Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 11, 2014

Summer fishing opportunities

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkoot River sockeye salmon run is winding down. The Chilkoot sockeye run will continue through August.

After a record-breaking early season, the Chilkat River sockeye salmon run has settled down to average counts in the fish wheels.

Pink salmon

Pink salmon run continue to arrive in moderate numbers at Chilkoot River. Pink salmon fishing should be good through August.

The Chilkat River pink salmon run is only 1% of average, as measured by Chilkat River fish wheel catches.

Halibut

Halibut catch rates have been good recently in the Haines area.

King salmon in salt water

Skagway anglers can target king salmon in Taiya Inlet. King catches should improve throughout August as feeders arrive in Taiya Inlet.

Through August 31, 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.

King salmon broodstock failed to show up in August at ADF&G's weir in Pullen Creek. King salmon smolt releases in Pullen Creek have become intermittent due to lack of broodstock returning in 2012 and 2014. ADF&G will attempt broodstock collection again in 2015.

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 for details and a map.

2014 salmon runs

King salmon

The Chilkat River king salmon run is weak this year. An annual run size estimate will be available after spawning ground surveys are completed in August.

Sockeye salmon

The Chilkat Lake weir counts are on track to meet the sockeye salmon escapement goal.

The Chilkoot River weir counts have exceeded the upper end of the sockeye salmon escapement goal.

Pink salmon

The Chilkoot River pink salmon run is about half of average for an even-numbered year. Pink salmon have a 2-year life cycle, and runs in upper Lynn Canal tend to be stronger in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years.

The Chilkat River pink salmon run is about 1% of the all-year average so far.

Coho salmon

Coho salmon have started to show up in the Chilkat River fish wheels. Coho salmon fishing in Haines/Skagway area fresh water peaks in October. We are expecting an average Chilkat River coho salmon run.

Helpful links