UTERPink (humpy) salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, pink (humpy) salmon peak August and are around July–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Peak: light spinning gear and a pink spoon off any creek mouth; best on the incoming tide.
Not in Southeast Alaska this month.
Pink (humpy) salmon in Southeast Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArrivingPinks every year in Southeast — schools finning at every creek mouth by late July.
- AugustPeakPeak: light spinning gear and a pink spoon off any creek mouth; best on the incoming tide.
- SeptemberLeavingThe runs are spawned out and done early in the month.
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pink (humpy) 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.
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 Southeast Alaska?
Peak season is August. Pink (humpy) salmon are in Southeast Alaska July–September. August: Peak: light spinning gear and a pink spoon off any creek mouth; best on the incoming tide.
Where do pink (humpy) salmon hold in Southeast Alaska?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, channel edge, river — around Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau.
What is the best bait for pink (humpy) salmon in Southeast 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 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 pink (humpy) salmon · Southeast Alaska, the whole year