All other regulations for the fishing hole remain in effect, including the daily bag limit of two king salmon of any size. After harvesting a king 20 inches or longer, anglers must record the catch on the back of their license immediately.
Snagging also is allowed by regulation in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Anchor Point to Point Pogibshi from June 24-Dec. 31. This regulation does not include the fishing hole.
Tournaments
Don Arner from Leesburg, Fla., won the second annual Independence Day Homer Halibut Tournament Saturday by catching a 126.6-pound fish on Captain Brian Nollar’s boat the “Belle Isle” of Midnight Sun Charters.
Arner took home $3,320, a boatload of filets and also was among 83 anglers who raised about $2,000 for the Spit Fishing Hole Silver Salmon Enhancement Program.
David Brand’s 296.2-pound halibut still leads the season-long Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby and earned Brand $1,000 for the biggest fish caught in June.
Anchor River
The lower portions of Deep Creek and the Anchor River have reopened to fishing for all species except king salmon. A few pinks are starting to show up now and Dolly Varden are available. Silvers should start coming in later this month.
The cumulative sonar and weir estimate of king salmon on the Anchor River is 7,322, down from the last two year’s average of around 11,000.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, this drop is not related to the flood three years ago. The department has completed a salmon study on this river and the preliminary findings suggest natural variances, said biologist Nicky Szarzi.
Halibut
Calmer weather is allowing anglers to travel to farther reaches, including the Barren Islands, East Chugach and the middle of lower Cook Inlet about 25-30 miles west of the Homer Spit, all with good results. Fishing near Flat Island also remains productive.
Best fishing in these areas occurred in waters 100-200 feet deep with an average weight of harvested halibut between 20-25 pounds. But bigger fish are being caught regularly.
The daily limit is two halibut with a possession limit of four. Herring is the preferred bait.
As of Wednesday, the Marine forecast was calling for seas in the three- to four-feet range through Sunday in Kachemak Bay.
Dipnet
The personal-use dipnet fishery in China Poot Creek upstream of ADF&G markers opened July 1 and is open through Aug. 7. No permit is required, but you must have a 2006 Alaska resident sportfishing license, or an ADF&G senior license, or an ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license while taking or transporting the fish.
The personal-use bag and possession limit in China Poot Creek is six sockeye salmon per person per day. Only sockeye salmon may be kept and only dipnets may be used.
Clamming
The next series of good clamming tides run July 10-15. Good minus 4.1 tides are available during this series.
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