Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 26, 2022

A new and improved version of the gofishak interactive map provides information on fishing locations, species run timing, regulations, fishing gear, and angler access. This is an excellent resource for anglers planning a trip to Southeast Alaska and the Ketchikan Area.

King Salmon

The inside waters of Southeast Alaska are currently closed to king salmon retention until June 15. Opportunities to harvest king salmon will be available in terminal harvest areas beginning in June. On June 15th, the majority 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 announcement issued on February 1, 2022.

Terminal Harvest Areas

Mountain Point

June 8 – June 14 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. For nonresidents, the annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Herring Bay

June 1 – July 31 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is three king salmon, no size limit, king salmon harvested in the Herring Bay terminal area will not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

Neets Bay

June 15 – August 14 the bag and possession limit is one king salmon for all anglers, 28 inches or greater in length.

Anglers are reminded that bag, possession, and size limits for the salt waters outside of the designated terminal harvest areas are more restrictive than the limits inside the Mountain Point, Herring Bay and Neets Bay terminal areas, and anglers are prohibited from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers fishing in multiple areas must be diligent to ensure they do not exceed the bag, possession, or size limit for the area they are currently fishing.

Regional king salmon regulations

Alaskan Resident

  • The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;

Nonresident

  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon with an annual limit of three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

North and Northeast Behm Canal

  • Salmon fishing is closed year-round in Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point to a line from Cactus Point to Point Eva.

West Behm Canal, Southeast Behm Canal, and Southern Revillagigedo Channel

Area Description: In West Behm Canal and the contiguous bays are enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point and to the south by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point. In the waters of southern Revillagigedo Channel enclosed from a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen including the waters of Boca de Quadra and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000-foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point and in southeast Behm Canal from Cactus Point to Eva Point.

  • April 1 to August 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

Remaining waters of District 1

Area Description: In the marine waters of Ketchikan north and east from the International Boundary Line at Dixon Entrance from 54°42.48’ N. lat., 130°36.92’ W. long. to 54°40’ N. lat., 131°45’ W. long., continuing north to Caamano Point and enclosed to the north by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point and enclosed to the southeast by a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point, and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000 foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point.

  • April 1 to June 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
  • June 15 to August 14:
    • The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
    • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
    • Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

District 2

  • April 1 to June 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

Halibut

Halibut fishing should continue to improve as summer approaches.

Lingcod

Lingcod season is currently closed and opens on May 16th.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. A helpful flyer is available on the Fish and Game website to assist anglers with identification.

All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deepwater release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers will be REQUIRED to use a deepwater release device to release rockfish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Please see the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish

The retention of demersal shelf rockfish is now open for residents of Alaska with a daily bag limit of one per day, one in possession. Retention of Yelloweye rockfish is prohibited.

Demersal shelf rockfish are closed to harvest for nonresidents. Demersal shelf rockfish are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger, and rosethorn rockfish.

Slope Rockfish

Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding Ketchikan. The most common species are silvergray, rougheye, shortraker, and vermilion rockfish.

  • One per day; one in possession.

Pelagic Rockfish

  • Five per day; ten in possession.

Steelhead, Cutthroat, Rainbow Trout

Spring steelhead is present in freshwater systems and bright fish will continue to move in over the next couple of weeks. Roadside anglers should try Ward Creek or Ketchikan Creek for steelhead, or if remote fishing is on your agenda, try the Naha River, McDonald Lake, or Fish Creek.

Cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing will continue to improve as water temperatures rise. Anglers targeting trout may want to try Ward Lake, Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan Creek, or the various small lakes on Gravina Island.

Be sure to check the 2022 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 06, 2022 Aug 12, 2022 Aug 04, 2022 Jul 18, 2022 Jun 29, 2022 Jun 08, 2022 Jun 01, 2022 Apr 26, 2022

Helpful links