The Best Fishing Spots in Alaska
Alaska offers some of the best recreational fishing in the United States, with vast rivers, lakes and coastline full of opportunities. Anglers commonly target salmon species—Chinook (King), Sockeye (Red), Coho (Silver), Pink and Chum—along with prized saltwater species like Pacific halibut, rockfish, lingcod and Pacific cod. Freshwater waters produce strong populations of rainbow trout, lake trout, Arctic char, Dolly Varden, grayling and northern pike. Popular methods include trolling and bait fishing in saltwater, and fly fishing or spin casting in rivers and lakes, making Alaska a top destination for varied recreational angling styles.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Anchorage
(2 km to coast)
Anchor Point
(5 km to coast)
Bear Creek
(9 km to coast)
Cohoe
(3 km to coast)
Cordova
(1 km to coast)
Craig
(3 km to coast)
Dillingham
(2 km to coast)
Dutch Harbor
(3 km to coast)
Eagle River
(19 km to coast)
Fritz Creek
(4 km to coast)
Gateway
(16 km to coast)
Girdwood
(1 km to coast)
Haines
(2 km to coast)
Homer
(1 km to coast)
Juneau
(1 km to coast)
Kalifornsky
(1 km to coast)
Kenai
(4 km to coast)
Ketchikan
(0 km to coast)
Knik-Fairview
(4 km to coast)
Kodiak
(1 km to coast)
Kodiak Station
(12 km to coast)
Kotzebue
(3 km to coast)
Metlakatla
(1 km to coast)
Nikiski
(12 km to coast)
Nome
(1 km to coast)
Petersburg
(1 km to coast)
Prudhoe Bay
(20 km to coast)
Seward
(1 km to coast)
Sitka
(1 km to coast)
Skagway
(2 km to coast)
Unalaska
(0 km to coast)
Utqiagvik
(6 km to coast)
Valdez
(1 km to coast)
Wasilla
(16 km to coast)
Wrangell
(0 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Sitka Sound
Accessible from Sitka , Sitka Sound is a premier saltwater fishery for ocean-bright king and coho salmon, big halibut, and aggressive rockfish; spring feeder kings lead into prolific summer salmon and bottomfish bites around kelp edges and pinnacles.
Auke Bay
Minutes from Juneau , Auke Bay offers convenient access to king and silver salmon, halibut, and rockfish; spring kings give way to summer coho, with small-boat trolling and jigging popular around points, rips, and sheltered reefs.
Cook Inlet
Stretching past Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula , Cook Inlet offers tidal flats and nearshore waters for halibut, salmon, and shore-based bait soaking at spots like Deep Creek and Ninilchik , with peak action in summer’s fair-weather windows.
Kachemak Bay
Launching from the Homer area, anglers work Kachemak Bay for Pacific halibut, lingcod, and summer salmon runs; spring kickstarts with feeder kings, peak halibut action runs May–September, and protected coves offer calmer days along with shore casting from the Homer Spit .
Prince William Sound
A vast, protected complex accessed from Whittier and Valdez , Prince William Sound delivers summer action for halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and returning pink and chum salmon, with countless coves, reefs, and passages offering options in a range of weather.
Resurrection Bay
Out of Seward , Resurrection Bay offers consistent silver salmon, halibut, and rockfish; late July–August coho blitz the shoreline while deeper drops hold halibut, and the bay’s fjord-like walls provide rugged scenery with frequent wildlife encounters.
Port Valdez
Framed by steep fjord walls at Valdez , Port Valdez hosts excellent summer silver salmon from shore and boat, plus dependable halibut and rockfish; late July–August coho action heats up around hatchery outflows and nearby coves.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Buskin River
On Kodiak Island near Kodiak , the Buskin River provides easy road access to bright sockeye in early summer and strong coho runs later, along with Dolly Varden; anglers drift flies and spinners through clear pools within minutes of town.
Chena River
Running through Fairbanks , the Chena River is a popular Interior fishery for wild Arctic grayling and seasonal northern pike, with excellent walk-and-wade opportunities in the upper river and easy urban access along parks and pullouts in town.
Copper River
Cutting through the dramatic Wrangell–St. Elias region, the Copper River draws anglers to tributaries and sloughs for powerful king and sockeye salmon and summer coho, with big-water travel by jet boat and shoreline casting in side channels near Copper Center .
Deshka River
A productive Susitna River tributary near Willow , the Deshka River offers early-summer king salmon, followed by coho and pink salmon in later summer, with jet-boat access common and solid bank fishing around the confluence and lower river sloughs.
Kasilof River
Just south of the Kenai, the Kasilof River is a drift-boat favorite for hatchery and wild king salmon in early summer, thick sockeye runs in July, and fall coho, with popular launches near Kasilof and reliable bank access at the lower river.
Kenai River
Alaska’s flagship sport fishery, the Kenai River draws anglers for king, sockeye, coho salmon, and trophy rainbow trout and Dolly Varden; early summer sees massive sockeye pushes, late summer shines for coho, and fall is prime for trout, with easy access near Soldotna and Kenai plus famed drifts through the middle and upper river.
Kvichak River
Linking Iliamna Lake to Bristol Bay , the crystal-clear Kvichak River is famed for enormous sockeye returns and outsized, hard-fighting rainbow trout, with peak fishing midsummer into fall using nymphs, beads, and streamers from boats or gravel bars.
Naknek River
Flowing from Naknek Lake near King Salmon , the Naknek River hosts staggering sockeye migrations and powerful king and coho salmon, plus fall-run trophy rainbow trout; swing flies, drift beads, or backtroll plugs along wide, swift glides.
Nushagak River
A titan of West Alaska, the Nushagak River is celebrated for staggering early-summer king salmon returns, followed by strong sockeye and late-summer coho, with productive backtrolling, drifting, and swinging flies along broad channels near Dillingham .
Russian River
A classic fly-and-drift fishery on the Kenai Peninsula , the Russian River is famed for sight-fishing sockeye salmon in June–July and late July–August alongside rainbow trout and Dolly Varden; clear water, foot access, and hiking trails make it a wade angler’s dream.
Ship Creek
Flowing through downtown Anchorage , Ship Creek is Alaska’s most accessible urban fishery, famous for tide-driven king salmon in early summer and coho later; anglers time casts around incoming tides, plunking bait or drifting hardware steps from the city skyline.
Anchor River
Near Anchor Point on the Kenai Peninsula , the Anchor River is known for spring king salmon openings, later coho, and fall steelhead, with productive tidewater reaches and scenic meanders ideal for drifting beads and swinging spoons.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Bristol Bay
World-renowned for the planet’s largest wild sockeye salmon run, Bristol Bay and its river systems explode with fish from late June through July, fueling epic fly and gear fishing for sockeye, kings, and coho alongside legendary rainbow trout; hubs include King Salmon and Dillingham .