Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

February 20, 2014

Winter 2013 fishing opportunities

Char and Trout

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout spend the winter in deep lakes such as Chilkat, Mosquito, and Chilkoot Lakes and in large rivers such as the Chilkat, Chilkoot, and Taiya Rivers.

Bait is prohibited when fishing in Chilkat Lake or Mosquito Lake and their inlet and outlet streams. Use the Sport Fishing Regulations link on the left for details and a map.

King salmon

King salmon feeders may be found in salt water near Skagway and Haines.

2014 Southeast Alaska salt water king salmon regulations

  • The bag and possession limit (resident and nonresident) is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
  • A nonresident annual harvest limit and recording requirements apply as follows:
    • From January 1 through June 30, a nonresident’s harvest limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
    • From July 1 through July 15, a nonresident’s harvest limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon harvested by the nonresident from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the two fish harvest limit;
    • From July 16 through December 31, a nonresident’s harvest limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon harvested by the nonresident from January 1 through July 15 will apply toward the one fish harvest limit.
    • Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon nonresidents must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or harvest record.
  • From October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014; resident sport anglers may use two rods while fishing for king salmon; a resident using two rods may only retain king salmon.

Summary of 2013 salmon runs

King salmon

The mark-recapture estimate of Chilkat River abundance was 1,700 large king salmon, which was below the goal of 1,850 to 3,600 large fish. Spawning ground surveys showed the escapment was well distributed among the spawning tributaries. Younger age classes were strong, indicating that marine survival rates may be improving.

Coho salmo

Stream surveys showed the Chilkat River coho salmon escapement was about 51,000 fish, which is the middle of the escapement goal range (30,000 to 70,000 fish). Sport fishing was good on the Chilkat River on most October weekends.

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkat Lake sockeye salmon count (111,000 fish) was above average and in the middle of the escapement goal range (70,000 to 150,000 fish).

The Chilkoot River weir sockeye salmon count (46,000 fish), was run was below average and near the low end of the escapement goal range (38,000 to 86,000 fish).

Pink salmon

The number of salmon caught in the Chilkat River fish wheels (10,600 fish) was about twice the average.

The Chilkoot River pink salmon run was weak, only 25% of average.
 

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