Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

July 8, 2025

Salmon

King salmon fishing continues to be strong throughout the Juneau area, with the Terminal Harvest Area (THA) remaining productive. While most of the early-season action was concentrated in the southern portion of the THA, the bite has now shifted north.

Anglers are currently having the most success in areas like Lena Cove and the North Douglas/Fritz Cove area, which have become the latest hot spots. The south end of Gastineau Channel is still producing a few fish, but not at the pace seen earlier in the season.

In addition to kings, we’re starting to see a good number of coho showing up on the docks! Anglers are harvesting cohos from Pt. Retreat, North Shelter and Lincoln Islands, Funter Bay, and around Benjamin Island. Chums and pinks are also coming in, with most of them being caught in the same areas where coho are being found.

Overall, the season is in full swing and fishing opportunities continue to be strong in the Juneau area.

Fishing Inside the THA

The Juneau area is fortunate to have a THA where both residents and nonresidents can continue to harvest king salmon within the designated boundaries. It is important to note that sport fishing for king salmon and all snagging is prohibited within a 300-yard radius of the Wayside Park Fishing Dock to protect salmon attempting to reach the fish ladder at the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery.

Bag & Possession Limits (Inside the THA):

• All anglers bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

Marine Waters Outside the Hatchery Area

• Resident anglers bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• Nonresident anglers king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;
• All anglers may not retain king salmon within the exclusive economic zone (3-200 nautical miles from shore).

For comprehensive details on specific areas, including maps, bag limits, and possession regulations, please refer to our latest advisory announcements and emergency orders. Stay informed on the most current regulations and any recent changes.

Halibut

Halibut fishing is in full swing, and anglers are having solid success throughout the Juneau area. We’re now in the prime of the season, and more people are targeting halibut with good results.

Some of the hottest spots continue to be North Shelter and Lincoln Island, along with Homeshore, Benjamin Island, and the waters around Hoonah/Icy Strait Point. While these areas are producing consistently, halibut are being caught in many other locations as well.

If you’ve been thinking about heading out, now’s a great time to go!

It's important to note that halibut fishing is federally managed. For detailed information on sport fishing regulations and guidelines for charter (guided) vs unguided halibut regulations in Southeast Alaska, please visit NOAA's website.

Sablefish (Black Cod)

A few sablefish have been harvested recently near Point Howard, Couverden Rocks, and the Lynn Sisters. These deep-dwelling fish can be challenging to target, but for those willing to put in the effort, the reward is well worth it.

• Residents: 6 per day, 6 in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents: 4 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit. There is a 8 fish annual limit, harvest record is required.

Rockfish

Deepwater release devices are mandatory for all saltwater vessels. All vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release mechanism on board and readily available for use when sport fishing activities are taking place regardless of species targeted.

All rockfish not retained must be released at the depth they were caught or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Please visit our link to view deep water release device examples and tips and how these mechanisms are a helpful tool for conservation.

Anglers are beginning to see more consistent rockfish catches around the Juneau area, coinciding with the recent uptick in halibut fishing. Duskies have made up the bulk of the reports so far, with a few Silvergray, Rougheye, Quillback, Redbanded, and Yelloweye rockfish also starting to show up on the docks. Most of these rockfish have been caught in the waters near North Shelter, Lincoln Island, Benjamin Island, and Point Retreat. As always, please follow current regulations and handle any released fish with care to help support the long-term health of these valuable stocks.

Pelagic Rockfish

• All anglers: 3 per day, 6 in possession, no size limit.
• Pelagic rockfish include, Black, Dark, Deacon, Dusky, Widow and Yellowtail rockfish.

Nonpelagic rockfish (demersal shelf & and slope rockfish)

• Demersal shelf rockfish (Yelloweye, Quillback, Tiger, China, Canary, Copper and Rosethorn rockfish)

  • Alaska residents: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.
  • Nonresidents:
    • Season: July 1 – August 25;
    • 1 daily, 1 in possession, annual limit of ONE fish.
    • Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

• Slope rockfish (Blackgill, Blackspotted, Blue, Bocaccio, Brown, Chilipepper, Darkblotched, Greenstriped, Harlequin, Northern, Pacific Ocean Perch, PugetSound, Pygmy, Redstripe, Redbanded, Rougheye, Sharpchin, Shortbelly, Shortraker, Silvergray, Splitnose, Stripetail, Vermilion, and Yellowmouth)

  • All anglers: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Not all rockfish species found in Alaska are listed above. For a complete list of species you may encounter in Alaska, please visit our website.

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout Fishing

In mid-summer, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout have begun moving into local creeks to feast on salmon eggs. The best way to catch these fish is by using egg patterns or small spinners and spoons. Make sure to visit Go Fish AK and explore the interactive map to identify the species you're interested in fishing for.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line 1/4 mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14-inch minimum and 22-inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.

Shellfish Harvesting

King Crab

Personal use red and blue king crab fishing opened on July 1st, exclusively for Alaskan residents. To participate, anglers must hold a valid sport fishing license along with a 2025/2026 Southeast Alaska Regional Personal Use King Crab Permit. These are available at the ADF&G online store. Please check for Personal Use Emergency Orders, legal-size and pot configurations, and restrictions online. Section 11-A is currently CLOSED to Alaskan resident PU king crab fishing. Stay tuned for the Juneau area PU announcement later this year using the link above. Harvest must be reported online. Please check the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet pages 34-37 for regulations specific to shellfish.

Dungeness and Tanner Crab

For Alaskan residents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers may retain up to 20 male Dungeness crabs, with a minimum width of 6 1/2 inches and 30 male Tanner crabs, with a minimum width of 5 1/2 inches. While taking Dungeness crab, 5 pots or 10 rings per person may be used, with a max of 10 pots or 20 rings per vessel. While taking Tanner crab, no more than 4 pots or 10 rings per vessel may be used. In total, no more than 5 pots per person and 10 pots per vessel may be used for taking shellfish regardless of pot type.

For nonresidents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 3 male Tanner and Dungeness crab (in combination). Tanner males need to be 5 1/2 inch minimum width and Dungeness males need to be 6 1/2 inch minimum width.

Shrimp

Sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in the Juneau and Tenakee area will remain CLOSED until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Section 11-A north and west of a line extending from a regulatory marker near point Bishop to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden, extending to a line at the latitude of Little Island light, and east of a line from Little Island light to Point Retreat light. And the Tenakee closed area consists of all marine waters in Tenakee Inlet west of the longitude of Corner Point at 135° 06.50' W long. Check the Sport and Personal Use Advisory Announcement,

Outside the Juneau 11-A and Tenakee Inlet areas, sport and personal use shrimp fishing remains open. Sport and personal use shrimpers who have a valid sport fishing license must also have a free shrimp permit available on the ADF&G online store. Participating anglers must sign their permit in ink to make it valid and have the permit in possession while taking shrimp in Southeast Alaska. Shrimp limits and gear requirements for sport and personal use shrimp fishing cab be found on pages 34-37 of the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary. Reporting of effort and harvest is required and must be submitted to the department even if you did not fish.

Clams

ADF&G does not recommend harvesting clams from any waters in the Juneau area due to the possibility that the clams may contain Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins. Currently, no beaches in the Juneau area are monitored on a regular basis (i.e- "certified") for PSP toxins. If you harvest, you do so at your own risk of PSP poisoning. Sporadic sampling has been conducted by the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) project, but clams of any species and at any time during the year may still contain toxic levels of PSP. Please navigate to the following Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) web page for more information about PSP.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new Juneau-Glacier Bay Interactive Map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips through the Sport Fish gofishak application.