Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

September 12, 2025

Salmon

Coho (silver) salmon season is in full swing, and anglers are seeing excellent success both from shore and on the water. Shore anglers are doing especially well near the hatchery and Sheep Creek, where fish are moving in strong.

For those fishing from boats, coho harvests are coming in steadily from North Shelter, Lincoln Island, Point Retreat, the south end of Gastineau Channel, and the backside of Douglas. While these are the current hotspots, anglers are finding fish in nearly all waters around Juneau right now.

Montana Creek, Peterson Creek and Lagoon Closed to Coho Salmon Fishing (through 12/31/2025):

• The waters of Montana Creek, including McGinnis Creek, are closed to coho salmon fishing. Coho salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed.

• The waters of Peterson Creek, including Peterson Lagoon, from intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at salt water to the falls approximately 1.5 miles upstream, are closed to coho salmon fishing. Coho salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed.

King salmon fishing has slowed significantly throughout the Juneau saltwater’s, with only a few feeder kings still being caught.

For comprehensive details on specific areas, including maps, bag limits, and possession regulations, please refer to our latest advisory announcements and emergency orders. Stay informed on the most current regulations and any recent changes.

Halibut

Halibut fishing remains good throughout the Juneau area, though it has slowed somewhat from the peak levels typically seen in July and August. Recent catches have been reported from North Shelter, Lincoln Island, Point Sophia, Freshwater Bay, Point Howard, and the waters near the Breadline.

While effort and success have tapered slightly, anglers are still seeing consistent results across a wide range of locations, making it a great time to get out on the water.

It's important to note that halibut fishing is federally managed. For detailed information on sport fishing regulations and guidelines for charter (guided) vs unguided halibut regulations in Southeast Alaska, please visit NOAA's website.

Sablefish (Black Cod)

Sablefish are a challenging species to target, living in very deep waters. While fishing has been on the quieter side recently, anglers who put in the effort can still find opportunities. When caught, these fish make for a satisfying addition to any trip.

Rockfish

Deepwater release devices are mandatory for all saltwater vessels. All vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release mechanism on board and readily available for use when sport fishing activities are taking place regardless of species targeted.

All rockfish not retained must be released at the depth they were caught or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Please visit our link to view deep water release device examples and tips and how these mechanisms are a helpful tool for conservation.

Anglers continue to see consistent rockfish catches around the Juneau area, especially alongside the recent halibut action. Duskies still make up the majority of reports, with some Silvergray, Dark, Yelloweye and Quillback rockfish also being caught.

Most of these catches are coming from the waters near north Shelter Island, Point Sophia, Point Retreat, and Hanus Reed. As always, please follow current regulations and handle any released fish with care to support the long-term health of these important stocks.

Pelagic Rockfish

• All anglers: 3 per day, 6 in possession, no size limit.
• Pelagic rockfish include, Black, Dark, Deacon, Dusky, Widow and Yellowtail rockfish.

Nonpelagic rockfish (demersal shelf & and slope rockfish)

• Demersal shelf rockfish (Yelloweye, Quillback, Tiger, China, Canary, Copper and Rosethorn rockfish)

  • Alaska residents: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.
  • Nonresidents:
    • Season: July 1 – August 25;
    • 1 daily, 1 in possession, annual limit of ONE fish.
    • Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

• Slope rockfish (Blackgill, Blackspotted, Blue, Bocaccio, Brown, Chilipepper, Darkblotched, Greenstriped, Harlequin, Northern, Pacific Ocean Perch, PugetSound, Pygmy, Redstripe, Redbanded, Rougheye, Sharpchin, Shortbelly, Shortraker, Silvergray, Splitnose, Stripetail, Vermilion, and Yellowmouth)

  • All anglers: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Not all rockfish species found in Alaska are listed above. For a complete list of species you may encounter in Alaska, please visit our website.

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout Fishing

In the fall, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout continue to move into local creeks, following adult salmon to their spawning grounds in search of salmon eggs and decaying fish. Recent rainfall has increased water flows, improving fishing conditions and making these fish more active and accessible. The most effective methods remain using egg patterns, small spinners, or spoons. Make sure to visit Go Fish AK and explore the interactive map to identify the species you're interested in fishing for.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line 1/4 mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14-inch minimum and 22-inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.

Shellfish Harvesting

King Crab

Regional Personal use red and blue king crab fishing (excluding the 11-A area) is open exclusively for Alaskan residents. To participate, anglers must hold a valid sport fishing license along with a 2025/2026 Southeast Alaska Regional Personal Use King Crab Permit. These are available at the ADF&G online store. Please check for Personal Use Emergency Orders, legal-size and pot configurations, and restrictions online. Section 11-A is currently CLOSED to Alaskan resident PU king crab fishing. Stay tuned for the Juneau area PU announcement later this year using the link above. Harvest must be reported online. Please check the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet pages 34-37 for regulations specific to shellfish.

Dungeness and Tanner Crab

For Alaskan residents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers may retain up to 20 male Dungeness crabs, with a minimum width of 6 1/2 inches and 30 male Tanner crabs, with a minimum width of 5 1/2 inches. While taking Dungeness crab, 5 pots or 10 rings per person may be used, with a max of 10 pots or 20 rings per vessel. While taking Tanner crab, no more than 4 pots or 10 rings per vessel may be used. In total, no more than 5 pots per person and 10 pots per vessel may be used for taking shellfish regardless of pot type.

For nonresidents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 3 male Tanner and Dungeness crab (in combination). Tanner males need to be 5 1/2 inch minimum width and Dungeness males need to be 6 1/2 inch minimum width.

Shrimp

Sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in the Juneau and Tenakee area will remain CLOSED until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Section 11-A north and west of a line extending from a regulatory marker near point Bishop to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden, extending to a line at the latitude of Little Island light, and east of a line from Little Island light to Point Retreat light. And the Tenakee closed area consists of all marine waters in Tenakee Inlet west of the longitude of Corner Point at 135° 06.50' W long. Check the Sport and Personal Use Advisory Announcement,

Outside the Juneau 11-A and Tenakee Inlet areas, sport and personal use shrimp fishing remains open. Sport and personal use shrimpers who have a valid sport fishing license must also have a free shrimp permit available on the ADF&G online store. Participating anglers must sign their permit in ink to make it valid and have the permit in possession while taking shrimp in Southeast Alaska. Shrimp limits and gear requirements for sport and personal use shrimp fishing cab be found on pages 34-37 of the 2025 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary. Reporting of effort and harvest is required and must be submitted to the department even if you did not fish.

Clams

ADF&G does not recommend harvesting clams from any waters in the Juneau area due to the possibility that the clams may contain Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins. Currently, no beaches in the Juneau area are monitored on a regular basis (i.e- "certified") for PSP toxins. If you harvest, you do so at your own risk of PSP poisoning. Sporadic sampling has been conducted by the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) project, but clams of any species and at any time during the year may still contain toxic levels of PSP. Please navigate to the following Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) web page for more information about PSP.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new Juneau-Glacier Bay 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.

Thank You to Participants and Creel Staff

This weekend marks the end of our creel sampling season at local Juneau harbors. A big thank you to all the anglers who participated in our creel surveys, both at the docks and on the shoreside. Creel surveys are one of the most commonly used fishery management tools by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to determine harvest in recreational fisheries. The information collected through these surveys helps us make informed management decisions and keeps us aware of the overall health of the fisheries throughout Southeast Alaska.

We also want to extend our gratitude to all the creel staff who helped collect all of this important data, your hard work and dedication make this program a success!