Bristol Bay Nushagak salmon fishing rated poor, improvement expected

Sockeye and king salmon fishing on the Nushagak River is rated poor as of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Bristol Bay fishing report dated June 17, 2026. Sport fishing overall across Bristol Bay is reported as fair to good for most resident species.

Run Timing

Lee Borden, Area Management Biologist for the Bristol Bay Management Area, said the slow salmon fishing is expected to turn around. Fishing "should improve as the week progresses and the runs continue to arrive in the bay," Borden said. No emergency orders are in effect for the Bristol Bay management area.

Halibut fishing off the coast of Protection Point is reported as fair to good with mixed success. Arctic char fishing is reported as good to excellent at the outlets of salmon spawning streams, as juvenile salmon continue to out-migrate. Northern pike fishing should be good along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.

ADF&G advises anglers to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet before heading out. Questions about local conditions can be directed to the Dillingham Area Office. Borden can be reached at (907) 842-2427 or [email protected].