Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 04, 2021
An excellent resource for planning a trip is the gofishak interactive map for Ketchikan which provides information on popular fishing locations, species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat 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, wearing a face-covering when fishing, and if you need fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 012.
For more information on travel restrictions please visit the State of Alaska Traveler Information page.
King Salmon
Opportunity to harvest king salmon will be available in terminal harvest areas beginning in June. On June 15th, the majority of the Ketchikan area (District 1) and east Prince of Wales area (District 2) will open with regional king salmon limits, with a few exceptions. Please see the advisory announcement issued March 2, 2021.
Terminal Harvest Areas
Mountain Point:
June 1 - June 14 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. For nonresidents, the annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
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 the Mountain Point, 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.
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 should continue to improve as summer approaches.
Lingcod
Lingcod season is currently closed and opens on May 16th.
Rockfish
A helpful flier is available on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish.
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 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
Late April through early May is the prime time to fish for steelhead. There is currently a mix of fresh fish moving into rivers and active spawners. Water levels are dropping after the recent rain and fishing is good. Roadside anglers should try Ward Creek or Ketchikan Creek. Remote systems with steelhead include, but are not limited to: Naha River, McDonald Lake, and Fish Creek.
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.