UTERPink (humpy) salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska
In Southcentral Alaska, pink (humpy) salmon peak July–August and are around June–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Pinks off the Homer Spit, Resurrection Bay and Valdez; Kenai pinks from mid-July (the big Kenai runs come in EVEN years).
Not in Southcentral Alaska this month.
Pink (humpy) salmon in Southcentral Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArrivingPWS pinks from mid-June at Lake Bay, Sawmill Bay and Whittier.
- JulyPeakPinks off the Homer Spit, Resurrection Bay and Valdez; Kenai pinks from mid-July (the big Kenai runs come in EVEN years).
- AugustPeakPeak — any spoon catches them from the PWS shorelines and Seward's beaches.
- SeptemberLeavingWestern PWS and Whittier pinks to mid-September.
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pink (humpy) salmon near Homer, Seward, Kenai
Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet off the Kenai Peninsula, Resurrection Bay at Seward, Prince William Sound's fjords and glaciers, and the Kodiak archipelago — plus the Kenai, Kasilof and Russian rivers' famous runs.
What to use for pink (humpy) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–62°F water, best at 50–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch pink (humpy) salmon in Southcentral Alaska?
Peak season is July–August. Pink (humpy) salmon are in Southcentral Alaska June–September. July: Pinks off the Homer Spit, Resurrection Bay and Valdez; Kenai pinks from mid-July (the big Kenai runs come in EVEN years).
Where do pink (humpy) salmon hold in Southcentral Alaska?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, fishing pier, channel edge, river — around Homer, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna, Valdez, Whittier.
What is the best bait for pink (humpy) salmon in Southcentral Alaska?
Live bait: herring. Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for pink (humpy) salmon in Southcentral Alaska?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and change — read the current rule at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.main before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main.
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