Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Bristol Bay's 2024 Fishing Season Wrap-Up: Coho Salmon, Resident Species Still Going Strong
Published 1 year, 7 months ago
Description
As of September 29, 2024, the Bristol Bay fishing season has wrapped up, but here’s a summary of the recent activity and some insights for future reference.
### Weather and Tides
The weather in Bristol Bay this time of year is typically cool and crisp, with daytime temperatures in the 40s to 50s Fahrenheit. For today, expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 48°F and a low of 38°F. Tides are not as critical now since the commercial season has ended, but for those still out there, the tides will be moderate, with a high tide at around 10 AM and a low tide at 4 PM.
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at about 7:45 AM, and sunset is at around 6:45 PM, giving you a good window for fishing.
### Fish Activity
The commercial fishing season for sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay has concluded, with the 2024 season seeing a total run of 51.6 million fish, which is the 10th largest inshore run since 2004.
For sport fishing, coho salmon are still active in some areas. The Togiak River and the Wood River have been reporting good to excellent coho salmon fishing, which should continue through mid to late September.
### Fish Caught
In the final days of the commercial season, the baywide catch numbers were significantly lower than the peak. However, the season as a whole saw substantial catches, with the majority coming from the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. The total harvest for the season was around 31.5 million sockeye salmon, with an escapement of 19.9 million.
### Best Lures and Bait
For coho salmon, using orange, pink, or silver spinners can be very effective. Fly anglers can also present streamers to catch these fish. For resident species like rainbow trout, Arctic char, and Arctic grayling, spinners, spoons, and flies continue to work well. Since salmon spawning has been ongoing, flesh and egg patterns are extremely effective for these species.
### Hot Spots
- **Togiak River**: Known for its good coho salmon fishing, this river is a great spot to catch silvers through mid to late September.
- **Wood River**: Another excellent location for coho salmon, with good to excellent fishing reported. This area also offers great fishing for rainbow trout and other resident species.
- **Naknek and Alagnak Drainages**: These areas are good for rainbow trout, using spinners, streamers, or egg patterns.
While the commercial season is over, there's still plenty of action for sport fishermen in Bristol Bay, especially for those targeting coho salmon and resident species. Enjoy your time on the water
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
### Weather and Tides
The weather in Bristol Bay this time of year is typically cool and crisp, with daytime temperatures in the 40s to 50s Fahrenheit. For today, expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 48°F and a low of 38°F. Tides are not as critical now since the commercial season has ended, but for those still out there, the tides will be moderate, with a high tide at around 10 AM and a low tide at 4 PM.
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at about 7:45 AM, and sunset is at around 6:45 PM, giving you a good window for fishing.
### Fish Activity
The commercial fishing season for sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay has concluded, with the 2024 season seeing a total run of 51.6 million fish, which is the 10th largest inshore run since 2004.
For sport fishing, coho salmon are still active in some areas. The Togiak River and the Wood River have been reporting good to excellent coho salmon fishing, which should continue through mid to late September.
### Fish Caught
In the final days of the commercial season, the baywide catch numbers were significantly lower than the peak. However, the season as a whole saw substantial catches, with the majority coming from the Naknek/Kvichak and Nushagak districts. The total harvest for the season was around 31.5 million sockeye salmon, with an escapement of 19.9 million.
### Best Lures and Bait
For coho salmon, using orange, pink, or silver spinners can be very effective. Fly anglers can also present streamers to catch these fish. For resident species like rainbow trout, Arctic char, and Arctic grayling, spinners, spoons, and flies continue to work well. Since salmon spawning has been ongoing, flesh and egg patterns are extremely effective for these species.
### Hot Spots
- **Togiak River**: Known for its good coho salmon fishing, this river is a great spot to catch silvers through mid to late September.
- **Wood River**: Another excellent location for coho salmon, with good to excellent fishing reported. This area also offers great fishing for rainbow trout and other resident species.
- **Naknek and Alagnak Drainages**: These areas are good for rainbow trout, using spinners, streamers, or egg patterns.
While the commercial season is over, there's still plenty of action for sport fishermen in Bristol Bay, especially for those targeting coho salmon and resident species. Enjoy your time on the water
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI