Everything you need to know about wild alaskan salmon. Kenai river salmon run timing alaska fishing and lodging. Wild alaska salmon season begins the celebrated wild alaska summer salmon harvest season begins thursday, may 18, signaling the natural return of the regions most iconic fish through a thriving annual migration cycle that is ensured by alaska s constitutional pledge to sustain wild populations for generations to come. The kenai is home to the worlds largest salmon with the record weighing in at 97. Later in the fishing season, from july to october, you can expect to catch silver. There are many different types of salmon as well as other sport fish in rivers and lakes. King chinook the largest and most prized of all the species, typically between 20 and 60 pounds each. King salmon has a creel limit of three for fish that are 20 inches or longer. Here is a calendar outlining the fishing seasons in alaska with the regions in which they. Kenai fishing season report for 2020 king of the river. Our alaska king salmon fishing season runs from may 10 july, and trips for silver, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon are scheduled from july 14 september 10. Alaska fishing guide, alaska salmon fishing guide, alaska. Area 1 herring roe specifically begins and vary by area. Whether you want one day of alaska salmon fishing or a package for a week long our professional guides will help you fill your dreams.
A projected return of 379,600 spawnings sacramento river fallrun chinook salmon to central valley rivers has allowed fishery managers to ret. Best time to fish in alaska chart showing summer runs, may to. When is the best time for salmon fishing in alaska. Due to numerous factors there has been a decrease in the number of king salmon as well as the size. Good places for this are near anchorage, homer, ketchikan, and seward. Alaska s salmon resource is of immense value to many people on both the commercial fishing side, and in the sport fishing ecosystem. Heres a rundown of what you need to know about each species with the nickname in parentheses. Profishnsea charters, located in seward, alaska, will take you on a truly unique alaska fishing trip to experience an unforgettable day of alaska halibut or salmon fishing. King salmon are generally available in june and into july, and silver salmon begin. Halibut season is from may 10 to september 30, with their peak running midjune through midaugust. Then go to the drainage or area you will be fishing. Commercial salmon fisheries, alaska department of fish and.
Alaska king salmon fishing on the kenai river has you fishing for the worlds largest, averaging 35 60 pounds, with 12 a dozen topping the 80 pound mark falling to our guests over the years. Alaskan cruises that include salmon fishing usa today. Salmon fishing guide in alaska how to get the best guide. Kenai river fish run times soldotna chamber of commerce. Below are the weeks for the upcoming fishing season, we are fortunate that our approach results in a high number of return guests so we can fill up quickly. Kings are often the first salmon caught during the season, which starts around may.
Alaska alaska drivers manual alaska motorcycle manual alaska commercial drivers. Sitka, home to alaskas largest marine silver salmon fishery, ranging from 30 to 126 pounds. Season opening dates for salmon are predicated on projected run sizes. Alaska salmon fishing trips on the kenai and kasilof rivers. The forecasted salmon returns for 20 are lower than in recent years and in some cases not too much more than what is required for broodstock at the. Alaska pollock fishing seasons a, b, c, and d seasons.
Important dates to know about the fishing season in alaska 2019 ketchikan king salmon derby typically runs during the last two weekends of may and the first two of june. Join us for a salmon, halibut, or squid fishing charter this summer. Best time for salmon fishing in alaska 2020 best season. If you are looking for the ultimate alaska fishing adventure, look no further. Being the end of season the fish were not biting and other. The following table denotes the start and end of the salmon season for rod fishing both dates inclusive there is no fishing for salmon or sea trout on a sunday. King salmon is available from the end of may through the end of july, and their peak depends on the specific location and variety. The salmon returning to alaskan stream and rearing in alaskan waters are the basis for one of alaska s most important industries and underpin a traditional subsistence lifestyle in rural portions of the state.
We come down here every year for an experience like no other. A salmon primer for alaskan salmon season the seattle times. The kenai river sonar fish count shows that between 15,000 and 25,000 kings pass through in july during the second run. When is the best time to go salmon fishing in alaska. Californias inland salmon anglers can look forward to a better salmon fly fishing season than last year. Select a region from the map or nearby text listing and look for regionwide regulations. This is the standard guided fishing trip purchased by most of our guests. June 10 july 25 sockeye salmon season in bristol bay june 10.
Salmon fishing on the kenai in june goes through warm and cool spells making your guide very important in knowing where and how to find the fish on a regular basis. Best time to fish in alaska chart showing summer runs. If youre planning on going on a guided trip, be sure to explain to the guide your intentions of the fishing trip. Salmon fishing in alaska when is the best time to go. Peak season for salmon fishing occurs from may through september, with the five major species spread across the season. Ketchikan salmon fishing 2020 all you need to know. So contact us if you have questions on dates you may want to consider or with general questions about fishing in alaska and the experience at. King salmon fishing begins in may, and you can continue fishing for silver salmon. For many people, the kickoff of copper river salmon season means that summer is officially here. If youre visiting alaska, youll mostly likely to arrive in summer. Snagging reds in seward alaska how to catch your limit. Profishnsea charters, out of seward, offers salmon and halibut fishing with friendly, experienced alaskan guides. Find out when the four seasons begin and end a, b, c, and d season information.
Season takes place from late april to june and then from late september to november. Sport fishing regulations, alaska department of fish and game. May through september, with the five major species spread across the season. King salmon fishing begins in may, and you can continue fishing for silver salmon all the way through november. If your dream alaskan getaway includes dining on your own wildcaught salmon, these four cruise excursions are more than happy to help. King salmon fishing alaska king salmon fishing on the kenai and kasilof rivers is world renown and for good reason. The captain went out of his way to help us land a salmon. Bright red salmon, pink salmon, fighting silver salmon and a local starthe huge king salmon are waiting for you. Opening and closing dates may vary from year to year, but this is a general overview of the. Around the start of the second week of may is when the silver. Alaska fishing seasons salmon, halibut trout denise lake lodge. Alaska fishing industry plans for salmon season amid virus. Season lengths indicated in this summary are subject to closure. Alaska salmon fishing charters, flyins, day trips, lodges.
Depending on what type of salmon you want to fish you need to know the best time of year to fish for them. Halibut are available all season long, along with true cod and black rockfish. In yukon, the fishing season is open all year for all salmon species. Information by fishery on commercial salmon fishing in alaska. Salmon fishing was part of native alaska culture long before modern society developed. July, august and early september host the late silver salmon run. Season goes from early august through early october. King salmon fishing alaska is some of the best king salmon fishing in the world.
Then go to the drainage or area you will be fishing and look for specific regulations. Alaska commercial fisheries calendar of fishing seasons. Ketchikan alaska salmon fishing seasons alaska go fish. If youre looking to catch salmon, come to alaska for salmon fishing from may. Sitkas pacific ocean king salmon fishing is in full swing in may and june, with stragglers swimming through midaugust. Whether you are a seasoned fisherman or a beginner, the key is to plan your fishing trip. Alaskas commercial salmon season is off to a mixed start. As part of the tradition to celebrate the first catch, alaska airlines hosted the 9 th annual copper chef cookoff on friday at seattletacoma. Alaska peak salmon run calendar wilderness place lodge. View our salmon run calendar and peak seasons to determine to your preferred fishing.
Anchorage, alaska ap alaska government officials and fishing industry professionals are making plans to ensure the state can have a strong summer salmon season amid changes forced by the. Commercial fishing seasons in alaska alaska department of fish. Emergency orders eos always supersede the published. Our alaska peak fishing calendar is an essential guide to planning your ideal alaska fishing trip. The evergreen state offers a vast array of fisheries, from puget sound to rivers and lakes on both sides of the cascades.
Countless 50, 60 and 70 pound salmon have been kept or released as well. Alaska commercial fishing seasons city of unalaska. Before heading out, make sure you have the appropriate recreational fishing license and be sure to take the following steps download and read the annual fishing pamphlet, which details rules and regulations statewide check for any emergency rule changes affecting the. May is the start of the downstream migration of the salmon fry, and where these abundant swimmers go, predators follow. This week marks the official start of the 2018 copper river king salmon season in cordova, alaska. Alaska salmon fishing alaska salmon fishing with mark. Alaska s salmon season has gotten off to a mixed start, with strong catches in some regions over the past month and dismal hauls in others. Need an alaskan salmon fishing guide there are an endless number of ways to prepare salmon, but there is nothing better than savoring the taste of wild alaskan salmon that you caught yourself. Catch and release became mandatory across scotland in 2015 until 1 st april 1 st may in the esk district. Salmon fishing season is one of the best times of the year to visit the great state of alaska. If youre looking to catch salmon, come to alaska for salmon fishing from may through october, as these months happen to coincide with the states most pleasant weather. Flyout fishing for all species of salmon and trout are available.
First to run are chinook king salmon, followed by sockeye red salmon and then the coho silver salmon. King salmon from copper river in southcentral alaska are among the first salmon commercially harvested in the state each year, and among the. When to go fishing in alaska depends on what kind of fish you want to catch. For those not familiar with the salmon fishing seasons on the kenai river we are. Fish for alaskan pollock aboard a factory trawler vessel. Also, different species of salmon run at different times through the summer. In order to maintain our stocks and to prevent overharvest, its important that we have a good idea of how many fish are in a given run. Alaska fishing with mark glassmaker offers world class salmon fishing on the kenai and kasilof rivers along with remote fly out destinations in southcentral and western alaska. These fish make awesome runs and are great leapers. This run starts arriving around the second week of may and often is led in by. Kenai river fish run times if you plan on fishing the kenai river while visiting soldotna, alaska be sure to check the fish runs prior to your trip. Area 2 general salmon season gillnetting and purse seiners june 8 sept.