Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan
Archived Sport Fishing Report
March 24, 2021
King Salmon
King salmon have been caught in recent weeks and fishing will improve as spring approaches. Advisory Announcements and Emergency Orders for 2021 king salmon restrictions were released on March 2, 2021, and can be found by clicking on the link in the upper right-hand corner of this page. A separate news release will be issued at a later date announcing king salmon regulations for locations where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return.
The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Ketchikan:
Currently, king salmon may be retained throughout the Ketchikan Area through March 31, 2021, except in the North and Northeast Behm Canal which is closed to salmon fishing year-round (area description below).
Regional king salmon regulations:
Alaskan Resident
- The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
Nonresident
- 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;
- 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.
All Anglers
- From October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022, a sport angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon.
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.
West Behm Canal, Southeast Behm Canal, and Southern Revillagigedo Channel
Area Description: In West 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 and to the south by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point. In the waters of southern Revillagigedo Channel enclosed from a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen including the waters of Boca de Quadra and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000-foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point and in southeast Behm Canal from Cactus Point to Eva Point.
- April 1 to 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.
Remaining waters of District 1
Area Description: In the marine waters of Ketchikan north and east from the International Boundary Line at Dixon Entrance from 54°42.48’ N. lat., 130°36.92’ W. long. to 54°40’ N. lat., 131°45’ W. long., continuing north to Caamano Point and enclosed to the north by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point and enclosed to the southeast by a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point, and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000 foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point.
- April 1 to 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 to August 14:
- The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
- The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
- Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
District 2
- April 1 to 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.
Halibut
Halibut fishing has been slow during the winter months but should improve as spring approaches.
Lingcod
Lingcod season is currently closed and opens on May 16th.
Rockfish
A helpful flyer is available on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish.
All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deepwater release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers will be REQUIRED to use a deepwater 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 2021. Demersal shelf rockfish species include 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 silvergray, rougheye, shortraker, and vermilion rockfish.
- One per day; one in possession.
Pelagic Rockfish
- Five per day; ten in possession.
Steelhead, Cutthroat, Rainbow Trout
Fall run steelhead is currently present in the Ward Lake drainage. Remote systems with fall run steelhead include Fish Creek and the Naha River drainage. Spring steelhead will start showing up in small numbers throughout March with the majority of the fish entering freshwater in April, typically peaking around late April.
Cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing will continue to improve as water temperatures rise. Anglers targeting trout may want to try Ward Lake, Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan Creek or the various small lakes on Gravina Island.
Be sure to check the 2021 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 wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new Ketchikan interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips through the Sport Fish gofishak application.