During a short scouting trip out to the Spit over the weekend, we stopped by the fishing lagoon to check out the action during the incoming tide.
The skies were overcast and the temperature was touching 54 degrees chilled a bit by the debut of an afternoon breeze cruising in from the southwest.
Jacks were jumping just outside the mouth of the hole while a few determined floss-snagging anglers whipped at them while keeping their eyes on a couple of patrolling seals herding a milling school toward the entrance.
As the incoming sea breached the channel and rolled into the lagoon, one of the water-flapping, floss-snaggers was especially adept at dragging in the small jacks with his “ya gotta be kidding me” dipstick technique of a short drift terminating with a sharp jerk. The only problem was that he dragged most of them in hooked in the back or belly then ripped out the hook with pliers and kicked them back into the water flow. The “class act” finally landed a king that looked to be around 3 pounds and hauled it off to a cooler in his vehicle without recording it.
So, take that behavior and multiply it as more line launchers hit the banks and started mimicking the scofflaw’s method and you have one of the reasons the fish get spooked and quit biting.
It’s bad enough having to deal with the marauding seals while fighting a legal hookup but add chasing fish that have had hooks ripped out of their sides, stomachs, and tails and you end up against a finned quarry that’s really not interested in your buffet of lures.
Hopefully, when the acrobatic silvers come flip flopping across the lagoon in July, there will be more enforcement officers available to stymie this growing miscreant behavior.
By the way, major kudos to the anglers who adhere to the regulations, especially those who teach their children, along with visiting friends and families, to respect the sport and fun the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon offers.
Time now to take a look at the updated fishing report for the week of June 23, 2025.
Freshwater Fishing
The Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River are closed to all sport fishing through July 15, 2025.
China Poot personal use dipnet fishery is open and fish are starting to show up. Expect fair fishing until the run kicks higher into gear.
Saltwater Fishing
Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet
Groundfish
Halibut fishing remained firing on all cylinders last week. Hefty slabs hit the fish holds throughout lower Cook Inlet.
This week should be more challenging with the honkin’ tidal exchanges. Try drifting unless you have a cargo ship anchor to hold bottom or just soak your bait during slack tide until your trolling without trying too.
The growing pack of surf fishing devotees had hot sticks hauling halibut to the beach last week. Whiskey Gulch is an excellent location to give it a shot. The view’s not bad either.
Firing line from the tip of the Homer Spit is a mecca for mystery fishing. You never know what you’ll drag in from halibut to, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, cod and things so creepy they’d scare the hell out of salmon sharks.
King salmon
King fishing slowed to a crawl the last week but could improve any time with newbies arriving on the impressive tides this week.
You might want to give a thought to exploring various areas throughout Kachemak Bay to chase down the hot spots, if any.
Small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher remains the go to set up, but hootchies and tube flies will also attract strikes from the less picky.
To find kings at any location, try setting the gear at different depths including mid-water column and 10 feet off the bottom.
The king fishing at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon remained somewhat decent last week if your timing was right and the seals took a nap but expect the run to start winding down during the coming week.
Fishing the incoming or outgoing tide is typically your best bet.
Plug cut herring, mackerel slices, and roe under a bobber or spinners such as a blue #5 Vibrax are all fine methods for attracting hits.
Seldovia Slough and Lagoon king fishing is now open to snagging and there are still some fish available in fine condition to go airborne on a weighted treble hook.
Sockeye salmon
There should be a few fish around Tutka Lagoon and in front of China Poot Creek. Most anglers snag these fish with the infamous, weighted treble hooks.
Emergency Orders
“Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
• Anchor River and Deep Creek Closed to Sport Fishing
• 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
• Changes to King Salmon Gear in the Ninilchik River
• Rockfish bag limit reduction: 2 pelagic, 1 non-pelagic. No retention of yelloweye through June 30.
For additional information, please contact the Homer ADF&G Office at 907-235-8191.
Nick can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com if he isn’t out watching the seals and snaggers compete for any clueless Chinook surfing into the fishing lagoon when the beast tides roll in.
Nick can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com if you have any tips, tales or outright tight line lies to share with the gullible.
