08-29-2004, 05:41 AM
Yakutat Area Sport Fishing Report, 8/23 - 8/31, 2004
SITUK RIVER:
Water level in the Situk River is much lower than average. Check out the great new link for current “real-time” [url "http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/uv/?site_no=15129500&agency_cd=USGS"]water levels[/url] as measured at the Situk River Nine Mile Bridge. Floating from Nine Mile Bridge is pretty tough under current water conditions. Pink salmon are still in the river in good numbers, especially in the upper river. Coho salmon angling success has been best on the upper half of the incoming tide in the lower river above the Lower Landing.
· Retention of sockeye salmon and king salmon above the Middle Situk Airstrip is still prohibited;
· Sockeye salmon bag and possession limits will continue at two fish downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip.
Snagging is prohibited - fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
The daily bag limit for Dolly Varden char is 10.
The Situk River Weir is now out for the year.
BAIT IS PROHIBITED IN FRESH WATER – If you hire a guide, your guide will probably lose the privilege of guiding on the Situk, and the fine might spoil your trip…
Other Yakutat Fresh Water Systems
Coho salmon have arrived in freshwater systems in the Yakutat area now, and angling is best on incoming tides.
Snagging is prohibited in freshwater- fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
Lost River is closed to angling upstream of the Bridge on the road to the Situk River Landing.
MARINE ANGLING
Marine coho angling in Yakutat Bay and the islands is phenomenal at the moment and the fish are running large in size.
Halibut fishing continues to be excellent off Ocean Cape and along the Yakutat Bay reef and fortunately; spiny dogfish numbers seem to be on the decline.
Retention of king salmon less than 28 inches in length is prohibited in saltwater and there is a daily limit of one fish and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents anglers in salt water. 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. Non-resident anglers younger than 16 years of age and those carrying a non-standard fishing license are required to note this information on a card available from sport fishing license vendors. The daily bag and possession limit for resident anglers is 2 fish greater than 28 inches in length, regardless of whether they are guided or not, and resident anglers have no seasonal
king salmon limit.
The Yakutat area sport lingcod season is open now with a reduced bag and possession limit for all anglers, and size restrictions for guided and nonresident anglers. The lingcod bag and possession limit for all anglers is now one per day and two in possession in the Yakutat area. For guided and nonresident anglers, a minimum size limit of 32 inches and a maximum size limit of 42 inches will also be in effect. All lingcod retained by guided and nonresident anglers must measure between 32 inches and 42 inches (inclusive) in length. Guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net.
The use of bait is allowed in the Ankau Lagoon system, where the daily bag and possession limit is two fish. The area upstream of smokehouse point is closed to angling. [center]YAKUTAT SPORT AND PERSONAL-USE DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING CLOSED.
[/center]
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces that sport and personal-use Dungeness Crab fishing in the Yakutat area will close effective 12:01AM, Monday, July 19.
Recent surveys by the Department of Fish and Game indicate that Yakutat area Dungeness crab stocks are not rebuilding following the closure of the commercial fishery in 2000. State Wide Harvest Survey estimates report that sport Dungeness crab harvests have declined also. Because these indications suggest that the stock is not rebuilding, the sport and personal use fisheries will be closed. The subsistence fishery will remain open as managers monitor harvest in the Yakutat area to determine if additional conservation measures are necessary.
Check: [url "http://juneauempire.com/weather/PAYA.shtml"]Yakutat weather[/url] and the [url "http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteusnational/alaskasatellite_large.html"]satellite photo[/url] for the latest Yakutat weather conditions.
SITUK RIVER:
Water level in the Situk River is much lower than average. Check out the great new link for current “real-time” [url "http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/uv/?site_no=15129500&agency_cd=USGS"]water levels[/url] as measured at the Situk River Nine Mile Bridge. Floating from Nine Mile Bridge is pretty tough under current water conditions. Pink salmon are still in the river in good numbers, especially in the upper river. Coho salmon angling success has been best on the upper half of the incoming tide in the lower river above the Lower Landing.
· Retention of sockeye salmon and king salmon above the Middle Situk Airstrip is still prohibited;
· Sockeye salmon bag and possession limits will continue at two fish downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip.
Snagging is prohibited - fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
The daily bag limit for Dolly Varden char is 10.
The Situk River Weir is now out for the year.
BAIT IS PROHIBITED IN FRESH WATER – If you hire a guide, your guide will probably lose the privilege of guiding on the Situk, and the fine might spoil your trip…
Other Yakutat Fresh Water Systems
Coho salmon have arrived in freshwater systems in the Yakutat area now, and angling is best on incoming tides.
Snagging is prohibited in freshwater- fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
Lost River is closed to angling upstream of the Bridge on the road to the Situk River Landing.
MARINE ANGLING
Marine coho angling in Yakutat Bay and the islands is phenomenal at the moment and the fish are running large in size.
Halibut fishing continues to be excellent off Ocean Cape and along the Yakutat Bay reef and fortunately; spiny dogfish numbers seem to be on the decline.
Retention of king salmon less than 28 inches in length is prohibited in saltwater and there is a daily limit of one fish and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents anglers in salt water. 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. Non-resident anglers younger than 16 years of age and those carrying a non-standard fishing license are required to note this information on a card available from sport fishing license vendors. The daily bag and possession limit for resident anglers is 2 fish greater than 28 inches in length, regardless of whether they are guided or not, and resident anglers have no seasonal
king salmon limit.
The Yakutat area sport lingcod season is open now with a reduced bag and possession limit for all anglers, and size restrictions for guided and nonresident anglers. The lingcod bag and possession limit for all anglers is now one per day and two in possession in the Yakutat area. For guided and nonresident anglers, a minimum size limit of 32 inches and a maximum size limit of 42 inches will also be in effect. All lingcod retained by guided and nonresident anglers must measure between 32 inches and 42 inches (inclusive) in length. Guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net.
The use of bait is allowed in the Ankau Lagoon system, where the daily bag and possession limit is two fish. The area upstream of smokehouse point is closed to angling. [center]YAKUTAT SPORT AND PERSONAL-USE DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING CLOSED.
[/center]
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces that sport and personal-use Dungeness Crab fishing in the Yakutat area will close effective 12:01AM, Monday, July 19.
Recent surveys by the Department of Fish and Game indicate that Yakutat area Dungeness crab stocks are not rebuilding following the closure of the commercial fishery in 2000. State Wide Harvest Survey estimates report that sport Dungeness crab harvests have declined also. Because these indications suggest that the stock is not rebuilding, the sport and personal use fisheries will be closed. The subsistence fishery will remain open as managers monitor harvest in the Yakutat area to determine if additional conservation measures are necessary.
Check: [url "http://juneauempire.com/weather/PAYA.shtml"]Yakutat weather[/url] and the [url "http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteusnational/alaskasatellite_large.html"]satellite photo[/url] for the latest Yakutat weather conditions.