Area Sport Fishing Reports
Juneau

July 21, 2026

King Salmon

King salmon fishing has slowed somewhat over the past couple of weeks. While overall catch rates are not as consistent as they were earlier in the season, anglers continue to report steady success within the Juneau Terminal Harvest Area (THA), particularly around Fritz Cove and Lena Cove. Outside the THA, anglers are also finding success along the Breadline, and those targeting brighter, ocean-run "feeder" king salmon may want to fish deeper water behind Douglas Island.

Within the Juneau Terminal Harvest Area (THA), the daily bag and possession limit remains four king salmon of any size. In addition, king salmon harvested by nonresidents within the THA do not count toward their annual king salmon harvest limit, providing an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the area's liberalized regulations.

Anglers are reminded that the Macaulay Hatchery Area is Closed to snagging and king salmon fishing through August 31, 2026. It may open earlier if the hatchery get enough king salmon up the fish ladder. This closure includes the area within a 300-yard radius of the Channel Wayside Fishing Dock, where king salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed. Any king salmon caught while fishing for other species must be released immediately and unharmed.

Updated Nonresident King Salmon Regulations: Effective through September 30, 2026, the following regulations apply throughout Southeast Alaska marine waters:

• The nonresident daily bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual harvest limit has increased to three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon, nonresident anglers must record the species, date, and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

There have been no changes to regulations for Alaska residents fishing in state waters. Resident anglers continue to have a daily bag and possession limit of two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, with no annual harvest limit.

Anglers are encouraged to review current advisory announcements and emergency orders for area maps, regulations, and any updates before heading out on the water.

Coho Salmon

Small numbers of coho salmon are beginning to show up in anglers' catches, with fish being harvested around North Shelter, Point Retreat, and South Shelter. As more fish continue to enter the area, anglers can expect fishing opportunities to improve over the coming weeks.

This year's hatchery coho return is projected to be lower than average as a result of reduced production following the 2020 landslide that damaged the Macaulay Hatchery water intake pipe. This is expected to be the final year that hatchery returns are affected by that event.

Other Fishing Opportunities

Dolly Varden and Cutthroat Trout Fishing

Summer can provide excellent opportunities for Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout anglers throughout the Juneau area. These fish are now entering local streams by following the spawning salmon to feed on their eggs as they spawn. Using egg imitation flies or small orange spoons, and spinners are all effective options for targeting these fish in local streams. Try concentrating your fishing effort by fishing just below spawning salmon.

In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14-inch minimum and 22-inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2026 Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.

Halibut

Halibut fishing is now in full swing, with increasing numbers of fish being harvested throughout the Juneau area. The majority of the harvest is currently coming from the North Shelter–Lincoln Islands area, with smaller numbers of halibut being reported around Benjamin Island, South Shelter, and the Breadline.

Anglers are finding success across a wide range of locations, and fishing has been productive throughout much of the Juneau area.

It's important to note that halibut fishing is federally managed. For detailed information on sport fishing regulations and guidelines for charter (guided) vs unguided halibut regulations in Southeast Alaska, please visit NOAA’s website.

Rockfish

Deepwater release devices are mandatory for all saltwater vessels. All vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release mechanism on board and readily available for use when sport fishing activities are taking place regardless of species targeted.

All rockfish not retained must be released at the depth they were caught or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Please visit our link to view deep water release device examples and tips and how these mechanisms are a helpful tool for conservation.

Rockfish fishing has remained productive throughout the Juneau area, with anglers reporting the highest catches around Point Retreat, the North Shelter–Lincoln Islands area, Hobart Bay, and Hanus Reef.

The majority of harvested rockfish have been Dusky, Quillback, and Silvergray rockfish. Anglers have also reported catching smaller numbers of Yelloweye, Canary, Dark, and Shortraker rockfish.

Anglers are reminded to carefully identify their catch and be familiar with current rockfish regulations before heading out, as regulations vary by species.

Pelagic Rockfish

• All anglers: 3 per day, 6 in possession, no size limit.

Pelagic rockfish include, Black, Dark, Deacon, Dusky, Widow and Yellowtail rockfish.

Nonpelagic rockfish (demersal shelf & and slope rockfish)

• Demersal shelf rockfish (yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper and rosethorn rockfish)

  • Alaska residents: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.
  • Nonresidents:
    • Season: July 1 – August 25;
    • 1 daily, 1 in possession, annual limit of ONE fish.
    • Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

• Slope rockfish

  • All anglers: 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Slope nonpelagic rockfish include, Blackgill, Blackspotted, Blue, Bocaccio, Brown, Chilipepper, Darkblotched, Greenstriped, Harlequin, Northern, Pacific Ocean Perch, PugetSound, Pygmy, Redstripe, Redbanded, Rougheye, Sharpchin, Shortbelly, Shortraker, Silvergray, Splitnose, Stripetail, Vermilion, and Yellowmouth.

Not all rockfish species found in Alaska are listed above. For a complete list of species you may encounter in Alaska, please visit our website.

Shellfish Harvesting

King Crab

Personal use red and blue king crab fishing is currently open for Alaska residents. To participate, anglers must hold a valid sport fishing license along with a 2026/2027 Southeast Alaska Regional Personal Use King Crab Permit. These are available at the ADF&G online store. Please check for Personal Use Emergency Orders, legal-size and pot configurations, and restrictions online. Section 11-A is currently CLOSED to Alaskan resident PU king crab fishing. Stay tuned for the Juneau area PU announcement later this year using the link above. Harvest must be reported online. Please check the 2026 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet pages 40-45 for regulations specific to shellfish.

Dungeness and Tanner Crab

For Alaskan residents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 20 Dungeness males, a 6 ½" minimum width. While taking Dungeness crab, 5 pots or 10 rings per person may be used, with a max of 10 pots or 20 rings per vessel. While taking Tanner crab, no more than 4 pots or 10 rings per vessel may be used. In total, no more than 5 pots per person and 10 pots per vessel may be used for taking shellfish regardless of pot type.

For nonresidents in the Juneau area, licensed anglers can keep 3 male Tanner and Dungeness crab (in combination). Tanner males need to be 5 ½" minimum width and Dungeness males need to be 6 ½" minimum width.

Please note: Tanner crab will be closed to sport and personal use fishing from June 16 through June 30, 2026, and will reopen on July 1, 2026.

Shrimp

Sport and personal use shrimp fisheries in the Juneau and Tenakee area will remain CLOSED until further notice. The closed area consists of all marine waters of Section 11-A north and west of a line extending from a regulatory marker near point Bishop to the Coast Guard marker and light on Point Arden, extending to a line at the latitude of Little Island light, and east of a line from Little Island light to Point Retreat light. And the Tenakee closed area consists of all marine waters in Tenakee Inlet west of the longitude of Corner Point at 135° 06.50' W long. Check the Sport and Personal Use Advisory Announcement.

Outside the Juneau 11-A and Tenakee Inlet areas, sport and personal use shrimp fishing remains open. Sport and personal use shrimpers who have a valid sport fishing license must also have a free shrimp permit available on the ADF&G online store. Participating anglers must sign their permit in ink to make it valid and have the permit in possession while taking shrimp in Southeast Alaska. Shrimp limits and gear requirements for sport and personal use shrimp fishing cab be found on pages 40-45 of the 2026 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary. Reporting of effort and harvest is required and must be submitted to the department even if you did not fish.

Clams

ADF&G does not recommend harvesting clams from any waters in the Juneau area due to the possibility that the clams may contain Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins. Currently, no beaches in the Juneau area are monitored on a regular basis (i.e- "certified") for PSP toxins. If you harvest, you do so at your own risk of PSP poisoning. Sporadic sampling has been conducted by the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) project, but clams of any species and at any time during the year may still contain toxic levels of PSP. Please navigate to the following Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) web page for more information about PSP.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new Juneau-Glacier Bay Interactive Map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips through the Sport Fish gofishak application.