Homer Alaska - Sports -

Fishing at the lagoon has been spotty, but should improve this month.

The Kids' All-American Fishing Derby is held at the Anchor River Saturday. It is sponsored by the Anchor Point Chamber of Commece

Emergency orders and reminders

All waters of the English Bay River drainage and Port Graham subdistrict will remain closed to the retention of sockeye salmon through July 31.

The marine waters closed from April 1 to June 30 at the mouth of the Anchor River were reduced from two miles north and south of the river, to one mile north and south of the river mouth. The offshore boundary remains at one mile from shore.

The annual limit of king salmon that may be taken from the Anchor River was increased to five per year in combination with most other Cook Inlet tributaries. The annual limit for king salmon from Deep Creek remains two per year.

Fresh water salmon

The fish are entering the Anchor River in higher numbers, with 150 kings moving past the sonar upstream from the bridge on Monday alone. The overall numbers are still down compared to the last two years with 1,117 fish moving up river so far.

The Anchor River, Ninilchik River and Deep Creek will open again this weekend for fishing beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Bait such as eggs and herring are the best bet for catching fish. Other gear to try would be spinners, Spin-N-Glos with yarn and large weighted streamers.

Try fishing near the mouths of these streams during high tide to target newly arriving fish. King salmon 20 inches or longer bag and possession limits for the Anchor River and Deep Creek is one per day/one in possession. The bag and possession limit for Ninilchik River king salmon 20 inches or longer is two per day/two in possession, only one of which may be a wild king salmon. Wild king salmon can be recognized by the presence of an adipose fin.

Halibut

Halibut fishing continues to be fair in Kachemak Bay with limits coming in from 15 to 20 miles west of the Homer Spit. Most fish are in the 15-20 pound range. Fishing near Point Pogibshi and Flat Island also has been productive.

New federal rules for filleting halibut at sea are in effect. A halibut may not be cut into more than two ventral (bottom side pieces,) two dorsal (top side pieces) and two cheeks, with skin on. Anglers are allowed to consume halibut while at sea after filleting.

The daily limit is two halibut, possession limit of four. Herring is the preferred bait.

Salt water salmon and other fish

Trolling success for feeder kings in Kachemak Bay, Bluff Point and north to Ninilchik has been fair with popular trolling set ups include herring, hootchies, tube flies and spoons.

Kings are late in returning to Seldovia and Halibut Cove. Trolling herring and lures work well early in the run. Both runs are expected to return approximately 1,500 fish.

Dolly Varden are available off the end of the Homer Spit. Lingcod remains closed until July 1.

Shellfish

Good clamming tides will run through Sunday. Littleneck and butter clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island. Diggers are reporting an abundance of small razor clams and few large clams withing 10 miles of the Clam Gulch access road. Larger clams are available further north and south.