Pardon the metaphor, but ocean fishing for halibut, ling cod and rockfish has been on fire. Homer, Seward and Whittier are all popular points of departure. Silver and pink salmon are being caught in Prince William Sound, so don't forget your jigs, circle hooks, hoochies and herring.

Bird Creek just south of Anchorage opens to salmon fishing today. Try size 3 Vibrax for pinks and silvers there. Campbell Creek in Anchorage also opens to silver fishing today. Downtown fishermen are starting to pick up a few silvers in Ship Creek. Also in Anchorage, you might try Campbell and Chester creeks for rainbows. Nymph and small sculpin flies should produce fish.

Mat-Su Valley streams are improving for rainbows and grayling. Montana, Willow, Clear and Sheep creeks should all be good. Small spinners, sculpins and beads are working well.

The second run of sockeyes in the Kenai and Kasilof should start soon. The second is the bigger of the two runs, so make sure your red gear is ready.

And from other quarters:

Trout fishing hasn't changed much on the upper Kenai. It remains challenging with water that is still low for the season and clear.

Alaska Troutfitters in Cooper Landing floated the canyon earlier this week and spotted a few small pods of second-run reds but they aren't expecting to see a lot of fish in the upper river for a week or so.

Fish and Game announced Wednesday that it will continue to limit king fishing on the Kenai out of concern that the escapement of early-run fish may not have reached its minimum goal of 5,300.

The department also said its indicators of the strength of the late run of Kenai kings suggest a return well below average. The assessment indicates this year's late run will be similar to those of 2009 and 2010.

The final escapement estimate in 2009 was slightly below the sustainability goal. The 2010 escapement was likely below the desired minimum (the goal was 17,800 to 35,700). As a result, state biologists concluded, it's "necessary to continue to manage the early run conservatively and begin to slow down the harvest of late-run kings while the run continues to develop."

From 300 yards below the mouth of Slikok Creek upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, and in the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai upstream to the northern edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge, the early-run king fishery will be restricted as follows:

Only kings less than 20 inches or more than 55 inches long may be kept. Kings 20 inches or longer or less than 55 inches long may not be lifted from the water and must be released immediately. These restrictions begin at 12:01 a.m. (today) through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 31.

No bait is allowed while fishing for any species during the same period.

Although bait continues to be allowed downstream of the ADF&G markers below the mouth of Slikok, additional restrictions for this area are possible if the run does not improve, Fish and Game said.

The Daily News fishing report is published each Thursday. For the latest and most comprehensive information every day, check the links on adn.com/outdoors/sportfishing. In addition to reports from Department of Fish and Game biologists across the state, you will find lots of photos in the Nice Catch galleries, links to current weather, river and stream flows, tide charts, fish counts, salmon run timing, fishing derbies across the state and how-to videos. You can also buy a fishing license online, check the regulations, read a blog with the latest fishery closures and emergency orders, and sign up for our fishing newsletter email.