36 Kings in 36 Hours

A flurry of fishing in Ketchikan

By Marcus Weiner

Eagles wheel overhead and dive for fish scraps. Seaplanes taxi and take off, while cruise ships and their bounty of tourists tour the Inside Passage. Turn one way and watch the blue and gold Alaska Marine Highway ferry depart; turn the other and marvel as a kayaker strokes toward Pennock Island.

These waters teem with life. Throughout a season you will see five species of Pacific salmon, not to mention the halibut, rockfish, lingcod, Alaska spot shrimp, and Dungeness crab that make the area a notoriously bountiful angling destination. Move to the freshwater and catch a seemingly unlimited number of Dolly Varden, as well as plump and plentiful rainbow, cutthroat, and steelhead trout. Welcome to Ketchikan—a crown jewel of Alaska’s southeast coast. This content is available for subscribers only.

Forgot Password?
Join Us