I ran into the Jacob brothers last week while they were carving some nice 15- to 30-pound ‘buts they had just popped in Mud Bay.
The grizzled gentlemen have been coming down to Homer for over 35 years to ambush flats from their modest skiff in “secret holes” east of the Spit.
They were jawing about their evening safaris to The Hole in an attempt to land a Chinook only to get into additional dust-ups when one of the @$$#**& seals infesting the pond took a crack at purloining it.
They were also amazed about how many anglers were harassing the small circling schools with their, “no skills required,” floss-snagger techniques until the fish were so spooked they went off-the-bite for the traditional bait flingers and spinner advocates.
So, they went seaside to fill their cards during the week and a half they were here.
Are you ready?
Try fishing outside the lagoon as the tide rises or retreats.
Use a plug-cut small herring hanging down, tail up, on a single #5 hook about 12 to 18 inches down from your bobber. Cast to the edge of the moving water and let it drift. They also did well with a blue bell # 5 Vibrax.
Next week I’ll share some unusual prepping for your bait herring that has worked well at the lagoon over the years.
Time now to take a look at fishing report for the week of June 16.
The stocking of the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon has wrapped up for the year with 116,000 coho smolt and 190,000 king salmon smolt being released to start their long journeys.
Freshwater Fishing
The Anchor River and Deep Creek are closed to all sport fishing through July 15.
The Ninilchik River reopened to hatchery king salmon fishing on Monday. Try fishing early morning hours for your best shots at strikes. Primo choices for lures include spinners, spoons, and heavily weighted flies.
Saltwater Fishing
Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet
Groundfish
Halibut fishing remained smokin’ over the last week. Righteous-sized flats were taken throughout lower Cook Inlet.
Fishing around slack tide is the best time for targeting halibut so you can hold the bottom with less weight while trying to get their drool on with circle hook charms such as herring, octopus, and salmon heads. White jigs with red eyes with drive them nuts too, at times.
There were still plenty of anglers surf fishing and tagging halibut over the last week. Whiskey Gulch is a great location to try.
Fishing off the tip of the Homer Spit is still producing a variety of groundfish including halibut, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, cod, and things that look as though they better be left alone.
King Salmon
King fishing south of Bluff Point has been fair according to reports from the Bluff and Point Pogibshi areas.
The king fishing at the fishing lagoon was decent, at times, over the last week with anglers catching some larger sized fish if they could get them to shore without a thug seal taking a swipe.
This coming week should be the peak of the run. Expect the fishing to be fair.
Fishing the incoming or outgoing tide is typically your best bet using roe, herring, or mackerel slices, beneath a bobber along with spinners such as a #5 Blue Vibrax.
Seldovia Slough and Lagoon king salmon fishing remained productive over the weekend. Anglers were finding some luck fishing at the bridge and at the mouth of the lagoon. Try cured eggs or herring under a slip bobber, or spinners. Incoming tide is the best time to get king on at the bridge. High tide is better in the lagoon.
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 30th
For additional information, contact the Homer ADF&G Office at 907-235-8191.
Nick can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com if he isn’t busy acting as a stern guide leading juvenile delinquent moose calves out of his wife’s flowerbeds.
