Fishing out of Sitka, Alaska!! RATED #1 IN ALL OF ALASKA!
Anglers can target all 5-five species of Pacific salmon: king, Coho, sockeye,
chum and pink. Fisheries for these species occur primarily in marine waters but
Coho and pink salmon are also targeted to a lesser degree along shoreline areas
and in fresh water. The outer coast, with its islands, reefs, and protected bays,
provides a wide diversity of marine fish species. Popular sport fisheries occur in
marine waters for halibut, lingcod and rockfish, while shellfish such as king and
Dungeness crab, shrimp and variety of clams support smaller fisheries.
King Salmon: inhabiting the outer coast near Sitka, Alaska supports the
LARGEST recreational marine fishery for this “King Salmon” in all Alaska !!
This popular fishery is highlighted during the Sitka Salmon Derby over Memorial
Day weekend and the following weekend. Hatchery contributions account for
nearly half of the harvest, of which Alaska hatcheries contribute about 16%. In
1998, king salmon harvested near Sitka comprised of more then half of all the
kings harvested in Southeast Alaska ‘s marine sport fisheries.
Silver Salmon: Sitka is also home to one of “Alaska ‘s LARGEST” recreational
marine Coho silver salmon fisheries in Alaska !! hatcheries, primarily local
hatcheries on Baranof Island , contribute about 20% of the marine Coho harvest,
while non-Alaska hatchery contributions are few. Recreational harvests of Coho/
silver salmon increased substantially beginning in 1994, and 39,000 Coho were
harvested in 1997. Numerous coastal streams support smaller fresh water sport
fisheries for this species as well.
Halibut lingcod and rock fish: Sitka area support one of the “STATES LARGEST” recreational ground
fish fisheries. Sitka In 1997, over 23,200 halibut, 7,100 lingcod and 13,800 rockfish caught in SITKA!