UTERCoho (silver) salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, Coho (silver) salmon peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Coho everywhere — trolling a flasher and hoochie in the top 40 ft at the capes; the derby month.
Last silvers in the bays and terminal areas.
Coho (silver) salmon in Southeast Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArrivingFirst coho on the outer coast, Sitka and Craig, mixing with the last kings.
- AugustPeakCoho everywhere — trolling a flasher and hoochie in the top 40 ft at the capes; the derby month.
- SeptemberPeakPeak inside waters; coho stack at the river mouths and hatchery release sites.
- OctoberLeavingLast silvers in the bays and terminal areas.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Coho (silver) salmon near Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell
The Inside Passage: a thousand islands of rainforest, deep fjords, kelp-lined points and the exposed outer coast off Sitka and Craig, with hundreds of salmon streams and hatchery release sites.
Fish Scouter charts 328 lake spots in the Southeast Alaska map area — the kinds Coho (silver) salmon hold on.
What to use for Coho (silver) 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.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 46–62°F water, best at 50–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Coho (silver) salmon in Southeast Alaska?
Peak season is August–September. Coho (silver) salmon are in Southeast Alaska July–October. August: Coho everywhere — trolling a flasher and hoochie in the top 40 ft at the capes; the derby month.
Where do Coho (silver) salmon hold in Southeast Alaska?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, marker / buoy, beach / surf, ledge / hard bottom, river — around Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau.
What is the best bait for Coho (silver) salmon in Southeast Alaska?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). 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 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Coho (silver) salmon in Southeast 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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All about Coho (silver) salmon · Southeast Alaska, the whole year