Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway

Archived Sport Fishing Report

February 22, 2019

NEW! Check out the Haines/Skagway interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips thru the Sport Fish wefishak pages.

Winter Char and Trout Fishing Opportunities

Glacial rivers, such as Chilkat, Chilkoot, and Taiya Rivers, run clear green with gravel bottoms at this time of year. Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout fishing will pick up with the return of longer and brighter days, and as salmon fry emerge from spawning gravels.

Ice Fishing

The ice has been thick so far this winter on Mosquito Lake, Chilkat Lake, and Chilkoot Lake. Check ice conditions before venturing on to the ice.

At Mosquito Lake on March 2, from 11 am to 2 pm, kids and families are invited to a day of ice fishing. ADF&G will provide holes in the ice as well as rods and lures. The Haines Borough Library will provide snacks. Call ADF&G at 907-766-3638 or the Library at 907-766-6422 for more information.

Regulations specific to Mosquito and Chilkat Lakes:

  • Bait is not allowed.
  • Cutthroat and rainbow trout - 2 fish bag and possession limit, with a slot length limit of 14-inch minimum to 22-inch maximum length required to keep a fish.

In the remainder of Haines-Skagway area waters, bait is allowed, and the cutthroat and rainbow trout slot length limit is 11-minimum to 22-inch maximum.

Regulations specific to Chilkoot Lake and Chilkoot River:

  • Dolly Varden - 4 fish bag and possession limit, no size limit.

In the remainder of Haines-Skagway area waters, the Dolly Varden bag and possession limit is 10 fish.

Shellfish

Pot fishing for shrimp and Dungeness crab is open year-round in the Haines and Skagway area salt water. Non-Alaska residents catch shellfish under a sport fishing license with the following bag & possession limits:

  • Dungeness crab - 3 legal size males.
  • Shrimp - 3 quarts or pounds.

NEW! All shrimp harvesters must obtain a no-cost permit in advance and record their harvest on the paper permit. The amount of shrimp harvested, location, and number of pots pulled must be recorded each day, and the permit must be returned to ADF&G or reported online at the end of the year.

King crab fishing is open only to Alaska residents. A sport fishing license and a no-cost Southeast King Crab Personal Use Permit are required. The bag limit is 1 legal size male king crab.

Sport Fishing Licenses

Residents of Yukon Territory in Canada may purchase an annual Alaska sport fishing license for the same price that Alaska residents pay. However, Yukoners are not Alaska residents, so Yukoners must comply with the non-resident regulations such as number of shellfish pots, shellfish bag limits, and king salmon bag and annual limits. The Yukoner license is available from license vendors in Whitehorse, Haines, and Skagway.

Alaska residents under 18 years old do not need a sport fishing license. Non-Alaska residents under 16 years old do not need a sport fishing license.

For more information about sport fishing in Haines and Skagway, call Area Biologist Richard Chapell at 907-766-3638.

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