Pacific cod fishing excellent inside Resurrection Bay near Seward

Pacific cod fishing inside Resurrection Bay is excellent right now, and the best spots are walkable from downtown Seward, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's June 25 sport fishing report for the North Gulf Coast and Resurrection Bay area.

Brittany Blain-Roth, Sport Fish Area Management Biologist for ADF&G's North Gulf Coast and Resurrection Bay area, put it plainly: "Fishing for Pacific (gray) cod has been excellent inside Resurrection Bay. Try fishing a small chunk of herring right off the bottom near the Sea Life Center, the mouth of Lowell Creek, or off Lowell Point."

That tip matters because halibut fishing inside the bay has been slow for the time of year. Anglers who travel to the outer portions of the bay are finding better halibut action, and those willing to go farther outside Resurrection Bay have reported good catches, including chicken halibut with a few larger fish mixed in.

King salmon fishing inside Resurrection Bay has been fair to good. The report recommends trolling herring and spoons along the shoreline from Seward to Caines Head. Kings are also being caught at the mouth of the Seward lagoon outflow stream using spinners and spoons on the rising and falling tide. Anglers making the longer run to Cape Cleare on Montague Island are finding productive king salmon fishing there as well.

Seward Lagoon and its outfall stream are open to king salmon fishing for youth anglers only, those 15 and under, through July 31 by emergency order. Only one hook, single or treble, is permitted during the youth-only fishery, though bait is allowed. Fishing is expected to be slow until more kings build in the lagoon.

Sockeye salmon fishing at the mouth of the Resurrection River has slowed considerably. Fishing the incoming tide can still produce fish, but large numbers of sockeye have already passed through the Bear Creek weir to the lake, and fish remaining at the weir are shifting to spawning coloration.

In freshwater, the Resurrection River up to Nash Road opened to salmon fishing June 16. Only unbaited, single-hook artificial lures or flies are allowed in that section; snagging is not permitted. The bag and possession limits are 3 salmon other than king salmon in combination, of which no more than 2 may be coho salmon.

Anglers targeting rockfish should note current restrictions. Bag and possession limits in the North Gulf Coast area, including Resurrection Bay, are reduced to 3 per day and 6 in possession from April 1 through Sept. 15, with sublimits of 2 per day and 4 in possession for pelagic rockfish and 1 per day and 2 in possession for nonpelagic rockfish. Yelloweye rockfish may not be retained through June 30. Lingcod season remains closed until July 1.

Anglers should review current emergency orders and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary before heading out.