I was dragging my aging carcass across a city campground the other day when I overheard several area visitors bemoaning the fact that they weren’t having much luck whacking silvers at the fishing lagoon. So, they were contemplating breaking camp and heading to Seward where they could utilize their small craft for mooching or just fish from shore for the larger coho that were starting to arrive.
I looked at their open skiffs and stopped to suggest that they take a shot at halibut fishing in Mud Bay just east of where they were camped adjacent to the enhancement lagoon and explained why.
Just after we moved to Homer over a quadrennial of hair-graying years ago, a buddy with a small boat offered to take me halibut fishing. I was somewhat wary until he mentioned that it was only about a 10-to-15-minute northeast run from the mouth of the harbor to his “ultra classified holes.”
I took him up on his proposal and it turned out to be a major whoop-on-the-salt while soaking bait from his unpretentious rig using salmon rods configured with 30-pound test line, weights according to the tide, and herring.
We headed out around slack-tide and anchored up with a scent bag attached to the anchor rope in about 16 feet of water then waited as the tide line crept closer. As the current started to roll, so did the action. The fish were small-scale at first but still a kick to catch and release. The circumstances became wilder as the water level increased and more fish cruised into the area attracted by the scent of the submerged bag.
Have you ever nailed a 30- or 40-pound flatfish with salmon tackle in shallow water? Well then, you’ve missed a touch of bedlam mixed with circus excitement.
First of all, there’s no heavy, straight-up, hauling because of the depth. All the ‘buts can do is rocket away across the shallow bottom at turbo speed and get the fight on. Sometimes they’ll add to skirmish by going airborne like silvers on Rockstar energy drinks. But, usually, it’s like tangling with a highly pissed king.
Yeah, yeah, we also got skunked out there but it was always worth the hunt.
The visitors said they would give the bay a shot and I shared some markers to look for. Hopefully, they scored some flats and the action picks up at the lagoon.
By the way, those “ultra-secret” 30-to-70-foot holes are still there and can be found with a little searching along with a 90-footer we took a few beasts from.
Time now to peruse the fishing report for week of Aug. 5.
Freshwater Fishing
Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River are open to sport fishing other than kings.
Expect fair fishing for the dollies. If you are a fly fisherman, smolt patterns, streamers and beads are the excellent options. Flashy spinners and spoons are superb options for chasing them using spinning gear.
Coho Salmon
A few coho are nosing into the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik Rivers, but expect fishing to be sluggish. Fishing the early morning and around high tide near the mouth of the rivers may yield some rookie arrivals. A small nosh of cured salmon roe or small herring suspended beneath a bobber, are winning approaches to luring silvers strikes. Fly anglers can kick loose the action by slinging streamers. Spinners and plugs will also do the trick if you know which end of a pole to use.
Sockeye Salmon
There are plenty of sockeye left lurking around in China Poot Creek. Those making the sojourn across the bay are still readily dipping limits, with most fish still looking bright and fresh. There may be a couple of dork pinks wandering in so pay close attention so that you are only keeping sockeye. Don’t embarrass yourself.
Saltwater Fishing
Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet
Halibut
Halibut fishing continues to run hot, with some large hawgs boated in the Inlet last week.
Heads up: The marine weather will likely prohibit long-range trips into the Inlet this coming week.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing has been fine on the outer coast, including the Chugach Islands area, when the seas have cooled their jets.
King Salmon
King fishing south of Bluff Point was a roll of the dice last week, with reports of larger fish picked up in the bluff area and some chinook caught near Yukon Island.
Expect diminished numbers of blackmouth scattered throughout Kachemak Bay. Small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher is a common setup, but hootchies and tube flies will also put them in the hold. To discover kings at any location, try setting your gear at different depths including mid-water column and 10 feet off the bottom.
Coho Salmon
The trolling for silvers ratings are bottoming out on the local area Sucko Meter so far this season.
Sockeye Salmon
As mentioned previously, fin hunters are still getting their sport and personal use sockeye limits in China Poot. The reds are still abundant in the creek and most are still bright and fresh. Tutka Bay Lagoon was fair for snagging but, unfortunately, the “no discernible brain activity,” humpies continue to arrive.
Surf Fishing
Surf fishing at the tip of the Homer Spit continues to supply beach line-launchers an array of groundfish including halibut, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, cod and things that can out run your mini mutt after they reach shore.
Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon
There’s still a modest school of coho wandering the lagoon. Fishing on the incoming and outgoing tide has had a brief, but productive, bite.
Drifting salmon roe clusters, small pieces of herring, or mackerel under a bobber is a good set up for a responsible sportsman. Then, of course, there are the reprobates who couldn’t catch a fish in an outdoor exposition’s kiddie fish pond without sneak-snagging the cloistered schools. Even the thieving seals are a classier act than those clowns.
Emergency Orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
Sport Fishing for King Salmon Closed in Upper Cook Inlet Salt Waters
King Salmon Bag Limit Reduced from 2 to 1 in Lower Cook Inlet Salt Waters
Cook Inlet Sport Fishing Regulation Changes
East Cook Inlet Razor Clam Fisheries Remain Closed for 2024
For additional information, please contact the Homer Office at 907-235-8191.
Nick can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com if he still isn’t on the trail of hook that may help stop some of the outlaw snagging going on at the fishing hole.
