The Alaska Board of Fish decided to open the Anchor River to king salmon fishing a weekend early this year — beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday — and by most accounts there's fish in them thar waters.
"Good numbers (of kings) have been starting to show up in the middle and late part of April," said Stan Harrington, owner of the Anchor Angler Tackle Shop in Anchor Point. "It should produce some good fishing."
The water is also low and clear for this time of year, and as Harrington put it, "A lot of people don't even know it's opening a week early."
Typically egg sacks with Spin-N-Glows work well early in the season. Fly anglers might want to tie on a bright streamer since the water is clear.
If the water muddies up from now until then, darker flies will probably work better.
Either way, this should be the best weekend to try your luck without the crowds that usually show up during a typical Memorial Day Weekend opener.
Halibut
Good fishing weather made for an exciting day last week aboard the M/V Mako of Captain Scott's Sportfishing. Thomas and Betty Lees of Palmer caught a pair of halibut that now lead the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.
Thomas caught a 161.8-pound flatfish and Betty caught a 150.4 pounder.
Captain Scott, currently holds the top four spots in the derby, with three of the four caught in one day at a spot somewhere near Flat Island about 25 miles from the Homer Spit.
"It was a good day, they just kept coming," said Capt. Scott.
"It's been gorgeous, flat calm and sunny. We've been peeling down to our T-shirts," he said.
Last year, an angler fishing with Capt. Scott caught the winning fish for May, a 203-pounder.
"I wouldn't expect to win it with a 161 (pound fish), but there's always a chance," he said.
Other fishing
Kings are beginning to arrive at the Homer Spit Fishing Hole, and several 15-20 pounders have been caught outside the lagoon. More kings should arrive inside the Fishing Hole on the tides this weekend.
Dolly Varden anglers are having some success off the end of the Homer Spit using small silver or orange spinners.
The winter king season is winding down, but a few feeder kings are still being hauled in around Bluff Point.
Clamming
The next good clam tides run from May 23 to 28.
Diggers for littleneck and butter clams in Kachemak Bay will not be required to obtain a permit.
The razor clam daily bag limit is the first 60 clams dug. You must keep all the clams you dig up to the limit.
Tight lines and heavy buckets.
Got a fish story? Call Ben Stuart at 235-7767 or e-mail me the particulars or your trophy photo at ben.stuart@homernews.com.
We encourage you to add your comments. To prevent spam, comments with links are manually approved during the normal business day. Please be respectful of others with your comments, bear in mind anyone in the community may be reading your comments.
