One of the great things about fishing in Alaska is that you can go at almost any time of the year. However, most people schedule their trips for the summer, specifically between June and September. During this time, the weather is warmer, the salmon are spawning, trout are in peak season, and fishing is overall at its best. The biggest downside to
Fishing Hole in Homer, Alaska
this is that it is also peak tourist season and everyone else is planning their trips as well, so the more popular spots may be a bit crowded for your liking. However, this can always be easily fixed by booking a fly-in trip if too many other anglers are bumping your elbows. Also make sure to reserve early and book ahead if you’re coming up in the summer, as many of the best guides and fishing lodge locations will be booked months in advance.
Fishing in the summer months also gives your trip the greatest flexibility. In addition to Halibut, which can be caught year-round, you can also always catch at least one species of salmon from May-September. Here is when runs typically occur, but to get the best, up to date information make sure to check out the Updated Run Timing Charts from Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game.
- Halibut – May-September
- King Salmon – Mid May-July
- Silver Salmon – July-September
- Red Salmon – Mid June-Mid August
- Pink and Chum Salmon – Mid July-Mid August
Even though the fish are plentiful in Alaska, always make sure to have a backup plan when you’re planning your trip. The run timing charts are only close approximations, especially months in advance. Runs can change times or even be heavy in some rivers and virtually non-existent in others. But, as long as you have a backup plan and are flexible there will always be a monster for you to catch somewhere, just maybe not the one you were planning on catching.
As always, also make sure to check out the regulations and specific dates for seasons at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Regulations and seasons are slightly different for different areas and different years for conservation reasons, so make sure you’re not running afoul of any laws when scheduling your Alaskan fishing trip.
Related posts:
- Tips to Make Your Alaska Fishing Vacation a Success
- What To Pack on Your Alaskan Fishing Trip
- Going Deep for Alaska Salmon Fishing
- Alaska Fishing Regulations and Rules You Need to Know Before Your Trip