Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 06, 2023

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.

King Salmon

King salmon fishing has been good in the Ketchikan area. King salmon were primarily harvested from Cape Chacon, Clover Pass, Gravina, Mountain Point, and Herring Bay.

On June 15, the majority of the Ketchikan area (District 1) and east Prince of Wales area (District 2) opened to harvest of king salmon, with a few exceptions (see advisory announcement and map dated March 8, 2023):

Herring Bay Terminal Harvest Area

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.

Regional king salmon regulations:

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From October 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024 a sport angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From January 1 through June 30, the nonresident annual harvest limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From July 1 through July 15, the nonresident annual harvest limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply towards the two fish annual harvest limit.
• From July 16 through December 31, the nonresident annual harvest limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 15 will apply towards the one fish annual harvest limit.
• 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 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.

• 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.

Coho and Pink Salmon

Coho and pink salmon fishing has been picking up and is expected to improve through into July. Coho and pink salmon were primarily harvested from Cape Chacon, Duke Island, Clover Pass, Gravina and Mountain Point.

Halibut

Reports from angler targeting halibut have been fair. Halibut were primarily harvested from Cape Chacon, Point Alava, Duke Island and Gravina.

Lingcod

Lingcod are open to retention. The size limit for lingcod retention has been reduced for 2023. Lingcod regulations are:

• Residents - 1daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents - 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limits: 30-40 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. Annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30-40 inches in length, one of which is 55 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresident anglers shall immediately record the date and location (body of water fished), in ink, of all lingcod harvested either on their sport fishing license or on their nontransferable harvest record.
• Charter operators and crew members may not retain lingcod while client are on board the vessel.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. There is a helpful page on the ADF&G website for identifying common rockfish.

All sportfishing 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.

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 by all anglers.

Yelloweye Rockfish

• Closed; retention is prohibited by all anglers.

Pelagic Rockfish

• Five per day; ten in possession.

Freshwater Fishing

Ketchikan Creek is open sport fishing for all species including king salmon.

• 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.
• The bag and possession for salmon, other than king salmon, is two per day in combination, and two in possession, 16 inches or greater in length.
• 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 Ward Lake, Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, or Ketchikan Creek.

Be sure to check the 2023 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.