Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 10, 2014
Summer fishing opportunities
King salmon in salt water
Haines anglers can target king salmon in Chilkat Inlet for the next few weeks. Later in June, focus on kings in Chilkoot Inlet and Lutak Inlet.
Skagway anglers can target king salmon in Taiya Inlet.
Anglers 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 runs
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 Chilkat River fish wheels started catching sockeye salmon this week.
The Chilkoot River sockeye salmon run is expected to be below average. The Chilkoot River weir started passing sockeye salmon thi week.
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.