Alaska Department of Fish & Game's

This report is reproduced from information provided by Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Yakutat Office, and will be updated weekly throughout the fishing season.

FORECAST

Sport Fishing Forecast For The Yakutat Area, 8/1 - 8/10

The Yakutat marine sport coho fishery looks very strong this year. Highest early season catches usually come from near Ocean Cape, Yakutat Bay Reef, and the outside coast of Khantaak Island. Halibut and Lingcod fishing remains excellent. King salmon catches have typically dropped off dramatically during this time of year; please be aware though that the daily saltwater limit is one king salmon per day greater than 28 inches.

Pink salmon are showing up now in the Situk River and can provide good action on light tackle. Sockeye and king salmon are still in the Situk River in good numbers but are past run peaks and numbers will be declining. Please note that the area upstream from Situk River Nine Mile Bridge is closed to the possession of king (chinook) salmon.

The biting insects are not as bad along area streams as during the early season, but bring a head net anyway, and do not forget to bring along some "bug dope" (available locally).

Regulations for the Situk River are as follows:

Only persons 60 years of age or older may sport fish in the area from the mouth of the river to the old railroad-bridge ruins located approximately .25 mile upstream from the Lower Landing beginning June 15.

Snagging is prohibited - fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.

Bait is allowed downstream from the Situk River Middle Airstrip only until August 15.

Situk River king salmon daily bag and possession limit is two fish greater than 16 inches in length*

*Anglers are reminded that the non-resident annual limit for king salmon 28 inches or greater is 4 fish, (the daily limit is 2 fish greater than 16 inches). Upon landing a king salmon 28 inches or greater, non-resident anglers are required to immediately write the date and location of each king salmon harvested on the back of their sport fishing license. King salmon less than 28 inches do not count toward the non-resident annual limit. Non-resident anglers younger than 16 years of age are required to note this information on a card available from sport fishing license vendors.

Filleting, cutting the heads off, or otherwise butchering king salmon prior to returning to the Situk River Lower Landing is prohibited.

The daily bag limit for sockeye (red) salmon is 6.

The daily bag limit for Dolly Varden char is 10.

With the exception of the lower Situk River as stated above, the use of bait in Yakutat fresh waters is prohibited, however bait may be used in the (saltwater) Ankau Lagoon system. Filleting, cutting the heads off, or otherwise butchering coho or king salmon caught in marine waters prior to returning to the dock is prohibited (gilling and gutting coho and king salmon is allowed).

The water level of area streams is currently low due to lack of rainfall.

The water level of area streams is currently low due to lack of rainfall.

For more information contact: Bob Johnson (bobj@fishgame.state.ak.us).

This concludes the Yakutat fishing forecast.

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