How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Anchorage, United States ? Today is a poor day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide chart, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide chart.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Anchorage, Alaska offers fast access to world–class fishing for salmon, halibut, trout, and char within minutes of downtown. From ship‑channel kings in Ship Creek to road‑accessible lakes, rivers, and saltwater trips out of nearby ports, Anchorage is a prime home base for anglers targeting a wide variety of Alaska sportfish. read more...
Some of the best fishing spots near Anchorage include: Ship Creek, Bird Creek, Twentymile River, Jim Creek, Campbell Creek, Jewel Lake, Mirror Lake, etc. see full list
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:49%
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First Quarter Moon
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Distance to earth:386,574 kmProximity:44.9 %
Moon Phases for Anchorage
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poor Day
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minor Time:12:40 am - 02:40 am
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major Time:06:58 am - 08:58 am
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minor Time:01:17 pm - 03:17 pm
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major Time:07:44 pm - 09:44 pm
Tides Times for Fishing: Sun, 21 Jun
Tide Clock
Tide Graph
Times
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| high | 12:48 am | 29.56 ft |
| low | 07:25 am | 3.25 ft |
| high | 01:00 pm | 25.85 ft |
| low | 07:33 pm | 2.3 ft |
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
| Date | Major Bite Times | Minor Bite Times | Sun | Moon | Moonphase | Tide Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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R: S: |
R: S: |
First Quarter Moon |
low:
, 3.25 ft
high:
, 27.69 ft
, Coeff: 90
low:
, -0.13 ft
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-
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
First Quarter Moon |
high:
, 29.56 ft
, Coeff: 101
low:
, 3.25 ft
high:
, 25.85 ft
, Coeff: 79
low:
, 2.3 ft
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|
|
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-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
First Quarter Moon |
high:
, 28.77 ft
, Coeff: 96
low:
, 3.18 ft
high:
, 24.38 ft
, Coeff: 69
low:
, 4.82 ft
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|
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
First Quarter Moon |
high:
, 27.76 ft
, Coeff: 90
low:
, 2.95 ft
high:
, 23.65 ft
, Coeff: 65
low:
, 6.99 ft
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Gibbous |
high:
, 26.84 ft
, Coeff: 85
low:
, 2.4 ft
high:
, 24.02 ft
, Coeff: 67
low:
, 8.27 ft
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-
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Gibbous |
high:
, 26.25 ft
, Coeff: 81
low:
, 1.41 ft
high:
, 25.03 ft
, Coeff: 74
low:
, 8.53 ft
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Gibbous |
high:
, 26.12 ft
, Coeff: 80
low:
, 0.43 ft
high:
, 25.98 ft
, Coeff: 79
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Gibbous |
low:
, 8.3 ft
high:
, 26.41 ft
, Coeff: 82
low:
, -0.23 ft
high:
, 26.61 ft
, Coeff: 83
|
Fishing Overview Anchorage
Anchorage fishing combines metropolitan convenience with classic Alaska variety. Within an hour of downtown you can swing flies for king salmon, drift eggs for silvers, cast spinners for pinks, or chase trout and char in clear mountain streams. The city itself serves as a central hub, with Ship Creek, Campbell Creek, and numerous stocked lakes giving urban anglers legitimate shots at salmon and trout without leaving town.
Salmon define the prime season around Anchorage. King salmon arrive first, with Ship Creek offering unique tidal fishing right below the skyline. Anglers focus on the lower reaches during strong tides, casting large spinners, plugs, or drifting cured salmon eggs along the bottom. A heavy spinning or baitcasting setup with enough weight to keep presentations in the strike zone is critical in the deep, fast ship channel. Nearby Parks Highway and Kenai Peninsula rivers, reachable in a day trip, offer more traditional wade fishing for kings.
Sockeye, chum, and pink salmon follow as summer builds. Sockeyes often respond best to tight-line "flossing" with small yarn flies and split shot in deeper runs, while chums and pinks readily crush bright spinners, spoons, and flashy streamers. When a mixed run is in, covering water quickly pays off: cast quartering downstream, let the lure swing, and take a step or two between casts to locate active pods of fish.
Coho (silver) salmon dominate late summer and early fall in Anchorage-area streams and nearby saltwater. Silvers favor early morning and overcast conditions, especially on dropping tides in estuaries and lower river holes. Productive methods include twitching 3/8–1/2 oz jigs in chartreuse, pink, or black, retrieving in short hops, or working medium-sized spinners with a pulsing, stop-and-go retrieve. Fly anglers often throw chartreuse-and-pink streamers with sink-tip lines, targeting current seams and softer holding water.
While salmon grab attention, trout and char fishing around Anchorage remains strong throughout the open-water season. Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling are available in road-system creeks and nearby lakes. Post-salmon, flesh flies, beads imitating drifting eggs, and small leech patterns can be deadly in rivers where spawned-out salmon provide a food source. Light to medium fly rods or ultralight spinning gear with 6–10 lb leaders are ideal for these clear-water fisheries.
Saltwater action is easily accessed from ports like Whittier, Seward, and Homer, all common day trips from Anchorage. Halibut and rockfish are typically targeted with heavy jigs or bait rigs on the bottom, relying on electronics to hold over structure and breaks. Strong braided mainline, long monofilament leaders, and enough weight to stay vertical in the tide are crucial. When lingcod seasons align, large jigs or swimbaits worked aggressively over rocky pinnacles draw violent strikes.
Anchorage also offers year-round potential with stocked lakes and winter ice fishing. Local lakes hold rainbow trout, Arctic char, landlocked salmon, and sometimes pike, which can be taken through the ice with small jigs tipped with shrimp, herring pieces, or scented soft plastics. Focus on weed edges, drop-offs, and points, drilling multiple holes and hopping between them until you find active fish.
The Best Fishing Spots around Anchorage
Ship Creek
Bird Creek
Twentymile River
Jim Creek
Campbell Creek
Jewel Lake
Mirror Lake
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Anchorage area
Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 5 beaches and bays in this area.
North Fork Campbell Creek - 6.45437542085km , South Fork Campbell Creek - 6.45437542085km , Little Campbell Creek - 7.01406668905km , North Fork Little Campbell Creek - 7.45176474008km , South Fork Little Campbell Creek - 7.45176474008km
Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 3 main harbours in this area.
Knik Anchorage - 0.89427129515km, Port of Anchorage - 2.59039678931km, Port MacKenzie - 5.64300951021km
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Anchorage. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Knik Anchorage - 0.89427129515km , Ship Creek - 0.99223190805km , Chester Creek - 1.5157187534km , Westchester Lake - 1.68825006062km , Chester Creek Dam - 1.73082841847km , Bootlegger Cove - 1.98314351295km , Port of Anchorage - 2.59039678931km , O'Connell Lake - 2.98024055922km , Hood Creek - 3.31973647334km , Hillstrand Pond - 3.7590849778km , North Fork Chester Creek - 4.12768446649km , Lake Otis - 4.22668414225km , South Fork Chester Creek - 4.24466106445km , Middle Fork Chester Creek - 4.24466106445km , Jones Lake - 4.66804404837km , Delaney Lake - 4.87319761805km , Goose Lake - 5.02387064629km , Lake Spenard - 5.05714648108km , Bentzen Lake - 5.08743849868km , Waldron Lake - 5.24067146197km , Hood Lake - 5.52689584696km , Port MacKenzie - 5.64300951021km , Lazy Lake - 5.73002740957km , Tina Lake - 5.76358402167km , Connors Lake - 6.07860637318km , University Lake - 6.39939082393km , North Fork Campbell Creek - 6.45437542085km , South Fork Campbell Creek - 6.45437542085km , North Branch South Fork Chester Creek - 6.56182658812km , DeLong Lake - 6.90837466255km , South Branch South Fork Chester Creek - 6.96911860837km , Middle Branch South Fork Chester Creek - 6.96911860837km , Little Campbell Creek - 7.01406668905km , Strawberry Lake - 7.37675945579km , North Fork Little Campbell Creek - 7.45176474008km , South Fork Little Campbell Creek - 7.45176474008km , Tuomi Lake - 7.53775885613km , Triangle Lake - 7.57266988505km , Green Lake - 7.62175553081km , Taku Lake - 7.64604624526km
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