UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska
In Southcentral Alaska, Chinook (king) salmon peak June–July and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Peak: Deep Creek and Anchor Point trolling off the beaches, the Spit's Fishing Hole snagging terminal hatchery kings.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Chinook (king) salmon in Southcentral Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryAroundWinter feeder kings in Kachemak Bay and Resurrection Bay — trolling herring deep on calm days.
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingHomer Spit and Halibut Cove kings mid-May through early July; Deep Creek saltwater early run from early May.
- JunePeakPeak: Deep Creek and Anchor Point trolling off the beaches, the Spit's Fishing Hole snagging terminal hatchery kings.
- JulyPeakDeep Creek late run into early August; Kenai late-run kings pass the mouth (the river closes end of July — check emergency orders).
- AugustLeavingFeeders only; the returning runs are done.
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish Chinook (king) 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.
Fish Scouter charts 491 lake spots in the Southcentral Alaska map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) 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 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Southcentral Alaska?
Peak season is June–July. Chinook (king) salmon are here year-round. June: Peak: Deep Creek and Anchor Point trolling off the beaches, the Spit's Fishing Hole snagging terminal hatchery kings.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Southcentral Alaska?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, beach / surf, fishing pier, ledge / hard bottom, river — around Homer, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna, Valdez, Whittier.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Southcentral 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 Chinook (king) 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.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores Chinook (king) 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.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about Chinook (king) salmon · Southcentral Alaska, the whole year