Coho fall in the way

The following is provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Ketchikan Fishing Report

September 07, 2023

An excellent resource for planning a trip is the interactive gofishak map of Ketchikan, which provides information on popular fishing spots, timing for species runs, gear choices, and access to boats and anglers.

King Salmon

Offshore anglers still find a few kingfish around Duke Island, Clover Pass, and Gravina.

Beginning August 15, territorial baggage and possession limits will apply for king salmon in marine waters of the Ketchikan area. King salmon can be kept in the West Beam Channel, South East Beam Channel, and South Revlagigedo Island. The North and Northeast Beam Channel remains closed all year round.

Royal Salmon Regional Regulations:

Alaska resident

• Resident bag and possession limit is two salmon, 28 inches or more in length;
• From October 1, 2023 until March 31, 2024, a sport fisherman may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, and a person using two rods under this regulation may only keep salmon.

Non-resident

• Non-resident bag and possession limit is One salmon, 28 inches or more in length;
• from From January 1st to June 30thThe maximum annual harvest for non-residents is three king salmon, 28 inches or more in length;
• from From July 1st to July 15thThe maximum annual harvest for non-residents is two king salmon 28 inches or more in length; Any king salmon harvested between January 1st through June 30th will apply to the annual harvest limit of the two fish.
• from From July 16th to December 31stThe maximum annual catch for non-residents is one king salmon, 28 inches or more in length; Any king salmon harvested from January 1st to July 15th will apply to the annual harvest limit of one fish.
• Once Royal Salmon has been landed and retained, a non-resident must enter the species, date and location on his/her sport fishing license or non-transferable harvest record.

North and Northeast of the Beam Canal

Salmon fishing is closed all year round in the Behem Channel and adjacent bays flanked on the north by a line from the western entrance to Pelee Bay to the northern end of Hasler Island and a line from Finn Point to Dress Point to a line from Cactus Point to Point Eva.

Coho salmon and pink salmon

Fishing for coho fish increases as the fall of coho moves into the area. Coho has been harvested primarily from Duke Island, Cape Chacon, Alava, Clover Pass, Mountain Point, and Gravina.

Roadside fishermen can find good sea fishing for coho in Herring Bay. There is a lot of pink salmon in the local streams. If you’re on the road system, try Ward Creek and Ketchikan Creek.

Hering Cove Creek He is Opens For sport fishing downstream to ADF&G Marks. The top of the bridge is closed to sport fishing.

• Hunting season is from August 10 to December 31.
• Borders for coho, pink and chum salmon (combined):
  • 2 a day, 2 per possession, 16 inches or more.

Ketchikan Creek He is Opens For sport fishing for all species including king salmon.

• Coho, Pink, and Chum Salmon (Mixed):
  • 2 a day, 2 per possession, 16 inches or more.
• Salmon: 2 per day, 2 per possession, any size.
• King salmon harvested on Ketchikan Creek does not count toward the annual non-resident limit.
• Bait use is prohibited, and only artificial bait or unbaited flies may be used year-round.

Ward Creek

• Borders for coho, pink and chum salmon (combined):
  • 2 a day, 2 per possession, 16 inches or more.
• Bait use is prohibited, and only artificial bait or unbaited flies may be used year-round.

rock fish

Rockfish can be caught all year round. A helpful webpage is available on the Fish and Game website to assist anglers with identification.

All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one deep water release device (regardless of the target species) and anglers are required to use a deep water release device to launch rockfish to the depth at which it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Please see the summary of the Southeast Alaska Sporting Fish Regulation Regulation or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn how to use them.

Bottom rock cliff fish

Bottom cliff rockfish are the following species: yellow eye rockfish, quailback, copperhead, canary, china, tiger and pink rockfish.

The bottom shelf rockfish keep is now open to Alaskans with a daily bag limit of one bag per day, one per hold. It is forbidden to keep yellow rockfish.

Bottom-shelf rockfish are closed to non-residents for harvesting.

Rockfish slope

Some stingrays are common in the marine waters around Ketchkan. The most common species are the silver gray, rough eye, shortfish, and scarlet rockfish.

one a day; one in his possession.

pelagic rock fish

five a day; ten in possession.

rainbow and trout

There are a few good opportunities to target trout and trout along the trail system. Anglers targeting trout may want to try Ward Lake, Talbot Lake, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan Creek, or various lakes on Gravina Island.

Be sure to check out the 2023 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations. The regulations for freshwater in the Ketchikan area can be found on pages 30-32. Regulations vary depending on the waters in which you plan to fish.