Bristol Bay Management Area
Fishing Information

Bristol Bay offers some of the most premier fishing for the five species of Pacific salmon, (Chinook (king), sockeye, pink, coho, and chum) along with Artic char, Dolly Varden, pike, rainbow trout, Artic grayling, and lake trout. With options for both guided and unguided angling opportunities, we have fishing for one and all, young and old. Be sure to read up on the regulations to prepare for fishing this region.

View the current Southwest Alaska sport fishing regulations summary.

Chinook (King) Salmon

Bristol Bay is home to several world-class king salmon sport fisheries. The peak of these sport fisheries occurs from mid-June to late July in the lower reaches of the Alagnak, Nushagak, Naknek, and Togiak Rivers, as well as several smaller rivers as can be referenced as pictured in the regulations booklet. Season closes July 31st.

Coho (Silver) Salmon

Coho salmon fisheries occur from late July through September with some isolated runs of fish available into October. Significant fisheries occur in the Alagnak, Egegik, Mulchatna, Naknek, Nushagak, Togiak, and Ugashik Rivers, as well as a host of smaller, lesser-known waters. Except for the Kvichak River drainage, where the limit is 2 coho salmon per day, and the Alagnak River drainage, where the limit is 3 per day, the limits for coho salmon are 5 salmon per day with no size limit.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon

Sockeye salmon is the most numerous of the Pacific salmon species to spawn in Bristol Bay, which is the world's largest producer of sockeye salmon. Known as a hard-fighting and delectable game fish. The most popular fisheries exist in the Naknek, Nushagak and Kvichak River drainages, but effort is growing in other waters of the BBMA. Bag and possession limits for sockeye are 5 salmon per day with no size limit.

Chum (Dog) Salmon

Chum can be found in waters similar to Coho salmon, including the Alagnak, Togiak, and Ugashik Rivers. Bag and possession limits for chum are 5 salmon per day with no size limit.

Pink (Humpy) Salmon

Pinks can be found in waters similar to Coho salmon, including the Alagnak, Togiak, and Ugashik Rivers. Bag and possession limits for pink are 5 salmon per day with no size limit.

Rainbow Trout

BBMA is well known for the wild rainbow trout stocks found in our waters. Sport fishing occurs primarily during the ice-free season, generally from June through October, although fisheries in late spring and early winter are gaining some popularity. Found throughout the area, the most popular rainbow trout waters include tributaries of the Kvichak River drainage, the Naknek River drainage, portions of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage, and streams of the Wood River Lakes system.

Arctic Char and Dolly Varden

Artic Char and Dolly Varden are commonly confused for each other, a cheat sheet way to differentiate between the two is Dolly Varden generally have a greenish body with many small (smaller than the pupil of the eye) spots, a relatively-thick caudal peduncle (constriction in body at base of tail fin), and a slightly-forked tail. Arctic char, in contrast, generally have a bronzish-yellow body with fewer and larger (larger than the pupil) cream-to-orange colored spots, a slim caudal peduncle, and a noticeably-forked tail. The char species can be found readily in most of the rivers and waters in BBMA. The best practice for targeting Artic char is to utilize the numerous drop offs present at river outlets flowing into the lakes in our area.

Arctic Grayling

Grayling can be found in June feeding on salmon fry emerging from the gravel as they migrate downstream. Different sizes and ages can be found throughout the river systems where older, larger adults tend to lay claim to the cooler upper reaches of river and stream systems. The sub-adults occupy the middle. Juveniles live in the lower reaches of a river.

Northern Pike

Pike can be found in most of our lake systems, with a notable fishery in the Nuyakuk Drainage. Fishing techniques for these beauties can be similar to that of bass fishing in the lower 48, aiming for the outer edges of the weeds. Try your luck with a frog or mouse pattern on the fly.