Fishing Alaska!

Plan a successful Alaska fishing trip with the resources you will find on this website....

Big Alaska king salmon on a sunny day in Southeast Alaska ~ what could be finer than this?

It's hard to beat king salmon fishing. They hit hard and strong, and the action lasts a long time. Mike and Karen Keating offer Alaska fishing vacation trips in Sitka for salmon, halibut and more. This is one of my personal favorite places on the planet. Sitka is historic, scenic and offers consistently great fishing. The Keatings have assembled quite a Sitka fishing scrapbook on their website to see what fishing is like. You can call the Keatings toll free at 1-877-747-5161. [ADV]

Introduction to Alaska fishing (this page) General information on what it is like to fish in various regions of the state. General information and links. Other sources of Alaska (AK) fishing information

Services directory An extensive listing of hundreds of businesses that provide services for anglers and hunters. The directory includes Alaska fishing guides, Alaska air taxis, Alaska fishing lodges, transporters, Alaska fishing charters, and much more.

Fishing areas What it is like to fish in various areas of AK, including RealAudio (tm) interviews with Alaska sport fisheries biologists.

Alaska Outdoors Wiki This is a community generated outdoors encyclopedia.

Magazine Articles and photos about fishing (and hunting and other outdoors activities) are here

Fishing forum Read ideas from other anglers and post your questions. There are literally thousands of messages here about Alaska fishing.

Saltwater fishing Here's our easy-to-use directory of saltwater fishing charters. Hundreds of listings from Ketchikan to Bristol Bay. Access to area descriptions, RealAudio interviews, and more.

Fishing books, video, maps and other resources that will improve your odds for fishing success. Some of our most popular books include Alaska Fishing, Flies for Alaska, Flyfishing Alaska, Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer, and more. "No questions asked" money back guarantee.

An Introduction by David Johnson

Angling in Alaska can be incredible. Salmon runs are strong along our coasts, and there really are some giant halibut in Alaska waters. King salmon over 50 pounds are not at all uncommon. Grayling and northern pike are easy to catch in many inland streams.

And you can fish amid some of the most incredible scenery on the continent.

To be sure, it’s not perfect. The productivity of most Alaska streams is not high in comparison with those in warmer climes. This means that some heavily fished streams do not quickly produce many large fish, particularly in the Interior. Large salmon runs compensate in many streams, however.

For this introduction, we have divided the state into several regions.

This magnificent catch of halibut illustrates what is possible in Alaska waters. Kingfisher Charters and Lodge (who took this picture) offers all-inclusive packages in Sitka where halibut and salmon action is truly outstanding. This family owned business is committed to providing you with an unforgettable fishing trip. Warm yourself in one of their Jacuzzis and enjoy delicious meals while relaxing at the full service lodge. The spectacular views of sunsets are just some of the memories of this great trip. [ADV]

Southeast Alaska, sometimes called the "panhandle," is a land of deep fjords, rushing mountain streams and glaciers. Much of the land is in the Tongass National Forest. Summers are cool and moist; winters are cooler and snowy, but much less cold than portions of Alaska not warmed by the ocean. Salmon return in large numbers to thousands of streams. Halibut move into near shore waters in the summer. Several species of trout are available. A variety of bottom fish can be caught. Shrimp and crab can be found in some waters.

What's the best of Alaska fishing like? Well, Kenai river fishing guide Gary Kernan of ALASKA FISH ON CHARTERS will show you exactly that. Above is one of the many pictures Gary has of a good day on the Kenai River. It�s hard not to smile when you have to flex your biceps just to hold up your fish for the camera! The Kenai River holds the World Record king salmon of 97.4 lbs with many fish in the 40 to 70 lb range. "It's a fisherman's dream," Gary says. The Kenai River also boasts red and silver salmon as well as trophy-sized trout. Gary & Darlene offers full and half day fishing trips, as well as all-inclusive packages. To round out the experience, they can also set you up for fly in fishing, bear viewing, and glacier / wildlife tours. Their website has some web specials that you will find attractive. Contact Gary at 1-888-283-4002 or e-mail them at bigfish@alaska.com. They recommend early booking for the best season dates. [ADV]

For more Southeast Alaska sport fishing information contact the ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish, PO Box 240020, Douglas, AK 99824-0020. Tel. (907) 465-4294

Boats travel to the fishing grounds from Waterfall Resort on Alaska's famous Prince of Wales Island Sportfishing is about location. The extreme tides and ocean currents surrounding Alaska's Waterfall Resort converge to create ideal habitats for bait fish which in turn attract returning salmon and bottom fish in staggering numbers. The historic cannery turned legendary sportfishing resort is located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, 63 air miles west of Ketchikan. [ADV]

Southcentral Alaska is home to most of the state’s population and some of the state’s most famous fishing areas. It includes coastal waters and watersheds from just east of the Copper River to Bristol Bay. Southcentral is a varied land and seascape. Trees cover much of the terrain east and north of Cook Inlet but are more sporadic or largely absent to the west. Mountains or rolling hills dominate the view in much of the area. The continent’s tallest mountain, McKinley (or Denali) is the tallest of many sentinel peaks along the divide between this region and the watersheds to the north and west. Summers range from cool and moist along the coast to warm and dry further inland. Salmon runs flood coastal waters and the larger rivers. Halibut can be caught in most coastal areas, along with other ocean fish. Trout, pike, grayling, Dolly Varden, burbot, whitefish and other species are year-round residents in many watersheds.

The Kenai Peninsula is a popular fishing destination for Alaskans and visitors alike. With a variety of salmon, Dollies, and trout in the rivers, clams on the beaches, and halibut and salmon in abundance offshore, there is plenty to keep an angler busy during the summer months. Moose Creek Lodge is located on the banks of the famous Kenai River and is a perfect spot to base angling adventures on the Kenai. Yes, king salmon this big really do routinely get boated here! [ADV]

For more Southcentral AK information contact ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish, 333 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599, Tel. (907) 267-2220

The Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers drain most of Interior, Arctic and Western AK. Western and Arctic AK is sparsely tree covered. Except for alpine and sub-alpine areas, most of the Interior is covered by trees. Distinct mountain ranges, rolling hills and wide river valleys and flats are the dominant landscape features. Summers along the coast are cool, and warm in the Interior. Salmon make long distance migrations up the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers. Grayling are perhaps most widespread, but trout, pike, burbot, char, and sheefish are widely distributed.

The float plane is the transportation for most of coastal Alaska (Float equipped aircraft, like this DeHaviland Beaver, are the transportation workhorse for many AK angling and hunting businesses. Photo by David Johnson)

For more Interior, Arctic and Western AK information contact ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish, 1300 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701-1599, Tel. (907) 459-7207

Sport Fishing Regulations are available in five different booklets, each covering a different area of the state. These booklets are available widely in the state. You can obtain copies by mail from the regulations order page on the ADF&G web site.

Sow with cubs fishing Being in the field with bears makes the outdoors much more interesting. Fish and Game's "Bear Facts" tells how to improve the odds for keeping the peace. A book that you may find helpful is Steve Herrero's Their Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance. Herrero is a biologist and one of the continent's best experts on this subject.

(Not all who fish Alaska walk on two legs. In some areas, it is common to see bears while fishing. Photo by David M. Johnson)

The ADF&G maintains a trophy fish program. For some recent records and photographs see the Department's trophy gallery.

Finally, as you plan your travel, one of the handiest books available is The Milepost. I have bought numerous editions of this book during the more than 30 years we have lived here because it has in one spot all the travel information we need. The Milepost started out as a guidepost to the Alaska Highway, but it has grown to encompass nearly everything you need to know about traveling in the North country. You can find out more about the Alaska Milepost right here.

We offer a number of other books for sale on-line that you may find helpful. Click to see our on-line Alaska fishing books catalog.

Click here for a list of angling-related links for Alaska.

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Alaska angling books

Alaska Fishing, Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer, Flies for Alaska, Fly Patterns of Alaska, Fly-Fishing Alaska's Wild Rivers

Directory

Fishing lodges and guides, saltwater charters, air taxis, transporters, tackle, and more. Hundreds of listings throughout AK.

Areas

What is it like to fish in various areas of AK?

Alaska Fishing Forum

Read what people are saying about angling in AK. Post your own comments.

Alaska outdoors on-line magazine

Stories and information about angling (and hunting) in AK.

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