UTERSockeye (red) salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, sockeye (red) salmon peak July–August and are around June–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Peak returns at the mouths; flossing in the lower stretches where it's legal.
Not in Southeast Alaska this month.
Sockeye (red) salmon in Southeast Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArrivingEarly sockeye at the terminal river mouths — Chilkoot, Klawock and the outer-coast systems.
- JulyPeakPeak returns at the mouths; flossing in the lower stretches where it's legal.
- AugustPeakRun's end at most systems.
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish sockeye (red) 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 sockeye (red) salmon hold on.
What to use for sockeye (red) salmon
- 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 48–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sockeye (red) salmon in Southeast Alaska?
Peak season is July–August. Sockeye (red) salmon are in Southeast Alaska June–September. July: Peak returns at the mouths; flossing in the lower stretches where it's legal.
Where do sockeye (red) 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 sockeye (red) salmon in Southeast Alaska?
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 sockeye (red) 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.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores sockeye (red) salmon for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
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All about sockeye (red) salmon · Southeast Alaska, the whole year