By Nick Varney

Special to the Homer Independent Press

Scouting out the fishing action over the Memorial Day weekend was entertaining to say the least.

Dateline Saturday:

First, I didn’t make a move toward the Homer Spit because the incoming traffic from the north was as thick as pimples at a puberty commencement celebration.

Second, I had to rummage through the bowels of our basement in search of backup winter gear when our lawn suddenly turned white and sandhill cranes were gathering on the beach to vote on whether to jet back south.

Mother Nature had a snit on.

Dateline Sunday:

Initial stop, the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

My first hint that the kings weren’t in was the presence of just a couple of vehicles. The second featured three frustrated looking fishermen prowling the banks firing everything from herring under a bobber to spinning lures so huge their splashdowns should have set off tsunami warnings.

The third and most telling observation was the complete dearth of flossing snaggers who lack the basic skills to get a fish strike at a kiddy pond of an outdoors show.

So, I moved on to where there was real action, the boat launch.

That was a fascinating stop. I had no idea some people are convinced that they can launch a boat at a 90 degree angle.

Dateline Monday:

The “pay to stay” campgrounds that were packed on Sunday started emptying as their visitors smoked north, leaving more openings than the customers’ window of a bait herring sandwich truck.

The Fishing Hole continued to reflect the action associated with a typical “all-you-can-eat” buffet featuring two-week old sushi, but several of the cleaning tables displayed some nice flatfish and hunky Pacific cod along with a few shiny kings.

Time now to take a look at the fishing report for the week of May 22:

Freshwater fishing

The Anchor River and Deep Creek are closed to all sport fishing through July 15, 2026.

The Ninilchik River is closed to fishing for hatchery kings.

Although water conditions are fair, expect trifling blackmouth action given that the finny critters are running late.

Single hook spinners and spoons are the coolest bet since the fishery is closed to the use of bait and multiple hooks this season. Ya think?

If you by chance hook a steelhead or wild king, bring it to the bank as quickly as possible without launching it airborne then release it without removing the fish from the water.

Saltwater fishing

Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet

Halibut

Halibut fishing is off to a boringly slow start but should continue to improve unless we take a direct hit by an asteroid.

Typically the shallow water from Bluff Point to Anchor Point is a good place to try for the bigger fish this time of the season.

Fishing around slack tide is the best time for nailing halibut because you can hold the bottom with less weight which is really great for your back.

King Salmon

King fishing south of Bluff Point has been pathetic so far this spring. Hang in there.

Anglers are getting into fish scattered throughout Kachemak Bay including Bluff Point, Bear Cove and Eldred Passage.

Small troll herring or spoons behind a flasher will get the job done, but spoons, hootchies, and tube flies will also fire them up.

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing on Cook Inlet beaches has been slow to fair recently.

Anglers are catching a variety of groundfish including halibut, sculpins, skates, sharks, flounders, and yummy cod.

Hey, don’t forget about fishing off the tip of the Homer Spit – that location can be can be a kick with everything from flounders to things that offer proof of the existence of aliens.

Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon

As mentioned previously, the king run at the lagoon has yet to show up so expect miserable fishing through the weekend.

Fishing the incoming or outgoing tide is typically your best bet when the Chinooks decide to make an appearance.

Seldovia Slough

Similar to the Dudiak Lagoon, there haven’t been any king salmon reported yet in Seldovia.

Emergency Orders

• Anchor River and Deep Creek Closed to All Sport Fishing Through July 15 and Gear Restricted July 16 Through July 31
• King Salmon Restrictions in Cook Inlet Salt Waters
• Reduced Season and Bag Limit for Hatchery King Salmon, and Gear Restrictions in the Ninilchik River
• Rockfish bag limit reduction: 2 pelagic, 1 non-pelagic. No retention of yelloweye April 1st – June 30th.
• Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast Sport and Personal Use Razor Clam Permit Now Required
  
  
  Until next week…
  
  
  You can reach Nick at ncvarney@gmail.com if you have any tips, tales or semi-sober comments.