Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan

May 6, 2026

ADF&G creel technicians will begin angler interviews and biological sampling on the docks starting May 25. Your participation is important and only takes a couple of minutes. During an interview, creel samplers will ask a few short questions about your fishing trip and collect biological data from the fish harvested. The data collected through this program is essential for the sustainable management of sport fisheries, guiding management decisions to ensure fishing and harvest opportunities are maintained for the future.

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.

Steelhead

Spring steelhead are present in certain systems around Ketchikan. Some popular areas include Naha River, Ward Creek and Fish Creek. In the systems surveyed, counts have been average or above average, indicating a good steelhead run in the Ketchikan area. Fishing has been good in multiple streams throughout the area but will start to slow down in the coming weeks as fish spawn and kelts out-migrate.

Be sure to check the 2026 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations. The Ketchikan Area Freshwater Special Regulations can be found on pages 36-38. Regulations vary depending on the waters you plan to fish.

Trout and Dolly Varden

Trout and Dolly Varden fishing is starting to pick up around the area and will continue to improve as water temperatures increase. Trout this time of year are actively feeding on emerging pink and chum fry.

King Salmon

King salmon can be harvested in Herring Bay beginning on June 1; bag limit of three king salmon any size; the nonresident annual limit does not apply.

On June 1, the Carroll Inlet Area and Thomas Basin open to the retention of king salmon. The bag limit is one king salmon per day with a minimum size of 28 inches; nonresident annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

On June 8, the Mountain Point area opens to the retention of king salmon. The bag limit is one king salmon per day with a minimum size of 28 inches; nonresident annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

On June 15, most of the Ketchikan area and east Prince of Wales area will open to retention. Special restrictions will continue through August 14 in multiple areas. Please refer to the advisory announcements posted on March 31 and April 30 for detailed information and map.

Halibut

Halibut fishing will start to improve as summer approaches. Reminder that the reverse slot limit for guided anglers is less than or equal to 34 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches. Also, charter vessel anglers in Area 2C may not catch and retain halibut (except GAF) on all Thursdays beginning June 18 and continuing through September 10, 2026.

Lingcod

The lingcod season opens on May 16. In Southern Southeast Inside Waters:

• Residents: One fish per day; two in possession; no size limit.
• Nonresidents: One fish per day, one in possession, size limit 30 – 35 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length. Annual limit of two fish, one of which is 30 to 35 inches in length, one of which is 55 inches or greater in length, a harvest record is required.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. Stop by the Fish & Game office or visit the website for resources on identifying rockfish species. All sportfishing vessels are required to have at least one deep water release device on board.

Slope Rockfish

• Resident and nonresident anglers:
  • Daily bag limit of one fish; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit

Demersal Shelf Rockfish

Demersal shelf rockfish are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, canary, China, copper, tiger, and rosethorn.

• Resident anglers: Daily bag limit of one fish including yelloweye; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit.
• Nonresident anglers: Season: July 1- August 25; Daily bag limit of one fish, possession limit of one fish; annual limit of one fish.

Pelagic Rockfish

Pelagic rockfish species include black, dark, dusky, widow, and yellowtail.

• Three per day; six in possession.