Ketchikan Fishing

I must admit that I have never been an avid fisherman. However, it is difficult to fully integrate into Ketchikan society without at least learning the lingo and venturing out for a few fishing expeditions. After all, Ketchikan does claim to be the salmon capital of the world.
My wife and I have made it out fishing a few times and ended up having a lot of fun and even learned a little bit at the same time! The most popular fish species found in the area include all species of salmon, halibut, red snapper, cod, sea bass, and trout. If I am missing any that you are aware, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

The great thing about Ketchikan is that there are a large number of charter boats that will take you out fishing at a great price. If that is not your cup of tea, you can also rent poles from several locations and fish right from the Creek Street Bridge in downtown or venture south to Herring Cove. I have fished from Herring Cove, but prefer going out with friends to troll for King or Silver salmon. Popular trolling areas close to town include the Clover Pass area north of town and the Mountain Point area south of town. Of course there are endless other great locations within a short boat ride away which will get you away from the crowds.

Listed below is some more detailed information on the species found near Ketchikan and when you will have the best chance of catching one.

1. Salmon

a. King Salmon
Since arriving in Ketchikan it has been easy to figure out that these are the most sought after variety of salmon found in the area. From what I can determine, most fishermen catch these in salt water from shore or from a boat. June seems to be the best month, but I did catch a King on Friday night (although had to throw it back due to size).

b. Coho Salmon (Silver)
These are also highly sought after in the area. The Coho are smaller than the Kings, and according to Alaska Dep’t of Fish and Game, usually weigh between 3 - 20 pounds, with the average somewhere in the vicinity of 8 - 10 pounds. You can usually find them between July and September. I was able to catch a few of these last summer and I can tell you that they are exciting to catch since they seem to put up a fight. I caught one by trolling close to the surface from a boat and caught another by simply casting with a lure.

c. Sockeye Salmon (Red)
Unfortunately, I have not caught any of these in the area and I believe they are not found in the same abundance as the other species of salmon. I will give an update in the future when I am more informed on Sockeye fishing near Ketchikan.

d. Pink Salmon (Humpy)
These seem to be the most abundant type of salmon found near Ketchikan and therefore have been the type I have caught most frequently (even though I have been out only a limited number of times). I was trolling from a boat each time I caught these, but have seen other catch them from simply casting a lure. The Alaska Dep’t of Fish and Game states that Pink Salmon live about 2 years and weigh 3 pounds on average. I have noticed that many lifelong Alaskans will thrown these fish back in favor of other species. However, I have kept the ones I caught and find them to taste pretty good with some Caribbean jerk marinade or salmon rub. I do of course prefer the texture and taste of King or Coho, but still like the taste of the Pinks.

e. Chum Salmon (dog)
The Chum Salmon is another variety that I have yet to catch. I do not know much about them but I do know they are found in the area and have heard friends say that they prefer they prefer these over Pinks.


2. Halibut
Halibut are considered a bottom fish and are also abundant in the waters surrounding Ketchikan. Halibut has white colored delicate meat that I really like. It can be quite a workout reeling one of these bad boys up from the depths, but the payoff is usually a large fillet with great taste. The Alaska Dep’t of Fish and Game mentions that Halibut can live for more than 20 years and a few in excess of 300 pounds have been caught in the area. I actually caught one of these last summer while attempting to catch salmon at a more shallow depth. Apparently this is not uncommon, but they are usually found at deeper depths.


3. Trout
Trout are another species of fish found in the local Ketchikan waters that I have not yet had the pleasure of catching. From what I have heard they are located in both fresh and salt water. I know there are both Cutthroat and Rainbow (with Steelhead considered a type of “sea run” rainbow). Once I go out and fish for these this summer or fall I will follow up with my finding. If you are more familiar with trout fishing in Ketchikan please follow up with some comments for our readers.

There are also many other types of fish found in the area that I have not yet caught. As I mentioned above, I am not a die-hard fisherman, but am definitely starting to enjoy it more and understand why others swear by it as a form of therapy. As I learn more, I will be sure to update the information I have provided above and let you know what you can expect if you come visit or move here in the future. Also, if you are a local or more familiar with fishing in the area, please let me know if I have missed any crucial information or misstated anything. My main goal here is to give people and general overview of what they will likely be fishing for or what they can expect to catch.