Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

April 25, 2024

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.

Steelhead

Spring steelhead have arrived, and some anglers are reporting success. Low water levels are making fish spook easily and difficult to catch but expect things to heat up after the next rainfall. Peak run timing varies by river system, with most runs peaking in late April. Fishing for steelhead should remain steady in most systems until early May.

Be sure to check the 2024 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.

Trout and Dolly Varden

As water levels increase trout and dollies will make their way out of the lakes and begin heading up stream towards spawning habitat. Excellent trout fishing has been reported along roadside systems. Expect this period of warm, sunny weather to heat up the streams and lead to aggressive fish. Try egg or fry imitations to match the natural forage this time of year.

King Salmon

Opportunity to harvest king salmon will be available in terminal harvest areas beginning in June. On June 15, most 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 announcements issued March 28 and April 2, 2024.

Halibut

Halibut can be targeted this time of year and fishing will continue to improve as summer approaches. Reminder: Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure craft used for fishing, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish.

Lingcod

Sportfishing for lingcod is currently closed. The season will start on May 16. Reminder: the lingcod slot limit for nonresidents has changed this year.

• Residents: 1 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents: 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit 30 to 35 inches or 55 inches or greater. Annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30 to 35 inches and one of which is 55 inches or greater.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. Stop by the Fish & Game office or visit the website for resources on identifying rockfish species. Rockfish regulations remain the same as last year. All sportfishing vessels are required to have at least one deep water release device on board.

Slope Rockfish

• Resident and nonresident anglers:
  • bag limit of one fish; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit

Demersal Shelf Rockfish (except yelloweye)

• Resident anglers: bag limit of one fish; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit.
• Nonresident anglers: Closed; retention is prohibited.

Yelloweye Rockfish:

• Closed; retention is prohibited by all anglers.

Pelagic Rockfish

• Five per day; ten in possession.