Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 03, 2014

Summer fishing opportunities

King salmon in salt water

Mark Edwards' 42 lb. king won the Haines Sportsman's Association King Salmon Derby that concluded last weekend. A total of 42 kings were entered. King salmon fishing should be good in Chilkat Inlet for the next few weeks.

Skagway anglers have reported several legal size kings caught this year, but the Skagway creel surveyor encountered no kings last week.

Anglers returning to Skagway and Haines must wait to fillet king salmon until they are tied up at a dock. This keeps fish available for biological sampling by creel surveyors.

2014 king salmon regulations for Southeast Alaska salt water are:

  • For Alaska residents, the bag and possession limit is 3 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
  • For non-Alaska residents, the bag and possession limit is 2 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length during May and June.
  • From July onwards, the non-resident bag and possession limit will be 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
  • The non-resident annual limit is 6 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
  • Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon, non-residents must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or harvest record.

Char and Trout

Chilkoot Lake and River have good Dolly Varden fishing. The Chilkat River water is clouded with glacial silt, so seek out Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout in clear water tributaries and lakes. Dollies and cutties can also be caught in near-shore salt waters in the summer.

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.

2014 salmon run forecasts

King salmon

We are expecting a below-average run of Chilkat River Chinook salmon this year that will sustain average harvest rates and meet the escapement goal.

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkat River sockeye is expected to be above average.

The Chilkoot River sockeye salmon run is expected to be below average. The Chilkoot River weir was installed this week, and the first sockeye salmon passed upstream.

Pink salmon

The Chilkoot River and Chilkat River pink salmon runs are expected to be below average. Pink salmon have a 2-year life cycle. Runs in this area tend to be stronger in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years.

Coho salmon

We are expecting an average Chilkat River coho salmon run. Coho salmon fishing in Haines/Skagway area fresh water peaks in October.

Helpful links