Alaska
fishing can be incredible! Salmon runs
are strong along Alaska’s coasts and through the inside passage. There and there really are some
giant halibut in Alaska waters. King salmon over 50 pounds are
not at all uncommon. Grayling and northern pike are easy to catch
in many inland streams. And you can
fish amid some of the most incredible scenery on the continent while staying at one of the local fishing lodges. For more information on traveling to and from these fishing destinations, look through the transportation page.
Southeast Alaska, sometimes called the "panhandle,"
is a land of deep fjords, rushing mountain streams and glaciers. This portion of Alaska is home to some of the best fishing and also great tourist locations like Ketchikan and Whitehorse.
Much of the land is in the Tongass National Forest. Another popular destination found in the Northwest portion of the state is Katmai National Park. For a better idea of the location of these incredible landmarks, visit the map page. Summers are
cool and moist; winters are cooler and snowy, but much less cold
than portions of Alaska not warmed by the ocean. Salmon return
in large numbers to thousands of streams. Halibut move into near
shore waters in the summer. Several species of trout are available.
A variety of bottom fish can be caught. Shrimp and crab can be
found in some waters.
Species:
Primary fishing species in this area include
five species of Pacific Salmon (King, silver, sockeye, pink and
chum), Pacific halibut, trout, steelhead and Dolly Varden. Pink
salmon are most abundant; king salmon least. There are good numbers
of fish in the area.
| BEST
SALTWATER FISHING
TIMES in southern Southeast Alaska (ADF&G data) |
| Species |
Availability |
Peak |
|
|
year
round |
May
thru mid July |
|
Sockeye
salmon
|
June
thru August |
June
thru August |
|
Coho
salmon
|
June
thru mid October |
mid
July thru September |
|
|
June
thru August |
July
thru mid-August |
|
Chum
salmon
|
June
thru mid September |
mid-July
thru August |
|
|
year
round |
June
thru mid-July |
|
Cutthroat
trout
|
May
thru September |
June |
|
|
February
thru December |
mid-June
thru mid-September |
|
Rockfish
|
mid-January
thru December |
June
thru mid-September |
|
Lingcod
|
year
round |
year
round |
| BEST
FRESH WATER FISHING TIMES in southern
Southeast Alaska (ADF&G data) |
| Species |
Availability |
Peak |
|
King
salmon
|
mid-May
thru August
|
mid-June
thru mid-August
|
|
Sockeye
salmon
|
June
thru August
|
July
thru August
|
|
Coho
salmon
|
mid-June
thru mid-November
|
mid-August
thru September
|
|
Pink
salmon
|
July
thru mid-October
|
mid-July
thru September
|
|
Chum
salmon
|
July
thru October
|
August
|
|
Dolly
Varden
|
year
round
|
July
thru October
|
|
Steelhead
trout
|
year
round except July
|
April,
May, Nov. & Dec.
|
|
Rainbow
trout
|
year
round
|
May
and June
|
|
Cutthroat
trout
|
year
round
|
May
and June
|
|
Brook
trout
|
year
round
|
July
thru September
|
|
Grayling
|
year
round
|
year
round
|
|
Kokanee
|
year
round |
May,
Jun, Oct. & Nov.
|
Geography:
Typical of Southeast Alaska, the Ketchikan
area is comprised of islands surrounded by arms of the Pacific
Ocean, and a stretch of the mainland incised by deep fjords. Because
of the extensive annual precipitation, there are many streams
throughout the area, usually populated with fish. The islands
are heavily forested with thick underbrush. Most of the area is
protected from the open Pacific.
|
