UTERCoho (silver) salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska
In Southcentral Alaska, Coho (silver) salmon peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Seward's Silver Salmon Derby month; Homer's late run, Fleming Spit, Whittier shoreline, Kodiak road streams from early August.
Kenai coho run to mid-October; Kodiak and the Peninsula streams into early October.
Coho (silver) salmon in Southcentral Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArrivingHomer Spit early run mid-July; Resurrection Bay outside coho late June onward; Port Valdez from mid-July.
- AugustPeakSeward's Silver Salmon Derby month; Homer's late run, Fleming Spit, Whittier shoreline, Kodiak road streams from early August.
- SeptemberPeakKenai and Kasilof mouths, Kodiak's Buskin and Pasagshak, PWS shorelines through September.
- OctoberLeavingKenai coho run to mid-October; Kodiak and the Peninsula streams into early October.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Coho (silver) 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 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 Southcentral Alaska?
Peak season is August–September. Coho (silver) salmon are in Southcentral Alaska July–October. August: Seward's Silver Salmon Derby month; Homer's late run, Fleming Spit, Whittier shoreline, Kodiak road streams from early August.
Where do Coho (silver) 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 Coho (silver) 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 Coho (silver) 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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