Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 14, 2016
Chinook Salmon
The Ketchikan King Salmon Derby finished up last weekend with the winning fish weighing in at 48.6 pounds. A cumulative total of 850 king salmon were entered across three weekends, which is right on par with the five-year average of 860 fish entered for the derby.
King salmon fishing will continue to improve, historically peaking around the end of June. Chinook salmon were caught south of town at Mountain Point, Herring Cove, Cone Island and north of town near Survey Point and Camano Point.
Anglers are advised that king salmon restrictions are in effect in the Ketchikan area sport fishery in order to reduce the harvest of Unuk River king salmon and ensure the Unuk River king salmon escapement goal is achieved in 2016. Please refer to the news release and map for a description of areas with reduced limits.
The Ketchikan Sport Terminal Harvest Area (THA) is open from June 1st – July 31st to provide additional opportunity to harvest surplus hatchery king salmon. Please refer to the news release and map for a description of the boundaries.
- The daily bag limit is six king salmon of any size.
- King salmon harvested in these waters by nonresidents do not count towards their annual limit.
Thomas Basin is open year-round seaward from the Thomas Basin Bridge to the breakwater.
- A maximum of two single-hooks may be used.
- This area is closed to snagging.
- Bait is allowed year-round.
Ketchikan Creek is open to sport fishing for all species including king salmon.
- Single hook, artificial lures only. Bait is not allowed.
- The bag and possession limit for king salmon in Ketchikan Creek is two king salmon of any size.
- King salmon harvested in Ketchikan Creek do not count towards the nonresident annual limit.
Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brook Trout
There are a few good opportunities to target rainbow and cutthroat trout along the Ketchikan road system. Anglers have been having success at Ward Creek, Ketchikan Creek and Carlanna Lake. Ketchikan Creek was opened June 1st and will be open for the remainder of the year. If you are up for the hike, anglers have been successful catching brook trout at the outlet of Perseverance Lake.
If remote fishing is on your agenda, try the Naha River, McDonald Lake or Fish Creek.
Be sure to check the 2016 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations. The Ketchikan Area Freshwater Special Regulations can be found on pages 29-31. Regulations vary depending on the waters you plan to fish.