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- The sport, personal use, and subsistence bag and possession limit for littleneck and butter clams have been reduced from 1,000 littleneck clams and 700 butter clams to a combined limit of 80 clams.
- Effective May 19 the Anchor River will be closed to fishing on Wednesday during the king salmon season. In addition, the ADF&G regulatory marker will be relocated downstream approximately 1,000 feet of the junction of the North and South forks from May 19 through July 31.
- Regulations in the Early-Run King Salmon Special Harvest Area are in effect through June 30. A person may not, after taking a king salmon 20 inches or longer, fish for any species of fish that same day within this special harvest area. Marine markers are posted on the beach signifying the closed area north and south of the river mouths.
- Lingcod may not be harvested until July 1.
- The 2012 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summaries are now available online, in ADF&G offices and at local license vendors.
- The Anchor River, as defined by the ADF&G markers, will open to fishing at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 19, through midnight, Monday 21.
- The Anchor River water conditions have been fluctuating daily with changes in weather and snow melt. Expect the water level to be high for this weekend.
- Try fishing near mouth of the Anchor River during the incoming tide for newly arriving king salmon.
- Bait such as salmon egg clusters or herring should be more effective during high water conditions.
- The Anchor River sonar began operating at 9 p.m. on May 14 and the king salmon count through midnight was 6 fish.
- Steelhead will be leaving the rivers and entering saltwater after overwintering in the river and spawning in the spring. The steelhead runs are not large and the rainbow/steelhead fishery is catch-andÐrelease only. Please familiarize yourself with the differences between king salmon and steelhead trout before you fish and practice good fish handling techniques if you catch one. Remember that steelhead trout must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
- All other streams along the Sterling Highway south of the Kasilof River are currently closed to all fishing at this time.
- The numerous Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes provide great fishing opportunities. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the Sport Fish web site and at ADF&G offices.
- Early-season halibut fishing has been sporadic and most fish are small. Success will improve as more fish move from deep, over-wintering waters back into shallow, summer feeding areas.
- The Department has already received reports of "mushy" halibut this season. High prevalence's of mushy halibut syndrome were seen in 1998, 2005, and 2011, and all were diagnosed as a nutritional myopathy. The flesh of these fish is very soft or flabby, sometimes with pockets of jelly-like tissue, and fish are reportedly mushy after being cooked as well. The incidence of flabby or jelly-like flesh can be high for anglers fishing certain locales, so if you catch a fish that feels flabby or does not look as robust and rounded as a healthy halibut should, release it immediately unharmed. Consider moving to a different area to avoid these fish.
- Trolling success for feeder king salmon has been fair off the south side of Kachemak Bay, Bluff Point, Point Pogibshi and north to Ninilchik.
- Early-run king salmon are available this time of year in the nearshore salt waters of Anchor Point, Whiskey Gulch and Deep Creek. Anglers usually concentrate their fishing efforts in near shore, shallow waters between Anchor Point and Deep Creek.
- Popular trolling set-ups for king salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.
- The next series of clamming tides will be May 19-23.
- Littleneck (steamer) and butter clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island.
- Good numbers of butter clams are found on the islands in China Poot Bay. Butter clams can be found up to 2 ft deep.
- Littleneck clams can be found on in a variety of habitats from Jakolof Bay to Bear Cove. Try exploring new beaches for success. Typically, littleneck clams are found shallower in the substrate, up to 8 inches deep.
- Razor clams can be found on the sandy beaches from Kasilof to Homer and are exposed on any minus tides. Tides of minus -2.0 feet or lower are suggested.
- For larger razor clams, try beaches south of Deep Creek.
- All shrimp and crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay are currently closed.
Good luck fishing!!
This concludes the Homer - Lower Kenai Peninsula fishing forecast.
The Fish and Game web page was redesigned. Below are some useful links.
Fishing regulations
Fish identification
Weir counts and sonar estimates
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