Sitka Management Area
Fishing Opportunities

Pink salmon and Dolly Varden are the most commonly targeted species of marine shoreline anglers in Sitka, but the occasional king and coho are harvested.  Bottomfish such as rockfish, cod, and flounder are occasionally taken, and though they are not usually the angler’s target, make an excellent dinner.  On a rare occasion, even halibut can be caught along the shoreline.

Starrigavan Bay, Crescent Bay (near the Sheldon Jackson College Science Center), Halibut Point Recreation Area, and the outlet of Indian River are popular roadside fishing locales.  However there are many other roadside areas that will provide for angler success.   

The marine shoreline sport fishery occurs all year, with effort focused on Dolly Varden in the Spring, and Salmon in the fall. Dolly Varden are most commonly hooked with a variety of light to medium weight spin casting gear in ¼-oz. to ½-oz weights.  Small herring rigged under a float are also effective when drifted along steep shorelines.  When fishing for Dolly Varden in salt water, fly fishermen often use small, silvery patterns that imitate salmon fry or small herring.

            Pink salmon, commonly known as “humpies,” provide a main roadside fishing activity through mid-August.  Pink salmon travel in schools along the shoreline toward their natal streams where they will eventually spawn.  The shorelines near these streams are, in turn, a good place to fish.  Pink Salmon weigh from 3 - 8 pounds and can be hooked with the same tackle used for Dollies.  Pink and white or red and white lures tend to be effective.

Sea-run cutthroat, which are also taken along marine shorelines, range from 10-15 inches in length and can be taken on the same lures as Dollies.  Cutthroat trout tend to be especially fond of lures in brass and/or brass and red combinations.  Fly fishermen hook cutthroat using imitations of salmon fry and small sculpin.

Coho salmon show up in mid-August and remain near the shorelines until September when they travel toward their spawning stream.  Adult coho weigh from 5 - 18 pounds and most anglers use medium-weight spin casting or fly fishing gear.  Sometimes a large spinner with plastic skirts or a herring drifted under a float are effective.  Fly fishermen generally use bright streamer flies or imitations of needlefish to take coho in salt water and estuaries.

Chum Salmon
Cutthroat Trout
Dolly Varden
Pink Salmon
Rock Fish

Begin: January 01
Ends: December 365

Before you go fishing please check the regulations.