Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 15, 2020
An excellent resource for planning a trip is the gofishak interactive map for Ketchikan which provides information on fishing locations, species run timing, fishing gear and angler access.
*Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.
King Salmon
King salmon catch rates in the Ketchikan area have slowed down over the last two weeks. Based on marine harvest sampling through July 13th, king salmon were primarily harvested from Clover Pass, Camaano, backside of Gravina, Mountain Point, Herring Bay and Cape Chacon.
On June 15th, the majority of the Ketchikan area (District 1) and east Prince of Wales area (District 2) opened with regional king salmon limits, with a few exceptions (see news release and map dated July 10, 2020).
Terminal Harvest Areas
Herring Bay:
June 1- July 31 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is three king salmon, no size limit, king salmon harvested in the Herring Bay terminal area will not count toward the nonresident annual limit.
Neets Bay:
June 15 - August 14 the bag and possession limit is one king salmon for all anglers, 28 inches or greater in length.
Anglers are reminded that bag, possession and size limits for the salt waters outside of the designated terminal harvest areas are more restrictive than the limits inside Herring Bay and Neets Bay terminal areas and anglers are prohibited from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers fishing in multiple areas must be diligent to ensure they do not exceed the bag, possession, or size limit for the area they are currently fishing.
Regionwide Regulations:
Alaska Resident
July 11 – August 15:
- The resident bag and possession limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
August 16 – September 30:
- The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Nonresident
Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
July 11 – August 15:
- The nonresident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
- The nonresident annual limit is six king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
August 16 – September 30:
- The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
- The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as outlined below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Ketchikan (see news release and map dated July 10, 2020):
North and Northeast Behm Canal
Salmon fishing is closed year-round.
West Behm Canal and East Behm Canal and Southern Revilla Channel
April 1 - August 14:
- King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
August 15 - December 31:
- Alaska resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Remaining waters of District 1:
April 1 - June 14:
- King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
June 15 - August 14:
- The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
August 15 - December 31:
- The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Coho Salmon
Coho fishing has picked up in some areas and should continue to improve through August as fall run coho move into the area. Coho were primarily harvested from Clover Pass, backside of Gravina, Camaano, Duke Island, Cape Chacon and Mountain Point.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon fishing has picked up throughout the Ketchikan area over the past week with the majority of the harvest from Clover Pass, Camaano, Nichols Pass, backside of Gravina, Mountain Point, Herring Bay and Cape Chacon.
Halibut
Reports from anglers targeting halibut have been fair. Halibut were primarily harvested near Duke Island, Percy Islands, Mary Island, Alava, Vallenar and West Behm Canal.
Rockfish
A helpful flier is available on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish of Ketchikan.
As of January 1, 2020 all sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deep water release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers will be required to use a deep water release device to release rockfish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Please see the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.
Demersal Shelf Rockfish
The retention of demersal shelf rockfish is prohibited during 2020.
No retention of demersal shelf rockfish which are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger and rosethorn rockfish.
Slope Rockfish
Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding Ketchikan. The most common species are: silvergrey, rougheye, shortraker and vermillion rockfish.
One per day; one in possession.
Pelagic Rockfish
Season: year round.
Five per day; ten in possession.
For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management please refer to the rockfish conservation page on the ADF&G Sport Fish website.
Shrimp
Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use and subsistence shrimp harvest for each calendar year. 2020 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.
Freshwater Fishing
Ketchikan Creek opened to sport fishing for all species including king salmon June 1 – December 31.
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.
Fishing gear permitted in Ketchikan Creek is one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure only.
Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout
There are a few good opportunities to target rainbow and cutthroat trout along the road system. Anglers targeting trout may want to try Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, and Ward Lake on the Ketchikan road system and the various small lakes on Gravina Island which can be accessed from the road system from the airport.
Be sure to check the 2020 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.
For further information, please call the Ketchikan Area Management Biologist: Kelly Reppert (907) 225-2859.