About ALASKA Sportfishing
Alaska offers some of the most spectacular freshwater, saltwater, and fly-fishing in the world. There are more than 627 fish species that inhabit the Alaskan waters, including all five species of Pacific salmon, many types of trout, halibut, arctic char, northern pike, arctic grayling and Dolly Varden. With nearly 55,000 km (34,000 miles) of ocean shoreline, over three million lakes, 12,000 rivers and thousands more fish-filled streams, the challenge isn’t catching fish, but deciding where and what to catch.
Fishing accounts for roughly $652 million in annual spending by visitors, including purchases of licenses, guides and equipment. So it’s no wonder that every region of Alaska offers accommodations that cater to the needs of the angler, ranging from rustic camping to all-inclusive luxury fishing resorts to remote, rustic river fishing camps.
What to Catch
The most popular sportfish species in British Columbia are the five pacific Salmon species—King (Chinook), Silver (Coho), Pink (Humpies), Chum (Dog) and Red (Sockeye) salmon. Each return to their natal streams and spawn at different time of the year, depending on how far they have to travel.
- King Salmon – These are the largest of the salmon species and probably the most highly prized fish in Alaska. The Official Alaska record is a 97-pounder caught on the Kenai River in 1985 by Les Anderson. King Salmon are also the official state fish of Alaska. Their size and fight makes them highly prized by sports fishermen.
- Silver Salmon – Silver Salmon are a favourite of anglers because they are highly aggressive and strike with tremendous force, and they fight like crazy. Where King Salmon have the edge in size and weight, the smaller silvers make up for it in their willingness to fight. Silver Salmon can be caught in both salt water or fresh water but for the most rewarding fly fishing, stick to freshwater streams and rivers. The average size is about 8-12 pounds, with some reaching over 30 pounds and over 30 inches in length.
- Pink Salmon – Pinks spawn only every two years on even-numbered years. These are smaller salmon reaching only 25 inches in length and typically weighing between 3.5 and 5 pounds. They have a two-year lifecycle and fry migrate immediately after hatching to the ocean where they feed and grow for the next two years. They get the name “humpy” from males at spawning time that develop a hump on their back, and their jaws appear to be hooked. Although not as prized for eating as Sockeye and Silvers, they are the most populous fish on even-numbered years, and their smaller size makes them very suitable for beginners or small children.
- Chum Salmon – Also known as Tiger Salmon or Dog Salmon because as it matures and enters freshwater its canine teeth grow longer giving it the look of a dog’s mouth. Chum Salmon are plentiful, grow between 24-28 inches in length and typically weigh between 10 and 13 pounds when mature. They have a “calico” appearance with dark olive green and red colours that appear along their sides in alternating stripes. Chum Salmon spawn in the late summer to fall.
- Sockeye Salmon – These iconic fish are the ones you see jumping up waterfalls on television and next to Silvers are some of the hardest fighting fish that swim in Alaskan rivers. They are also considered the tastiest. Sockeye are perfect for both spinning and fly rods, and their fighting ability is legendary. Sockeyes have one of the heaviest fish runs in Alaska—in some creeks in the month of July, they will be so thick that you can practically pick them up with your hands. Most Sockeye range in length from 18 inches to about 30 inches. They typically weigh 6-10 pounds and can weigh up to 15 pounds.
Many other saltwater and freshwater fish in Alaska are also highly prized by sports fishermen. These include:
- Halibut – The Pacific Halibut are the largest sports fish in Alaska and the largest of all flatfishes. Alaska’s halibut are called “barndoors”, and for good reason: the largest sport-caught halibut tipped the scales at 455 pounds. While fish that size are rare, you can expect to catch lots in the 20-50 pound range. You “jig” for these bottom-dwellers out on the ocean. Halibut are excellent fish, with sweet, firm meat. Expect an early departure for a full-day charter and an hour or more of boat travel before you get to a prime ocean spot. Cast away and get ready for the wrestling match of a lifetime. Halibut fishing is pure adrenaline.
- Rainbow Trout – One of Alaska’s most sought-after sports fish. They are voracious feeders, and even in smaller streams they can grow to monstrous sizes. With only a few short months to gain crucial weight before the harsh winter begins, these fish have to be strong, resilient and aggressive feeders, leaving them prone to attack both top water and subsurface flies. A trophy Rainbow can weigh up to 18 pounds and be 30 inches long and weigh ten pounds.
- Dolly Varden – Often confused with trout, they are in fact a Char. They are darkly coloured fish with brightly coloured dots in reds, oranges and yellows (trout have darker spots). A Trophy sized Dolly Varden can weigh over 25 pounds.
- Ling Cod – These are large predators with an oversized, fearsome-looking head and a mouth full of sharp teeth. While notoriously ugly, larger specimens make for impressive trophies. They’re also a tasty delicacy that is much more flavourful than most other white fish. The average weight for Alaskan ling cod is 40 to 55 pounds, with some exceeding 85 pounds. While offshore ling cod fishing is popular, they are technically a reef fish and are attracted to rocky structures. This means that even large ling cod can be found in relatively shallow waters along the coast. Ling cod are also a great target fish for those who prefer catch-and-release fishing. A lack of a swim bladder means these fish have a much higher than average post-release survival rate since they can be brought up from the depths without suffering decompression injuries.
- Arctic Grayling – Weighing about five pounds and with a shimmering body length up to 24 inches, Arctic Grayling are strikingly beautiful fish that presents a variety of colours depending on habitat and its food source. They primarily eat insects and that fact makes them outstanding target for fly fishermen. They have a huge sail-like dorsal fin that helps them navigate the streams. Their brilliance is part of what makes it fun to fish for them.
- Arctic Char – The Char enjoys the colder waters of Arctic and subarctic lakes and rivers. As such their territory is fairly limited to the inland portion of Bristol Bay, and in the arctic circle and polar regions. Char are mostly found in lakes, though some are also caught in rivers. A Char can weigh up to ten pounds, maxing out at about 15 pounds.
Saltwater vs. Freshwater
Some Alaska fishing lodges offer both freshwater and saltwater fishing while others are strictly one or the other. If your target fish is Rainbow Trout then a lodge near the ocean that specializes in saltwater and freshwater fishing is not your best choice. Likewise, for those who seek to bring back lots of barndoor Halibut, you need a fishing lodge near the ocean—Kenai Peninsula or Southeast Alaska would be a good choice.
Focus on what your fishing goal is, and then narrow down your choices from there. The good news is that the Search page makes it easy to filter the lodges based on what you’re after.
When to Go fishing in alaska
Generally speaking, May through September is the fishing season in Alaska. The average summer temperature ranges from 55-78 degrees Fahrenheit, although there’s always the possibility of rain or severe storms. The best month to head to Alaska for fishing is usually July, only because so many species of fish have runs that peak during July. A lot depends on what fish you are targeting. Most Lodges Details Pages will show which species are available throughout the season (see the Species Availability Calendar in the What We Catch section on the page).
Peak season for salmon fishing occurs from May through September, with the five major species spread across the season. These months also conveniently coincide with the nicest weather the state has to offer. Experienced fishermen like to time their Alaska fishing trips based on their favourite types of salmon. King Salmon fishing begins in May, and you can continue fishing for Silver Salmon all the way through November. The entire summer offers at least one type of salmon fishing. Arrive from late May to early July to catch king salmon. Sockeye salmon runs are also prevalent from June to late July. From mid-July to mid-August, look for pink and chum salmon. Catch silver salmon, otherwise called coho salmon, later in the season from July to October.
If you simply want to catch as many fish as possible, you should go fishing in August. The Silver Salmon run in Western Alaska peaks throughout the month of August and consistently provides numbers of fish that aren’t really believable until you experience it first hand. Rainbow trout are also at their fattest in August.
alaska Fishing Limits
Fishing regulations differ depending on which region you’re fishing in the state.
Bristol Bay
King Salmon
- Season is open May 1–July 31.
- For freshwater, a maximum of 3 per day that are 20 inches or longer, and a maximum of 3 in one’s possession at a time, only 1 of which may be 28 inches or longer. For fish less than 20 inches, 10 per day and 10 in possession. If you intend to release a king salmon, you may not remove it from the water before releasing it.
- For saltwater, up to 3 per day and a maximum of 3 in one’s possession at a time, only 2 of which may be 28 inches or longer.
- For both freshwater and saltwater, the annual limit of fish longer than 20 inches is 5. Of these 5 total king salmon, no more than 4 may be harvested from the Nushagak/Mulchatna river drainage, and no more than 2 may be harvested from the Wood River drainage.
- Anglers visiting Bristol Bay need King Salmon stamps on their Personal Identification Card.
Silver, Chum, Pink and Sockeye Salmon
Maximum 5 per day, and 5 in possession.
Halibut
Season open February 1 to December 31. Maximum 2 fish per day either under 38″ or over 80 inches. You can catch-and-release until you get the desired fish. There is no annual limit.
Lingcod and Rockfish
No limits.
Arctic Char and Dolly Varden
From June 8 to October 31, maximum 3 per day, 3 in possession. From November 1 to June 7, 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Rainbow Trout
From June 8 to October 31, 2 per day, 2 in possession, only 1 of which may be 20 inches or longer. From November 1 to June 7, 5 per day, 5 in possession, only 1 of which may be 20 inches or longer.
Arctic Grayling
2 per day, 2 in possession.
There are special regulations applicable to the Wood River drainage, Agulowak River, Agulukpak River and Kulik Lake—for more details see the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.
Kodiak Island
King Salmon
- Season is open year-round.
- For freshwater, a maximum of 2 per day that are 20 inches or longer, and a maximum of 3 in one’s possession at a time. For fish less than 20 inches, 10 per day and 10 in possession.
- For saltwater, up to 2 per day and a maximum of 2 in one’s possession at a time. No annual limit on saltwater-caught king salmon.
Silver, Chum, Pink and Sockeye Salmon
- Kodiak Island is divided into two zones: the “road zone” near the town of Kodiak and the rest of the Island (“remote zone”).
- Road zone – freshwater: For fish 20 inches or longer, the limit is 5 per day and 5 in possession (combination of all species), only 2 of which may be sockeye salmon, only 2 of which may be coho salmon caught prior to September 16, and only 1 of which may be a coho salmon caught September 16-December 31. For fish less than 20 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession.
- Remote zone – freshwater: For fish 20 inches or longer, the limit is 5 per day and 10 in possession (combination of all species). For fish less than 20 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession.
- Road zone – saltwater (within 1 mile of the Road Zone) – 5 per day, 5 in possession, only 2 of which may be sockeye salmon, only 2 of which may be coho salmon prior to Sept 16, and only 1 of which may be a coho salmon from September 16-Dec. 31.
- Elsewhere – saltwater – 5 per day, 10 in possession.
Halibut
Season open February 1 to December 31. Maximum 2 fish per day either under 38″ or over 80 inches. You can catch-and-release until you get the desired fish. There is no annual limit.
Lingcod
Season open July 1 – December 31, 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Rockfish
Season is open year-round. 5 per day, 10 in possession; only 2 per day, 4 in possession may be non-pelagic, only 1 per day, 2 in possession may be a Yelloweye.
Dolly Varden and Arctic CHAR
Season is open year-round. 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Rainbow Trout and Steelhead
- Kodiak Island is divided into two zones: the “road zone” near the town of Kodiak and the rest of the Island (“remote zone”).
- Remote Zone – 2 per day, 2 in possession, only 1 of which may be 20 inches or longer. For fish 20 inches or longer, annual limit of 2 fish. Harvest record required.
- Road Zone – No retention. All rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately (there are exceptions for stocked lakes).
There are no limits on any other species.
Kenai Peninsula
Fishing for all species is open year-round unless otherwise stated.
King Salmon
- The fresh waters of the Kenai Peninsula are closed to king salmon fishing, except Kenai River, Anchor River, Deep Creek, Kasilof River and Ninilchik River.
- There are special regulations for the Kenai River—from its mouth upstream to 300 yards below Slikok Creek. From January 1 to June 30, 1 per day, 1 in possession, must be less than 36 inches in length. From July 1 to July 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.
- For the Kenai river from 300 yards below Slikok Creek upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, from January 1 to July 31, 1 per day, 1 in possession, must be less than 36 inches in length.
- For saltwater fishing, from April 1 to August 31, maximum 1 per day, 1 in possession (of any size) caught north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40’ N), or 2 per day, 2 in possession (of any size) if caught south of the latitude of Bluff Point (59°40’N)
- For freshwater fishing in those areas open to king salmon fishing, and saltwater areas (Cook Inlet) there is a combined annual limit of 5 king salmon that are 20 inches or longer.
Silver, Chum, Pink and Sockeye Salmon
- In stocked lakes, the limit is 10 per day, 10 in possession in combination.
- In other lakes, ponds and all flowing waters, for fish 16 inches or longer, 3 per day, 3 in possession, only 2 per day, 2 in possession may be silver salmon. If less than 16 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession in combination.
- Special regulations for chum and sockeye the Kenai River: for fish 16 inches or longer, 3 per day, 6 in possession in combination; for fish less than 16 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession in combination.
- Special regulations for silver salmon in the Kenai River:
- Fish 16 inches or longer, from July 1–August 31: 2 per day, 2 in possession. The limits for silvers are in combination with sockeye or chum salmon. For example, you may have 1 sockeye or chum and 2 coho per day (or 2 sockeye or chum and 1 silver) – not 3 sockeye or chum and 2 silver per day.
- Fish 16 inches or longer, from September 1–November 30: 3 per day, 6 in possession in combination (all 3 may be silvers).
- Fish 16 inches or longer, from November 1–June 30: Fishing for silver salmon is closed upstream of Bings Landing.
- Fish less than 16 inches, from July 1–November 30: 10 per day, 10 in possession in combination.
- Fish less than 16 inches, from November 1–June 30: Fishing for silver salmon is closed upstream of Bings Landing.
- Special regulations for pink salmon in the Kenai River:
- Fish 16 inches or longer: 6 per day, 6 in possession.
- Fish less than 16 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Halibut
Season open February 1 to December 31. Maximum 2 fish per day either under 38″ or over 80 inches. You can catch-and-release until you get the desired fish. There is no annual limit.
Lingcod
Season open July 1–December 31. Limit 2 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
Rockfish
Season is open year-round. 5 per day, 10 in possession; only 1 per day, 2 in possession may be non-pelagic.
Dolly Varden and Arctic Char
- In flowing waters: 2 per day, 2 in possession.
- In lakes and ponds: 5 per day, 5 in possession
- Special regulations for Dolly Varden and arctic char in the Kenai River: 1 per day, 1 in possession, must be less than 16 inches long.
Rainbow Trout and Steelhead
- In flowing waters: 2 per day, 2 in possession; only 1 fish may be 20 inches or longer. In lakes and ponds: 5 per day, 5 in possession; only 1 fish may be 20 inches or longer.
- For fish 20 inches or longer, there is a total annual limit of 2 rainbow/
steelhead trout taken north of the latitude of Point Adam or from the waters of West Cook Inlet, Susitna River Drainage, Knik Arm, Anchorage Bowl, Kenai Lake drainages, Kenai River tributaries, and Kenai Peninsula. - Special regulations for rainbow trout and steelhead in the Kenai River: 1 per day, 1 in possession, must be less than 16 inches long.
Arctic Grayling
5 per day, 5 in possession.
There are no limits on any other species.
Interior
Fishing for all species is open year-round unless otherwise stated.
King Salmon
- 20 inches or longer—1 per day, 1 in possession.
- Less than 20 inches—10 per day, 10 in possession.
Silver and Chum Salmon
3 per day, 3 in possession—in combination, no size limit.
Arctic Char and Dolly Varden
10 per day, 10 in possession.
Arctic Grayling
5 per day, 5 in possession, no size limit.
Northern Pike
5 per day, 5 in possession—only 1 of which may be 30 inches or longer.
Whitefish
15 per day, 15 in possession, no size limit.
There are no limits on any other species.
Southeast Alaska
The freshwater fishing season for all species is open year-round (except for king salmon in the fresh waters between Cape Fairweather and the International Boundary at Dixon Entrance). The saltwater fishing season for all species is open year-round, except for halibut, lingcod and rockfish.
King Salmon
- All king salmon freshwater fishing is closed except the Yakutat area (between Cape Suckling and Cape Fairweather) where the limit is 1 per day, 1 in possession for fish 20 inches or longer and 10 per day, 10 in possession for fish less than 20 inches. Annual limit of 3 fish 28 inches or greater in length.
- For saltwater fishing:
- April 5 to June 30 the annual limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
- July 1 to July 31 the annual limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the one fish annual limit.
- August 1 to August 15, nonresidents may not retain any king salmon during this time.
- August 16 to September 15, the annual limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 31 will apply toward the one fish annual limit.
Silver Salmon
- For freshwater fishing, fish must be 16 inches or longer, limited to 4 per day and 8 in possession between Cape Suckling and Cape Fairweather, or 6 per day and 12 in possession between Cape Fairweather and Dixon Entrance.
- For saltwater fishing, 6 per day, 12 in possession if longer than 16 inches, or 10 per day and 10 in possession if less than 16 inches.
Chum, Pink and Sockeye Salmon
For both freshwater and saltwater fishing, for fish 16 inches or longer, limited to 6 of each species per day, 12 of each species in possession. For fish less than 16 inches long, 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Halibut
Season open February 1 to December 31. Maximum 2 fish per day either under 38″ or over 80 inches. You can catch-and-release until you get the desired fish. There is no annual limit.
Lingcod
Season open May 16 – November 30, 1 per day, 1 in possession; 30–45 inches or 55 inches and longer, annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30–45 inches in length, and one that is 55 inches or greater in length.
Rockfish
For pelagic rockfish, 5 per day, 10 in possession, no size limit. For non-pelagic rockfish, no size limit: 1 per day, 1 in possession; annual limit of 1 yelloweye. No non-pelagic rockfish retention in waters beyond the islands.
Dolly Varden, Brook Trout, Arctic Grayling
No size limit. 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Steelhead
36 inches or longer: 1 per day, 2 in possession. 2 fish annual limit.
Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout
11 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum: 2 per day, 2 in possession.
alaska Fishing Licenses and King Stamps
All non-residents 16 or older must purchase and possess a sportfishing license. In addition, a king salmon stamp is required to fish for king salmon. These laws apply in both fresh and marine waters. Fishing licenses and king salmon stamps may be purchased online, at most sporting goods stores, and at Fish and Game offices.
Non-residents under 16 years of age do not need to purchase a king salmon stamp in order to fish for king salmon.