How to Choose the Best Month for Halibut and Salmon Fishing in Ketchikan
The most common question I get asked is, “When is the best time to come fishing in Alaska?”
My answer is always, “Anytime from June through September.” The specific timing just depends on what kind of fish you want to catch anHowd where you want to fish. Remember, Ketchikan is at the southern end of the Southeast Panhandle, and we are about 1,000 miles away from the Kenai River. Our salmon runs have nothing in common other than the species.
I won’t pretend to know a thing about when to fish the Kenai, Prince William Sound, or Yakutat. But I can tell you a lot about fishing in Ketchikan and the best time to book your stay at our Alaska fishing lodge.
Prime Fishing Seasons at Our Ketchikan Lodge
King Salmon (Chinook): Mid-May – Mid-August
King or Chinook salmon can be found in Ketchikan year-round, but the spawning run begins showing up in mid-May. The bulk of the local fish pass through during the last half of June and the first week of July. These locally spawning salmon average about 20 lbs. Throughout the remainder of July and August, we still get Kings, both bound for other rivers and “feeder kings.” I’ve had days in August when the King salmon fishing was fantastic—you just never know. Our feeder king salmon average about 14 lbs, but I’ve caught them over 30 lbs.
Silver Salmon (Coho): Late June – October
In Ketchikan, we get a unique summer run of Silvers that starts showing up the last week of June and continues through August. The early run of Silvers averages about 8 lbs when they first show up in June and grows to about a 10 lb average by August, with a few 15-pound Coho starting to appear.
The biggest and most abundant run of Silvers in Ketchikan is the Fall run. The Fall Coho start to show up the last week of August and run clear into October. These salmon average from 12 to 14 lbs in September, with Coho up to 20 lbs available.
Other Popular Salmon Species
- Pink Salmon (Humpies): July – August. Pinks are the most abundant and the smallest of the Alaskan salmon, but they can put up a pretty good fight and eat well when they’re bright.
- Chum Salmon (Keta): July – August. Chums are the second largest of the Pacific salmon species. Alaskan Chums are a very important commercial fish, but they offer a great fight on a salmon rod, too. Chums will fight similar to a King salmon by taking deep dives and long, heavy runs. Bright ocean Chum salmon is delicious eating and should not be confused with a spawning dog salmon.
- Sockeye Salmon (Reds): July–August. There are several Sockeye rivers near Ketchikan. Sockeye are not easily taken in the salt water, but if you can find them schooled up in a lake or river, flossing them with flies is a sportsman’s dream.
Targeting Alaska’s Bottom Fish
- Halibut: June – August. Halibut fishing is excellent as they come into the shallow inland waters to feed on herring, salmon, cod, and other fish also making the summer journey through the waters of Southeast Alaska.
- Rockfish: Year-round. Rockfish are local inhabitants that typically stay within a five-mile radius.
