9 NOV 2024 · As of November 9, 2024, the fishing season in Bristol Bay, Alaska, has wrapped up for the year, but here’s a summary of the recent activities and some insights for future reference.
### Weather and Tides
Since the fishing season has ended, current weather and tide conditions are not as crucial, but for general information, Bristol Bay typically experiences cold temperatures and potential snow in November. Tides in the bay follow a mixed semidiurnal pattern, but specific tide times would need to be checked for the exact location and date.
### Sunrise and Sunset
On November 9, 2024, in the Bristol Bay area, sunrise is around 9:30 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:30 PM.
### Fish Activity
During the peak season, which ended in mid-September, fishing for resident species like rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and northern pike was reported as great to excellent. For salmon, particularly coho salmon, the Togiak River and Wood River were hot spots, with good to excellent fishing reported through mid to late September.
### Fish Caught
In the final days of the season, coho salmon fishing remained strong. On the Togiak River and Wood River, anglers were catching coho salmon using spinners, spoons, twitching jigs, and fly streamers. The total catch for the season included millions of sockeye salmon, with the bay-wide catch lining up with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's prediction of roughly 39 million sockeye salmon, down from the previous year[3].
### Best Lures and Bait
For resident species, spinners, spoons, and flies were highly effective. As salmon spawning progressed, flesh and egg patterns became extremely effective. For coho salmon, orange, pink, or silver spinners, as well as streamers and twitching jigs, were successful[1].
### Hot Spots
- **Togiak River**: Known for its coho salmon fishing, this river was a prime location through mid to late September.
- **Wood River**: Excellent for coho salmon, with anglers using a variety of lures and baits.
- **Naknek, Alagnak and Alagnak Drainages**: Good spots for rainbow trout, using spinners, streamers, or egg patterns[1].
For the upcoming season, make sure to check the latest regulations and emergency orders before heading out, and consider downloading the ADF&G Mobile App for convenient access to fishing information.