Planning a successful Alaska fishing trip is all about timing. While there is no one perfect date for all anglers, you definitely want to make sure you arrive when the fish do. The best time to fish in Alaska is during the summer months between June and August. During these months you’ll catch the tail end of the King (Chinook) Salmon runs, and peak fishing season for Silver (Coho), Red (Sockeye), Pink and Chum Salmon.

Peak game fish availability—including salmon runs—will vary month to month, and week to week, across the state. The diagram below shows Alaska sport fishing regions, each represented by a different color.

The fishing availability tables below correspond to the regions in the above diagram. These tables indicate the time of year game fish are present, peak availability, and which months salmon species are running within each region. For specific salmon run dates visit the Alaska salmon runs dates chart.

• Southern Southeast-Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island-Fresh Water Run Timing
• Southern Southeast-Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island-Salt Water Fish Availability
• Northern Southeast-Juneau/Sitka/Yakutat-Fish Availability in Fresh Water
• Northern Southeast-Juneau/Sitka/Yakutat-Fish Availability in Salt Water
• Prince William Sound-Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Rivers-Fresh Water Fish Availability
• Prince William Sound, Copper River Mouth, Resurrection Bay Salt Water Fish Availability
• Kenai Peninsula Fresh Water Fish Availability
• Kenai Peninsula Salt Water Fish Availability
• Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Fresh Water Run Timing
• West-side Susitna River Drainage/Western Cook Inlet Game Fish Fresh Water Availability
• Bristol Bay/Kodiak Island Fresh Water Run Timing
• Bristol Bay/Kodiak Island Salt Water Fish Availability
• Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Run Timing
• Tanana River Area-Fairbanks/Delta/Tok-Fish Availability

Southern Southeast-Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island-Fresh Water Run Timing

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh water fisheries of Southern Southeast Alaska south of Fredrick Sound. This region includes Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, and Petersburg. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓	✓		✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon						✓	✓			✓	✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓
Chum Salmon							✓		✓	✓
Pink Salmon										✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓
Steelhead Trout	✓	✓	✓			✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Cutthroat Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Brook Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Smelt		✓	✓	✓
Kokanee	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓

Southern Southeast-Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island-Salt Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the salt waters of Southern Southeast Alaska south of Fredrick Sound. This region includes Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan, and Petersburg. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon						✓				✓	✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓	✓	✓
Chum Salmon						✓			✓
Pink Salmon						✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Cutthroat					✓		✓	✓	✓
Smelt	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓
Halibut	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Rockfish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Lingcod	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Northern Southeast-Juneau/Sitka/Yakutat-Fish Availability in Fresh Water

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh waters of Northern Southeast coastal Alaska spanning from Cape Suckling, east of Cordova, to the southern end of Baranof Island in Frederick Sound. This area includes Juneau, Sitka, Yakutat, Skagway, and Haines. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓	✓		✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon											✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓		✓	✓
Chum Salmon						✓		✓	✓	✓
Pink Salmon								✓	✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓		✓	✓
Steelhead Trout	✓	✓	✓			✓		✓	✓		✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Cutthroat Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Brook Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓
Smelt				✓		✓

Northern Southeast-Juneau/Sitka/Yakutat-Fish Availability in Salt Water

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the salt waters of Northern Southeast coastal Alaska spanning from Cape Suckling, east of Cordova, to the southern end of Frederick Sound at Baranof Island. This area includes Juneau, Yakutat, Sitka, Haines, and Skagway. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon						✓	✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon							✓	✓	✓
Chum Salmon						✓		✓	✓
Pink Salmon						✓		✓
Dolly Varden				✓	✓		✓	✓
Cutthroat Trout					✓		✓	✓	✓
Smelt	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Halibut	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Lingcod	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Rockfish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓

Prince William Sound-Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Rivers-Fresh Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh water fishers near Prince William Sound and within the Upper Copper/Susitna River drainages south of the Alaska Range. This region is accessible by Richardson Highway, the eastern Glenn Highway, and the Tok Cut-off. This area includes Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, Copper Center, Glennallen, Paxson, and Sourdough. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon
Sockeye (Red) Salmon
Coho (Silver) Salmon
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Steelhead Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓
Cutthrout Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓	✓						✓	✓	✓
Smelt	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Lake Trout					✓			✓	✓	✓	✓
Burbot					✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Prince William Sound, Resurrection Bay Salt Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the salt waters of Prince William Sound, Resurrection Bay, mouth of Copper River and adjacent waters. This area includes Whittier, Valdez, Cordova, Glennallen, Copper Center, Paxson, and Sourdough. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon			✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓			✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon						✓			✓
Chum Salmon					✓			✓
Pink Salmon						✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓			✓				✓	✓	✓
Steelhead Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓	✓
Cutthroat Trout	✓	✓	✓							✓	✓	✓
Halibut	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Rockfish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Kenai Peninsula Fresh Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh waters of Kenai Peninsula (not including Whittier and surrounding areas). This region includes the communities and townships of Kenai, Homer, Seward, Soldotna, Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Hope, and Cooper landing. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon					✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon							✓				✓	✓
Pink Salmon						✓		✓
Arctic Char						✓	✓	✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓
Steelhead Trout	✓	✓	✓								✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓								✓	✓
Lake Trout									✓
Northern Pike		✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓				✓				✓	✓
Smelt				✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Kenai Peninsula Salt Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the salt waters surrounding Kenai Peninsula and adjacent waters, not including the area near Whittier. This region includes the cities and communities of Kenai, Homer, Soldotna, Seward, Anchor Point, Ninilchik, Cooper landing, and hope. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓	✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon					✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon						✓			✓	✓
Pink Salmon									✓
Dolly Varden					✓	✓			✓
Steelhead Trout
Halibut		✓	✓	✓
Rockfish	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓	✓

Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Fresh Water Run Timing

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh waters of the Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna valley region from Portgage Glacer (running along the Seward Highway) to the southern end of George Parks Highway, including the western half of Glenn Highway. This region includes the communities and cities of Anchorage, Girdwood, Eagle River, Palmer, and Wasilla. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓			✓				✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓			✓	✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon							✓		✓
Pink Salmon								✓
Chum Salmon									✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓
Lake Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓
Burbot		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓				✓				✓	✓
Smelt				✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

West-side Susitna River Drainage/Western Cook Inlet Game Fish Fresh Water Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh waters located throughout the western region of the Susitna River Drainage and Western Cook Inlet drainages. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓			✓				✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon						✓			✓	✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon							✓		✓	✓
Pink Salmon								✓
Chum Salmon									✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓
Lake Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓			✓	✓
Burbot		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓				✓	✓
Smelt				✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Bristol Bay/Kodiak Island Fresh Water Run Timing

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh water fishers in the region of Bristol Bay, Kodiak Island and adjacent areas. This region includes the communities of Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Dillingham and King Salmon, as well as Alaska Peninsula and Lake Iliamna. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak game fish availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon				✓	✓			✓				✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon					✓			✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon							✓			✓	✓
Pink Salmon							✓		✓
Chum Salmon						✓		✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓						✓	✓
Arctic Char	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓						✓	✓
Steelhead Trout								✓			✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓
Lake Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Burbot	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Smelt	✓	✓										✓

Bristol Bay/Kodiak Island Salt Water Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the salt water fishery of Bristol Bay, as well as the waters surrounding Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula and adjacent waters. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon					✓		✓	✓				✓
Sockeye (Red) Salmon					✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon							✓			✓
Pink Salmon						✓		✓
Chum Salmon					✓			✓
Dolly Varden				✓	✓			✓	✓	✓
Steelhead Trout								✓	✓
Smelt	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Halibut	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Run Timing

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh water area encompassing the northwest half of the state of Alaska. This region includes the communities of Nome, Kotzebue, Bethel, Aniak, Arctic Village, Galena, Barrow and several other small towns and villages. Ground access to this area is provided by Dalton Highway between Prudhoe Bay and Fairbanks. Several parts of this region are only accessible by plane or boat. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon						✓		✓				✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon									✓		✓
Chum Salmon					✓	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓
Lake Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Burbot	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓	✓						✓	✓	✓
Sheefish										✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓							✓	✓

Tanana River Area-Fairbanks/Delta/Tok-Fish Availability

The following table indicates the availability of game fish in the fresh water region of Tanana River drainage in the Interior of Alaska running from the Alaska Range to the Yukon River. Communities and townships in this region include Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok, Minto, Chena Hot Springs, Manley Hot Springs, Circle, and Eagle. A check mark indicates when game fish are present. A green check mark indicates peak game fish availability.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
King (Chinook) Salmon												✓
Coho (Silver) Salmon									✓		✓
Chum Salmon								✓		✓
Dolly Varden	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Rainbow Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓				✓	✓	✓
Lake Trout	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Northern Pike	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Burbot	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Grayling	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓					✓	✓	✓
Sheefish										✓	✓	✓
Whitefish	✓	✓	✓	✓							✓	✓