April 17th, 2025
Fishing in Alaska: A Planning Guide
The biggest problem with fishing in Alaska is making decisions - saltwater or fresh, guided or unguided, remote lodge or road system, summer or winter, where to go - the list of options is nearly endless. However, whether you're a die-hard fly fishing purist or a visitor who'd just like to catch a couple salmon to take home for friends and family, you can fulfill your fishing fantasies in Alaska. Read on to learn when, where, and how to fish in Alaska.
Alaska Fishing Regulations
First things first: do you need a fishing license to fish in Alaska? Yes, fishing licenses are required to fish in Alaska. Different licenses are available for residents, non-residents, and military. Senior licenses for ages 60+ are available for residents only. Non-resident fishing licenses can be purchased just about anywhere in Alaska, from the corner grocery store to sometimes right on-board your charter vessel. You can even purchase your fishing license online. For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Fish & Game website. Non-Resident Fishing License Fees: 1 day: $15, 3 days: $30, 7 days: $45, 14 days: $75, Annual: $100.
Alaska Fish Species
Alaska is home to about 600 species of fish. While you may want to catch them all, here are the top 5 sport fish in Alaska and the best time to catch them:
Salmon
King (chinooks): May – July
Sockeye (reds): June – August
Coho (silvers): July – September
Pink (humpys): July – August
Chum (dogs): July – August
Halibut: March – October
Rockfish: Year-Round
Rainbow Trout: June – September
Dolly Varden: July - October
Best Fishing in Alaska
Whether you make your vacation plans with fishing foremost in your mind or add it in as a sideline, you can find places to fish and fish to catch any time of year and any place in the state where there's water. The first decision is deciding where to go.
Fishing in Inside Passage Alaska
The Inside Passage is famous for saltwater fishing, and the freshwater possibilities are equally impressive. A myriad of full-service wilderness lodges and charter boat services are available. Juneau, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Haines, Skagway, Petersburg, Sitka, and Yakutat are the key gateway cities to this diverse coastal region. Salmon is the area’s most popular species, and many communities sponsor derbies for the largest salmon caught.
Fishing in KETCHIKAN
Saltwater Charters: Ketchikan calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World and for this reason anglers flock to the city. Charter fishing tours target all five species of Pacific salmon. Other species available include halibut, red snapper, lingcod, and rock cod.
Salt Lagoon Creek: Located 22 miles north of Ketchikan, accessible by boat. Coho and pink salmon, Dolly Varden, and cutthroat are some of the species you’ll find.
Fishing in JUNEAU
Auke Bay: Located approximately 12 miles north of Juneau and accessible primarily by boat. King salmon is available all year with the best season for larger fish May to June. Coho salmon are best in August and pink salmon are best July and August.
Gastineau Channel: Located between Juneau and Douglas Island and runs for 19 miles. Accessible by boat or by road from certain shore areas. A variety of species can be caught including king, coho, pink, and chum salmon, and Dolly Varden.
Fishing in WRANGELL
Saltwater Charters: The action begins in late April or May when king salmon are the first to begin spawning. Along with salmon, anglers fish for halibut, red snapper, ling cod, and sea bass.
Harding River: Located in Bradfield canal 35 air miles from Wrangell, accessible by boat or plane and a Forest Service cabin is available. Fish available are coho salmon, chum salmon, Dolly Varden, and cutthroat trout.
Fishing in HAINES
Saltwater Charters: Local charter companies target all 5 species of Pacific salmon with excellent fishing for king salmon. Other species include halibut, rockfish, and lingcod.
Chilkat Inlet, Lake, and River: Located southwest of Haines and accessible by boat or road. Camping, picnic sites, and boat launching available. King salmon is the most common species caught in these waters.
Fishing in SKAGWAY
Saltwater Charters: Fishing for all 5 species of Pacific salmon with excellent king salmon fishing, plus halibut, rockfish, and lingcod.
Dewey Lakes: Located two miles southeast of Skagway and accessible by trail. Brook trout is the most common species caught in the lower lake and rainbow trout in the upper lake.
Lost Lake: Located 10 miles from Skagway by road and continue by trail for a strenuous two mile hike. Good spot for rainbow trout.
Fishing in PETERSBURG
Saltwater Charters: Targeting halibut along with king and coho salmon.
Eagles Roost Park: Beach access by a short paved trail close to downtown, with fishing for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.
Petersburg Lake and Petersburg Creek: Accessible by boat access from town. Fish for salmon, Dolly Varden, steelhead trout, cutthroat trout.
Fishing in SITKA
Saltwater Charters: Sitka Sound waters are home to all five species of Pacific salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Coho and pink salmon are also targeted to a lesser degree along shoreline areas and in fresh water.
Swan Lake: Lake near downtown Sitka with Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.
Indian River: Several trails in town provide access to Indian River to fish for salmon, Dolly Varden, and rainbow trout. Fishing for salmon is prohibited in the lower section of the river downstream from Sawmill Creek Road Bridge.
Heart Lake and Thimbleberry Lake: Two lakes along the Sitka road system that have established populations of brook trout.
Beaver Lake: On the road system and stocked with Arctic grayling.
Fishing in YAKUTAT
Saltwater Charters in Yakutat Bay: Located west of Yakutat and accessible primarily by boat. A variety of species available including halibut, ling cod, king and coho salmon, red snapper, black bass, and rock fish throughout the summer.
Situk River: 12 miles south of town by road. One of the area’s top fishing spots for coho salmon, pink salmon, and cutthroat trout.
Rivers and Lakes along Yakutat Road System: Variety of sport fishing opportunities in rivers that drain into the Gulf of Alaska along the Yakutat road system. King, sockeye, and coho salmon can be caught during spawning runs and rainbow trout, steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are present in many streams and lakes. back...
The biggest problem with fishing in Alaska is making decisions - saltwater or fresh, guided or unguided, remote lodge or road system, summer or winter, where to go - the list of options is nearly endless. However, whether you're a die-hard fly fishing purist or a visitor who'd just like to catch a couple salmon to take home for friends and family, you can fulfill your fishing fantasies in Alaska. Read on to learn when, where, and how to fish in Alaska.
Alaska Fishing Regulations
First things first: do you need a fishing license to fish in Alaska? Yes, fishing licenses are required to fish in Alaska. Different licenses are available for residents, non-residents, and military. Senior licenses for ages 60+ are available for residents only. Non-resident fishing licenses can be purchased just about anywhere in Alaska, from the corner grocery store to sometimes right on-board your charter vessel. You can even purchase your fishing license online. For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Fish & Game website. Non-Resident Fishing License Fees: 1 day: $15, 3 days: $30, 7 days: $45, 14 days: $75, Annual: $100.
Alaska Fish Species
Alaska is home to about 600 species of fish. While you may want to catch them all, here are the top 5 sport fish in Alaska and the best time to catch them:
Salmon
King (chinooks): May – July
Sockeye (reds): June – August
Coho (silvers): July – September
Pink (humpys): July – August
Chum (dogs): July – August
Halibut: March – October
Rockfish: Year-Round
Rainbow Trout: June – September
Dolly Varden: July - October
Best Fishing in Alaska
Whether you make your vacation plans with fishing foremost in your mind or add it in as a sideline, you can find places to fish and fish to catch any time of year and any place in the state where there's water. The first decision is deciding where to go.
Fishing in Inside Passage Alaska
The Inside Passage is famous for saltwater fishing, and the freshwater possibilities are equally impressive. A myriad of full-service wilderness lodges and charter boat services are available. Juneau, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Haines, Skagway, Petersburg, Sitka, and Yakutat are the key gateway cities to this diverse coastal region. Salmon is the area’s most popular species, and many communities sponsor derbies for the largest salmon caught.
Fishing in KETCHIKAN
Saltwater Charters: Ketchikan calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World and for this reason anglers flock to the city. Charter fishing tours target all five species of Pacific salmon. Other species available include halibut, red snapper, lingcod, and rock cod.
Salt Lagoon Creek: Located 22 miles north of Ketchikan, accessible by boat. Coho and pink salmon, Dolly Varden, and cutthroat are some of the species you’ll find.
Fishing in JUNEAU
Auke Bay: Located approximately 12 miles north of Juneau and accessible primarily by boat. King salmon is available all year with the best season for larger fish May to June. Coho salmon are best in August and pink salmon are best July and August.
Gastineau Channel: Located between Juneau and Douglas Island and runs for 19 miles. Accessible by boat or by road from certain shore areas. A variety of species can be caught including king, coho, pink, and chum salmon, and Dolly Varden.
Fishing in WRANGELL
Saltwater Charters: The action begins in late April or May when king salmon are the first to begin spawning. Along with salmon, anglers fish for halibut, red snapper, ling cod, and sea bass.
Harding River: Located in Bradfield canal 35 air miles from Wrangell, accessible by boat or plane and a Forest Service cabin is available. Fish available are coho salmon, chum salmon, Dolly Varden, and cutthroat trout.
Fishing in HAINES
Saltwater Charters: Local charter companies target all 5 species of Pacific salmon with excellent fishing for king salmon. Other species include halibut, rockfish, and lingcod.
Chilkat Inlet, Lake, and River: Located southwest of Haines and accessible by boat or road. Camping, picnic sites, and boat launching available. King salmon is the most common species caught in these waters.
Fishing in SKAGWAY
Saltwater Charters: Fishing for all 5 species of Pacific salmon with excellent king salmon fishing, plus halibut, rockfish, and lingcod.
Dewey Lakes: Located two miles southeast of Skagway and accessible by trail. Brook trout is the most common species caught in the lower lake and rainbow trout in the upper lake.
Lost Lake: Located 10 miles from Skagway by road and continue by trail for a strenuous two mile hike. Good spot for rainbow trout.
Fishing in PETERSBURG
Saltwater Charters: Targeting halibut along with king and coho salmon.
Eagles Roost Park: Beach access by a short paved trail close to downtown, with fishing for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.
Petersburg Lake and Petersburg Creek: Accessible by boat access from town. Fish for salmon, Dolly Varden, steelhead trout, cutthroat trout.
Fishing in SITKA
Saltwater Charters: Sitka Sound waters are home to all five species of Pacific salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Coho and pink salmon are also targeted to a lesser degree along shoreline areas and in fresh water.
Swan Lake: Lake near downtown Sitka with Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.
Indian River: Several trails in town provide access to Indian River to fish for salmon, Dolly Varden, and rainbow trout. Fishing for salmon is prohibited in the lower section of the river downstream from Sawmill Creek Road Bridge.
Heart Lake and Thimbleberry Lake: Two lakes along the Sitka road system that have established populations of brook trout.
Beaver Lake: On the road system and stocked with Arctic grayling.
Fishing in YAKUTAT
Saltwater Charters in Yakutat Bay: Located west of Yakutat and accessible primarily by boat. A variety of species available including halibut, ling cod, king and coho salmon, red snapper, black bass, and rock fish throughout the summer.
Situk River: 12 miles south of town by road. One of the area’s top fishing spots for coho salmon, pink salmon, and cutthroat trout.
Rivers and Lakes along Yakutat Road System: Variety of sport fishing opportunities in rivers that drain into the Gulf of Alaska along the Yakutat road system. King, sockeye, and coho salmon can be caught during spawning runs and rainbow trout, steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are present in many streams and lakes. back...
