Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 07, 2014

Summer fishing opportunities

King salmon in salt water

Haines anglers can troll for kings in Chilkoot Inlet and Lutak Inlet.

Skagway anglers can target king salmon in Taiya Inlet. Cheryl Olsen won the Pat Moore Memorial Game Fish Derby with a 27.3 pound king.  A total of 34 kings were entered in the derby which took place June 26-29 in Skagway.

Skagway anglers must wait to fillet king salmon until they are tied up at a dock. This keeps kings available for biological sampling by the creel survey.

2014 king salmon regulations for Southeast Alaska salt water

  • 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 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater.
  • 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.

Sockeye salmon

Sockeye salmon numbers are in the Chilkoot River. Their numbers will increase through July and August.

The Chilkat River sockeye run is off to a record-breaking early start.

Current and historic sockeye salmon counts for the Chilkoot River weir, Chilkat River fish wheels, and Chilkat Lake weir are available on line.

Char and Trout

Seek out Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout in clear water streams and lakes. Dollies and cutties can also be caught in near-shore salt waters.

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

The Chilkat River king salmon run is below-average run so far.

ADF&G will install the weir in Pullen Creek this week to begin collecting king salmon broodstock for the Skagway hatchery-reared smolt release program.

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkat River sockeye salmon run is off to a record-breaking early start, and the run is expected to be above average.

The Chilkoot River sockeye salmon run is average so far, and on track to meet the escapement goal.

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