Situk River sockeye run peaks with fishing good but counts low

The Situk River sockeye run is at its peak, with fish present in the lower river and fishing described as good, though counts have been on the low side, according to Jason Pawluk, Yakutat Area Management Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Sport Fish.

Dolly Varden fishing is also expected to be good in the Situk and in other streams across the Yakutat Management Area, Pawluk said.

This report covers freshwater conditions on the Situk River. The full ADF&G Yakutat Fishing Report for July 2, 2026 also addresses saltwater conditions for king salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish in Yakutat area marine waters.

A Strong 2025 Does Not Guarantee 2026

The 2025 Situk sockeye run closed with 125,977 fish counted at the weir, making it one of the best runs in recent years and second only to the 2003 record, according to a 2025 Yakutat fishing report published by Fish Alaska Magazine. Some regional voices argue that a single stretch of low counts in 2026 should not be read as alarming given that multi-year context, and that variability within a season is normal.

Tracking the Run

Anglers can track daily and cumulative Situk River sockeye counts through the ADF&G Fish Counts website at adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts, which publishes weir data in real time and allows comparison against prior years.

Anglers heading out in the Yakutat area should check the ADF&G website for current emergency orders and advisory announcements on king salmon regulations for Southeast Alaska, as well as recent changes to lingcod and rockfish regulations in the Yakutat management area.