Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 07, 2019

An excellent resource for planning a trip to Ketchikan is the gofishak interactive map which provides information on fishing locations, species run timing, fishing gear and angler access.

King Salmon

King salmon catch rates in the Ketchikan area have slowed down since late July. A few kings are still being caught in the Ketchikan area with the majority of the harvest occurring in Clover Pass, Camaano Point and the East Prince of Wales shoreline.

Effective Thursday, August 1st through September 15th, retention of king salmon is prohibited for non-resident anglers throughout Southeast Alaska. This closure is needed in the sport fishery to keep the fishery within it’s allocation.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon fishing has been slow in the nearshore waters of Ketchikan. Anglers targeting coho near Duke Island, Mary Island and the backside of Gravina and Cape Chacon are experiencing better catch rates. Coho fishing is expected to improve through August as fall run coho move into the area.

Pink Salmon

Catch rates for pink salmon have been excellent throughout the Ketchikan area marine waters.

Halibut

Reports from anglers targeting halibut continue to be fair. Halibut were primarily harvested from Duke Island, Mary Island, Pt. Alava, Clover Pass area and East Prince of Wales.

Rockfish

Pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the Ketchikan area year-round.

Pelagic rockfish – 5 per day; ten in possession.

Non-pelagic rockfish - one per day; nonresident anglers have an annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish.

Anglers are reminded that beginning January 1, 2020, all marine boat anglers will be required to carry and utilize Rockfish Deepwater Release Devices. Visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage for additional information and stop by the Ketchikan office to get a free deepwater release device.

Shrimp

Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use and subsistence shrimp harvest for each calendar year. 2019 Southeast Shrimp Permits are available online at the ADF&G store or at your local ADF&G office. The shrimp harvest, 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.

Freshwater Fishing

Ketchikan Creek opened to sport fishing for all species including king salmon June 1 – December 31.

  • The bag and possession limit for king salmon in Ketchikan Creek is two king salmon of any size.
  • King salmon harvested in Ketchikan Creek do not count towards the nonresident annual limit.
  • Fishing gear permitted in Ketchikan Creek is one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure only.

There are a few good opportunities to target rainbow and cutthroat trout along the road system. Anglers targeting trout may want to try Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, and Ward Lake on the Ketchikan road system and the various small lakes on Gravina Island which can be accessed from the road system from the airport. Coho and pink salmon are now present in Ward Creek, fishing reports have been great.

Be sure to check the 2019 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.

Archives

Ketchikan Area Archives for:
Oct 17, 2019 Sep 16, 2019 Aug 19, 2019 Aug 07, 2019 Jul 25, 2019 Jul 03, 2019 Jun 17, 2019 May 06, 2019
Jan 08, 2019

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