Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway
Archived Sport Fishing Report
March 02, 2016
Spring 2016 fishing opportunities
Char and Trout
Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout fishing in the Chilkat and Chilkoot Rivers is in full swing. The ice is gone from Chilkoot Lake and on its way out at Chilkat Lake and Mosquito Lake.
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.
King salmon
Chilkat Inlet, north of Seduction Point, is closed to king salmon sport fishing April 15 – July 15.
In the waters of Lynn Canal north of Sherman Rock, including Chilkoot Inlet, Lutak Inlet, and Taiya Inlet, the king salmon sport fishing bag and possession limit is 1 fish 28 inches or greater in length April 15 – December 31. Non-Alaska residents must record each king salmon they harvest on the back of their license, with an annual limit of 6 fish.
ADF&G is managing commercial and subsistence fisheries conservatively to meet the Chilkat River king salmon escapement goal.
Hatchery-reared king salmon smolt that were released in Pullen Pond (120,000 released in 2012 and 50,000 released in 2013) will contribute legal-size adult kings to the Haines and Skagway salt water sport fishing in 2016.
Review of 2015 salmon runs
King salmon
The Chilkat River king salmon inriver tagging study estimated 2,400 large (age-5 and older) king salmon passed the tagging site at 9-mile. This estimate is within the goal range (1,850 to 3,600 large kings) specified in the Upper Lynn Canal and Chilkat River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan.
Coho salmon
The Chilkat River coho salmon escapement was 49,000 fish, which was within the goal range of 30,000 to 70,000 fish.
Sockeye salmon
The Chilkat Lake sonar count of 135,000 sockeye salmon into the lake was within the escapement goal range (70,000 to 150,000 fish).
The Chilkoot River weir count of 71,000 sockeye salmon was within the escapement goal range (38,000 to 86,000 fish).