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Alaska's Most Popular Fish Species
and Fishing Methods
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King Salmon (Chinook Salmon)
Alaska is world famous for producing
giant trophy Chinook / King salmon.
The world record was taken in May of 1985 weighing 97 lbs. 4 oz. Every
year sees thousands of kings weighing between 30 and 80, even 90 lbs.
Their fighting strength is legendary, and those that have battled these
giants have memories that will last a lifetime. Many rivers have two runs of
Kings entering in June and July with fishing typically the best in June and July. Methods for taking river Kings include
back bouncing or back trolling with quickfish or spin and glos as well as drifting eggs from boats. Kings
can also be taken from the river banks. Saltwater king fishing is done primarily in SouthEast Alaska. |
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Sockeye Salmon (Red Salmon)
These silvery fighters average 6-12 lbs. and most of it is muscle.
These salmon begin to clog the Kenai and other Alaskan rivers in late June and the runs
end by the end of August. New Kenai River fishing regulations aimed at protecting these salmon
allow nearly one million sockeye to return to that river every summer.
Since the Sockeye tend to hug the bank, most fishing is done from the
shore. Methods include casting flies in a flipping style rather than making long casts.
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Silver Salmon (Coho Salmon)
Many anglers think silvers are the most fun of all the salmon. These
fighters are notorious for their acrobatics, burning up drags and snapping
rods. Silvers average 10-14 lbs., with lunkers nearing 20 lbs. Season
begins in early August and ends September 30th. Methods include casting
spinners, back bouncing, and back trolling. Ask about the Seward Silver
Salmon Derby - this salt water fishery is in mid-August, has a six fish
limit, non-stop action, and takes place in beautiful Resurrection Bay
about an hour and a half from Anchorage by road. Silver salmon are also of course caught in many of Alaska's beautiful rivers and the fishing tends to be best with flies in late August, September and even into October. Exact run timing however varies greatly between the different Alaskan rivers. Purple egg sucking leeches are a favorite of fly fisherman, with #4 or #5 Vibrax a favorite of spin fishermen.
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Halibut
Pacific Halibut: Alaska is home to
some of the finest halibut fishing available anywhere. Limits of halibut
weighing between 20 and 50 lbs. are the norm, with halibut between
100 and 300 lbs. coming in daily. Charters leave from Ninilchik, Homer,
and Seward, and Kodiak plus SouthEast towns of Sitka, Ketchikan and Juneau, with every port having its unique advantages: boat size,
trip length, travel time, and scenery. Combination trips fishing for
King salmon and Halibut are very popular. Halibut
fishing runs from May through September with King-halibut combos having
the greatest catch
rates in June and early July. |
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Rainbow Trout
A trip to Alaska is not complete without a rainbow trout fishing trip. Most fishing lodges offer both fly fishing for giant rainbows as well as spin fishing for those who prefer the latter. World class rainbow in the 30 inch range are caught frequently at the higher end lodges with the help of experienced guides. The Bristol Bay fishing lodges and those lodges on the Kenai River regularly catch the largest rainbow trout in Alaska. Combination trips targeting both bows and salmon are highly recommended as they offer anglers a change of pace and somewhat different scenery. Catch and release of rainbows is the norm, while everyone likes to take home a cooler of wild salmon fillets. |
Note: Many other species also inhabit Alaskan waters such as Humpy or Pink Salmon, Northern Pike, Arctic Grayling, Sheefish, Rockfish, Ling Cod, and many more. The Alaska fishing lodge where you are vacationing can tell you exactly what species are available in that part of Alaska.
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Serving
Alaskans Since 1996
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