, these migrating fish will likely be present in other areas of Resurrection Bay open to sport fishing. Anglers are allowed six salmon other than kings daily and in possession with no size restrictions.

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