Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

Archived Sport Fishing Report

January 08, 2019

As we head into the winter months, fishing reports will be at a minimum until spring.

King Salmon

King salmon are present in local marine waters year-round. A few winter king salmon have been caught, but reports indicate that fishing has been slow.

The following regulations are in effect through March 31, 2019:

King salmon may be retained throughout the Ketchikan Area, except in North and Northeast Behm Canal which is closed to salmon fishing year-round (area description below).

Regional king salmon limits:

• Bag and possession limit is one king salmon for all anglers, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Residents may use two rods when fishing for king salmon from October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019.
• For nonresidents, July 1 through December 31, the annual harvest limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the one fish annual limit; harvest record is required.

North and Northeast Behm Canal

• Salmon fishing is closed year-round in Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point to a line from Cactus Point to Point Eva.

NEW!

News releases and emergency orders for 2019 king salmon restrictions were recently released for select areas of Southeast Alaska and can be found by clicking on the link in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Halibut

Halibut will be available most of the winter months. Halibut fishing is closed for the month of January.

Rockfish

Rockfish are available year-round. Pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the Ketchikan area year-round.

• Pelagic rockfish – five per day; ten in possession.
• Non-pelagic rockfish - one per day; nonresident anglers have an annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish.

Anglers are reminded that beginning January 1, 2020, all marine boat anglers will be required to carry and utilize Rockfish Deepwater Release Devices. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for additional information and stop by the Ketchikan office to get a free deepwater release device.

Lingcod

Fishing for lingcod is closed December 1 - May 15, 2019.

Shrimp

NEW!

Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use and subsistence shrimp harvest for each calendar year. 2019 Southeast Shrimp Permits are available online at the ADF&G store or at your local ADF&G office. The shrimp harvest, location, and number of pots pulled must be recorded each day, and the permit must be returned to ADF&G or reported online at the end of the year. 2018 Southeast Shrimp Permits are now being returned and information must be submitted by January 15, 2019.

Steelhead, Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brook Trout

There will continue to be some freshwater fishing opportunities throughout winter in the Ketchikan area. Anglers wanting to chase fall steelhead should try Ward Creek on the road system or if remote fishing is on your agenda try Fish Creek or the Naha River drainage. Anglers are reporting great steelhead fishing at the Naha.

Depending on seasonal temperatures, most large low-level lakes can remain ice free through winter and will offer opportunities to fish for cutthroat, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. If you are up for the hike, anglers have been successful catching brook trout at the outlet of Perseverance Lake.

Be sure to check the 2019 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations. The Ketchikan Area Freshwater Special Regulations can be found on pages 30-32. Regulations vary depending on the waters you plan to fish.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

NEW!

Check out the Ketchikan interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips in the Sport Fish gofishak pages.