Sport Fishing
RSSSport, charter, and personal-use fishing: derby culture, dipnetting, guide operations, sport regulation changes, angler community
Redoubt Bay sockeye limits rise Wednesday as run projects past 40,000 fish
Sitka sockeye limits jump Wednesday as the Redoubt Bay run projects past 40,000 fish, allowing subsistence households 25 fish daily and sport anglers 6 fish.
by Bill AlaskaNews6h ago2 min readAIRedoubt Bay, Sitka, Alaska
On the Kasilof, Alaska is opening the sockeye floodgates and holding the line on kings
On the Kasilof, Alaska is opening the sockeye floodgates and rationing the kings on the same water — a tidy snapshot of where the salmon stand. Grab a dipnet.
by Bill AlaskaNews6d ago3 min readAIKasilof River, Alaska
Wisconsin man cited for lifting king salmon on Anchor River
Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited a 19-year-old Wisconsin man for lifting a king salmon from the Anchor River and releasing it, violating an active Emergency Order requiring all kings to stay in the water.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1w ago1 min readAIAnchor River, Alaska
POW anglers must keep lingcod, rockfish, salmon whole until docked at Craig or Klawock
Sport anglers returning to Craig or Klawock must keep lingcod, rockfish, and salmon whole until docked so state technicians can sample them for fishery data.
by Bill AlaskaNews1d ago2 min readAIPrince of Wales Island, Alaska
Wood River Sockeye Limit Doubles to 10 Fish Starting Tuesday
Sport anglers fishing the Wood River near Dillingham can keep 10 sockeye salmon starting Tuesday instead of five, because the run is tracking above the state's escapement goal.
by Bill AlaskaNews1d ago2 min readAIWood River drainage, Dillingham, Alaska
A storied Alaska king run falls short again — the Nushagak goes catch-and-release Sunday
The Nushagak, one of Alaska's great king runs, is tracking short again — so starting Sunday, sport anglers have to release every king through July 31.
by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readAINushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, Alaska
On one of the world's great king rivers, a 'poor' rating is partly the plan
Fish go bye bye? Oh no0ooo
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIBristol Bay
In Prince William Sound, the one-king summer is the new normal
Prince William Sound's one-king limit isn't a new emergency — it's the rule now, the same restriction as last year, as wild kings stay thin and only hatchery zones stay generous.
by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readAIPrince William Sound, Alaska
Cod fishing is excellent in Resurrection Bay — and walkable from Seward
Pacific cod fishing in Resurrection Bay is excellent right now — and the hot spots are a walk from downtown Seward. No boat, no problem. Halibut inside? Less so.
by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago1 min readAIResurrection Bay, Alaska
Seward gives its kids more time to catch a king
Kings are scarce across Alaska, but Seward's kids just got bonus weeks at a lagoon stocked just for them — fish raised to be caught, by anglers under 16 only.
by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago1 min readAISeward, Alaska
Why Alaska is giving out-of-staters more kings as the runs falter
Alaska just doubled out-of-staters' king limit in Southeast even as kings struggle elsewhere — because these are treaty-quota ocean fish, and visitors foot much of the state's fishing-budget bill.
by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readAISoutheast Alaska
Kodiak Borough weighs natural resource excise tax on recreational harvest
Kodiak Borough is exploring a flat fee on fish boxes and game containers from recreational harvests, modeled on Sitka's $10 per box tax, and could adopt it by ordinance without a public vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAIKodiak Island, Alaska
Halibut anglers on Alaska charters now pay $20 a day — and the money is funding a decades-old battle over who gets to catch the fish
Alaska charter anglers now pay $20 per day to keep halibut in Southeast and Southcentral waters, a federal fee that funds the charter sector's purchase of commercial fishing quota to expand their halibut allocation.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Russian River Sanctuary opens early June 18 for sockeye season
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset. Quickly - swim the fish.
by Bill AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAIRussian River, Alaska
Kodiak Anglers Can Now Keep 10 Sockeye at South Olga Lakes
Kodiak anglers can keep 10 sockeye per day at South Olga Lakes starting Friday, June 26, through July 15, after the run exceeded its escapement goal.
by Bill AlaskaNews6d ago1 min readAIKodiak, Alaska
Russian River Sanctuary opens Thursday as sockeye goal met
Russian River Sanctuary opens for sport fishing Thursday after Alaska Fish and Game confirmed early-run sockeye escapement goal will be met, with 7,512 fish counted at the weir through June 16.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIKenai Peninsula, Alaska
Interior loses its salmon fishing — pike it is
The Tanana drainage just lost king and chum fishing entirely, leaving Interior anglers chasing pike scattered across a flooded Minto Flats — work for it, with big flashy spoons.
by Bill AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAITanana River, Alaska
Copper River Kings Hit a Record Low — and Limits Drop
The Copper River's king run is the worst on record, so Alaska is cutting anglers from four fish to one — betting this summer's catch against next year's spawn.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIUpper Copper River, Alaska
The Kenai's kings are closed again — another summer without Alaska's most iconic salmon
Another year with King closures and no easy answer in sight
by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIKenai Peninsula
Upper Copper River king salmon fishery requires new permit in 2026
Alaska Department of Fish and Game now requires a free individual permit for all anglers targeting king salmon in the Upper Copper River drainage, with mandatory harvest reporting by August 31, 2026.
by Alaska News1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Kenai River king salmon fishery closed through mid-August 2026
Kenai River king salmon fishing closed May 1 through August 15, 2026 under emergency order. Third consecutive year of full closure due to conservation concerns. Other species fishing allowed with single-hook lures only. Nearby Kasilof River open to limited hatchery king salmon fishing.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAINorthern Kenai Peninsula
Kasilof River guide cited for fishing in prohibited People's Hole
A fishing guide was cited for fishing at People's Hole on the Kasilof River, where guides are prohibited but their clients are allowed.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1w ago1 min readAIKasilof River, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
King Salmon Fishing Closed Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast
Alaska closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Tanana River drainage on May 21 due to a below-average Yukon River forecast, affecting the Chena, Goodpaster, and Salcha Rivers.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAITanana River drainage
The Eklutna Tailrace is the only open king salmon fishery in the Mat-Su
Emergency orders closed king salmon fishing across the Susitna River drainage, Little Susitna River, and West Cook Inlet, leaving the Eklutna Tailrace as the sole remaining location for king salmon harvest in Northern Cook Inlet during the peak third week of June.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readAIMat-Su
Seward: Yelloweye rockfish closure extended through June 30
Alaska closed yelloweye rockfish retention through June 30 and cut other rockfish bag limits to three per day through mid-September in Resurrection Bay and the North Gulf Coast to protect spawning fish.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAISeward
ADF&G opens youth-only fishing events across Southcentral, Southwest Alaska
ADF&G is reserving specific Southcentral and Southwest salmon waters for youth anglers this summer. • Kids 15 and under can fish without a license during these designated event windows. • Events run from June through August at locations like Ship Creek and Homer Spit.
by Bill AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAISouthcentral and Southwest Alaska
Kenai, Russian River Sockeye Bag Limit Jumps to 6 Fish Thursday
Red fish, blue fish, me fish, you fish
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIKenai River, Alaska
Yukon Chum Salmon Forecast Misses Escapement Goal, Triggers Fishery Closures
Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed Yukon River drainage chum salmon fisheries after the 2026 preseason forecast of 345,600 fish fell below the 500,000 minimum escapement goal, triggering automatic closures under state regulation.
by Alaska News1mo ago2 min readAIFairbanks
Anchor River opens catch-and-release king salmon fishing June 13-17
Anchor River opens catch-and-release king salmon fishing June 13-17, the only Cook Inlet king opportunity all summer. • In-season counts hit 756 fish by June 9, projecting a run of roughly 3,800, just inside the escapement goal. • Most other Cook Inlet king runs fell short of conservation goals, closing the Kenai, Deshka, and Mat-Su fisheries for the season.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readAIAnchor River
Alaska sport fishing rules frozen despite new booklets
Alaska anglers should follow 2025 fishing rules, not the new 2026 booklet, because several regulations printed there haven't received final legal approval yet and remain unenforceable.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readAIAlaska
ADF&G opens Juneau hatchery area to king salmon retention June 1
Alaska Fish and Game opens a saltwater hatchery area near Juneau to king salmon fishing June 1 through August 31, allowing anglers four fish per day while the rest of the region stays closed until June 15.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIJuneau
Kodiak River closes to sockeye fishing
Alaska closes Buskin River sockeye sport fishing from June 24 through year-end after only 916 fish passed the weir by mid-June, versus a typical 3,200 at this date.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAIBuskin River, Kodiak Island, Alaska
Mat-Su king salmon fisheries closed amid conservation concerns
Alaska closed king salmon fishing in Susitna River, Little Susitna River, and West Cook Inlet through July 2026 due to low salmon numbers. • Gear restrictions apply to all fishing in those drainages, even when targeting other species. • Eklutna Tailrace opens late May with king salmon available if you buy a stamp. • Rainbow trout and northern pike fishing open at other Mat-Su lakes.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIMat-Su Borough
King salmon closures spread across Mat-Su and West Cook Inlet as runs remain weak
Alaska closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Susitna drainage and West Cook Inlet
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIMat-Su Borough
Sockeye fishing at Resurrection River mouth swings day-to-day
Sockeye fishing at Resurrection River mouth is unpredictable right now because a hatchery cost-recovery vessel is harvesting from the same run, so the daily bite depends on where the boat is working.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readAIResurrection Bay
Prince William Sound king salmon limits slashed to one fish
Alaska cut king salmon limits to one fish in most Prince William Sound waters to protect stocks with low productivity. • Terminal areas near Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega keep two-fish daily limits. • Shrimp pot limits also reduced to two per person, season runs May 1 through June 8. • Anglers must buy 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp before fishing.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIPrince William Sound
King salmon sportfishing slows in Yakutat marine waters after strong week
King salmon fishing slowed in Yakutat marine waters over Memorial Day weekend after a strong week earlier in May, though residents can keep two fish and nonresidents one under 2026 rules.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIYakutat
Washington Man Cited for Keeping Snagged Sockeye on Russian River
A Washington angler got cited for keeping a snagged sockeye on the Russian — where "hooked in the mouth or it's poaching" isn't fussiness, it's how Alaska keeps the run honest.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 4d ago2 min readAIRussian River, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Yukon River sport fishing closed for kings and chums through 2026 as seven-year rebuilding effort continues
Alaska closed all sport fishing for king and chum salmon in the Yukon River drainage through 2026 under emergency orders due to weak run forecasts and a U.S.-Canada treaty requiring seven years of rebuilding closures.
by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIYukon River drainage
Eagle River king salmon fishery closed for 2026 season
Alaska closed all king salmon sport fishing in Eagle River through July 13, 2026 due to weak fish populations and unmet escapement goals.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIAnchorage
