Alaska Fishing

Anglers celebrate first kings on Ninilchik, Anchor

When Cody Wise caught a 30-inch king salmon just after midnight Saturday morning on the Ninilchik River, he tossed it back, perhaps thinking he could get something better. By the time 5 a.m. rolled around on Saturday, the Homer man felt differently.

SOUTHCENTRAL FISHING REPORT

King salmon forecast promising despite cloudy, cold rivers

Early-season halibut aboard the Legend out of Seward.

There's good and bad news for holiday-weekend fishing. First, the bad: It looks as though last winter's record snowfall has kept a few rivers colder than usual and off-color. The good news is that the first reports seem to forecast an average or better year for kings, and the halibut and trout fishing has been decent.

PDF: Kenai refuge renews bear-safety restrictions at Russian River ferry

Officials try new methods to curb pike on Kenai Peninsula

An electric fence and water cannon will be part of an effort this summer to control invasive northern pike in a lake on the Kenai Peninsula.

Families sue over deaths of commercial Inlet clam diggers

The families of five clam diggers who died in a boat accident last year in Cook Inlet are suing the seafood company the men worked for, charging negligence over safety equipment and training.

Read the complaint

Heavily loaded boat, rough seas worried at least one clammer

Anchorage restaurant races Seattle for first salmon

Billy Green, vice president of production for Copper River Seafoods, delivered the first Copper River salmon of the season Friday morning, May 18, 2012, to Patrick Hoogerhyde and Al Levinsohn, chefs and owners of the Bridge Seafood restaurant in Anchorage. A 30-pound king salmon caught by Copper River Seafoods partner Pip Fillingham and a 7-pound sockeye were the first fish delivered. They were on the menu for dinner Friday evening.

An Anchorage seafood restaurant heralded its grand opening Friday by mimicking Alaska Airlines' splashy salmon show in Seattle.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Bill promoting public access to fishing streams passes Senate

The bill calls for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to provide annual reports detailing its efforts and plans to maintain or improve access to and along fishing streams.

Funding for Kodiak rocket complex debated

More Legislature coverage

Homer halibut derby reduces emphasis on biggest fish caught

First-time halibut angler Jamie Olvera gives a double thumbs-up to celebrate her 277.6-pound fish that grabbed the lead in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby on Aug. 28. Thursday night, Sept 30, 2010, the 25-year-old Fairbanks angler claimed victory in Alaska's biggest fishing derby. Her charter captain, Ben Martin of North Country Halibut Charters, helps her celebrate.

The Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby this week announced changes that put the biggest prizes on tagged fish, eliminate monthly prizes for the biggest fish caught and add prizes for catch-and-release fish. The changes come in the wake of federal pressure to reduce the charter catch and rebuild a declining halibut population, reports the Homer News.

Ice fishing this weekend at Jewel Lake

For anyone who can't wait to satisfy their urge to fish, the Alaska Sports Fishing Association's annual Ice Fishing Jamboree is taking place this weekend at Jewel Lake Park.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Convicted fishing guide blames flood erosion for stream mixup

Ray Blodgett guides an outing on the Deshka River in 2006.

A Mat-Su guide is facing a big fine and loss of his boat and guiding license after his second conviction in five years for violating fishing laws. Ray Blodgett was found guilty last week of letting clients use bait and multiple hooks in a salmon stream where they weren't allowed. Blodgett says he's innocent and "getting hosed" in the wake of flooding on Susitna River tributaries that changed the course of stream beds, reports The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

State-of-art fish hatchery in Fairbanks gets first batch of eggs

The Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery is alive and breathing -- finally.

US sets 2012 catch limits for all managed fish species

In an effort to sustain commercial and recreational fishing for the next several decades, the United States this year will become the first country to impose catch limits for every species it manages, from Alaskan pollock to Caribbean queen conch.

JOHN SCHANDELMEIER

Cold weather equals safe travel for great ice fishing

Alex Zaochney braved single-digit temperatures to try his luck ice fishing at DeLong Lake in January 2008. A portable ice-fishing house or tent will allow you to be out in the wind at minus 20 in relative comfort and a sunflower head on a small propane bottle will get your coat off and possibly even the kids inside to fish with you.

The cold temperatures of the past week have insured safe travel on all of the lakes in the Copper River Basin. And good ice means good fishing.

Guide accused of charging for Kenai fishing trips, failing to provide them

A longtime Kenai Peninsula fishing guide bilked more than $90,000 from clients who paid for fishing trips that he failed to provide in 2010 and 2011, according to Alaska Wildlife Troopers.

Catch limit cuts alarm halibut fisheries

This Kenai Peninsula town's halibut fishing community is alarmed at a decision that could set catch limits at one fish per person.

PHOTOS: BEST OF DECEMBER

The creature comforts on Little Campbell Lake

Zane Giles fishes for Arctic char Tuesday in his new ice fishing tent on Little Campbell Lake. With Giles are his two dogs, Annie and Anya (not pictured). Giles has a propane heater keeping them all toasty warm.

Zane Giles, with his dogs Annie and Anya, tested his new ice fishing tent Tuesday with a trip to Little Campbell Lake to try for Arctic char. A propane heater kept the fisherman and his companions warm.

Charter halibut harvest within allocation in Southeast Alaska

The halibut charter catch in Southeast Alaska fell within allocation guidelines for the first time in seven years, a newly released analysis shows.

Former Fish and Game commissioner seeks Kodiak job

A former commissioner for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game who resigned after pleading guilty to DUI is seeking to become a contract fisheries analyst for Kodiak Island.

NOAA asks fishery council to reconsider halibut-sharing plan

Federal officials are asking the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to re-examine a halibut catch-sharing plan for waters off Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.

Halibut catch allocation plan divides Peninsula fishermen

ALASKA FISHING REPORT: SEPT 8, 2011

Salmon fishing winds down as trout picks up

BILL ROTH / Anchorage Daily NewsJuvenile rainbow trout from the April egg-take on Fort Richardson were the first fish to arrive last summer at the new William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery operated by the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game. The trout now weigh about 15 grams and are approximately four inches long. They will be ready to stock lakes throughout Alaska as catchables, as soon as the ice goes out this spring.

Salmon fishing is petering out, although chums, pinks and silvers are still spawning in the rivers. The guys at Mountain View Sports Center in Anchorage report that rainbow fishing in the Mat-Su has been good lately. Water conditions in the Parks Highway streams are excellent. They suggest trying small sculpins or egg patterns. We would add that this time of year you always want to have a variety of flesh flies -- pink, ginger, off-white -- with you as well.

Reader photos: Nice Catch

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Yakura, Gutierrez win Valdez fish derbies

Jack Yakura of Middleburg, Pa., caught the biggest fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, and Annette Gutierrez of Albuquerque, N.M., landed the biggest flatfish in the Valdez Halibut Derby, and those fish didn't represent their biggest hauls.

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SOUTHCENTRAL FISHING REPORT

King salmon forecast promising despite cloudy, cold rivers

PDF: Kenai refuge renews bear-safety restrictions at Russian River ferry

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Alaska sportfishing

Check here for the latest sportfishing-related news releases, emergency closures, catch limit and regulation changes.

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King restrictions planned for Upper Inlet 3/29 2:44 PM

For fall trout fishing, size does matter 9/30 12:35 PM

Knik Arm silver fisheries to close on Aug. 27 8/25 4:46 PM

Fishing galleries

Cheney Lake rainbow trout fishing

Anglers try their luck catching rainbow trout at the recently stocked Cheney Lake in East Anchorage on Monday, 21, 2012. According the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game website, Cheney Lake has been stocked twice this month, with over 600 large rainbow trout.

PHOTO GALLERY

First fish