Best Alaska King Salmon

I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Alaska and was wondering where the best salt water King fishing is? Is Sitka good? Is the Kenai area better? Seward? Where is the best King Salmon fishing in Alaska? Thanks!!! SD27

All of SE Ak is great when the paid for by Wa anglers kings are moving thru. Then it’s closed.

When does it close? Any other opinions?

It's a year by year decision. They do a pretty good job of protecting their salmon resource. Halibut is a different story. Halibut in Sitka has really dropped off from my first trips up there 20 years ago. Off the top of my head I believe they closed it each of the last two years for king retention in early July. You should be good to go if you are there in June and once you get into July there should be plenty of Coho.

Have fun. It's an awesome place. I'd love to have my own boat up there even if it was only to drop a few pots and cast for Dollies.

Old Harbor for big salt water fish.
There is a little bit of a timing deal but if you hit it right you wont forget it.

http://kainsfishingadventures.com/fishing/index.html

Former student of mine. Runs a great business w/a high success rate...

That's an early June fishery isn't it? I thought I saw a program on it a couple of years ago. Not a lot of fish, but everything that was caught was a true toad.

Yup.
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Yup.

Thanks. I was hoping that Sitka area was good. It appears to be. Old harbor looks great but Kodiak is a long haul from Sitka and I was hoping to keep S E Alasaka. My temp plan is Sitka Late May through Late June, then Sekiu and Neah July 1 then Nootka Sound Aug 1 then head south to San Diego. Is Cooks inlet through Kenai any good?

Trip of a lifetime there bud! And I think the small ports/bays/islands will be just as good as the world famous ones.

Just do it.

Totally agree with your recommendation on Kain's! Great outfit indeed! Been going North now for 13 years and have fished a few places (POW, PWS, Pelican AK and Homer areas) and I've always found my way back to Greg's in Sitka. Initially once a year late May or early June for Kings and recently a return trip in late August for late season Coho! Great lodging, wonderful food and nice 32' walkabout boats with top of the line rods and reels and KNOWLEDGEABLE captains too ( deckhands for 3-4 years) before running one of Greg's boats! Makes a difference! Word of warning: Numbers are down according to ADFG's bulletins I've recently received. Some areas are looking at closures due to low King returns this year so be wary before booking a trip. Sitka area is awaiting AI numbers for this year So I'd check ADFG website in coming weeks for updates! Good Luck up there as I know you'll have a GREAT time wherever you go!

Thanks for the kains tip, but Ill be in my 43 ft Mikelson.

Is the King fishing any good up around Haines?

You don't have to go all the way up to Haines. Check your map/chart and look for Kelp Bay, southeast of Angoon on the east side of Baranoff Island. Little known area because it is a fair distance from most lodges. I guided up at Whalers Cove Lodge just north of there for 8 summers. Kelp Bay produces some big kings in June, but is too long of a run for most people. Since you are taking a large boat, you solve most of the transportation problem and sleeping issues. My biggest there was 54 lbs. Not a lot of fish, but the size of the run increases with smaller kings into July that are headed to the commercial fishing hatchery financed by purse seiners a few miles south of Kelp Bay at Hidden Falls near the hamlet of Baranoff. Lots of bait, lots of whales; be careful of the bears if you go ashore. They haven't been too long out of their dens and are eating grass and other green things and are hungry for fish or anything else that smells "good". I envy your trip up north in a comfortable boat.

Thanks Tug! Pics of Kelp bay look nice. The reason I was interested in Haines is that you can access it by land and don't need a Ferry. Is Haines good fishing? The scenery looks great there. I will definitely check out Kelp Bay.