Seward Lagoon youth-only coho fishery extended through Oct. 5

Anglers 15 and younger now have through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, to fish coho at the Seward Lagoon, after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game extended the youth-only season there. The lagoon and its outfall stream remain closed to anglers 16 and older.

Normally the lagoon and outfall stream open to youth coho fishing only on the last weekend in August and the first weekend in September, about a month less than this order allows.

Each youth angler may keep up to two coho per day and may fish bait or lures. Snagging is not permitted in fresh water. Adults may help, but the fish counts toward the bag limit of whoever hooked it, and that must be the youth angler.

"The Seward Lagoon is stocked each year with coho salmon to create additional sport fishing opportunities in Resurrection Bay," Assistant Area Management Biologist Donald Arthur said. "Since the lagoon is a terminal stocking location with little natural reproduction and is not generally used to collect hatchery broodstock, these fish are intended to provide harvest opportunity. Coho are just starting to show up in good numbers."

The Aug. 28 North Gulf Coast report noted more than 100 coho had passed the Bear Creek weir, a fish-counting station, with better fishing expected within a week or two. In 2025, the department ended the youth coho season on Sept. 30, five days earlier than this year's cutoff.

Such fisheries fit a statewide approach that gives young anglers and their families dedicated access under simplified rules and lighter competition, while older anglers stay out.

Questions on the order go to Arthur at 907-267-2225 or Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth at 907-267-2186. Plenty of accessible spots line the shore around the lagoon.