Our AK fishing report shows great catches all over the state! We provide an authentic perspective on what’s being caught, celebrating not just the “big fish” but the joy of everyday fishing. Happy fishing!

August AK Fishing Report 2024

August 13, 2024

Mat-Su

Valdez Halibut Derby Current Standings

Bristol Bay

Beautiful chum salmon caught with Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge guides.

This angler is proudly displaying a stunning chum salmon caught with the expert guides at Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge on the Kvichak River in Igiugig. With steelhead counts on the Klickitat River higher this year than in previous seasons, the stage is set for an exceptional fall fishing experience in Bristol Bay. It’s a perfect time to explore these world-class waters and enjoy some of the best fishing Alaska has to offer.

August 5, 2024

Valdez Halibut Derby Current Standings

• Cove Creek in Whittier is offering good pink salmon fishing, making it an excellent spot for a family outing with kids.
• Towards the end of July, the Kenai River saw several days with sockeye counts reaching 100,000 fish per day. However, as the month drew to a close and continued into early August, the counts began to slow. During these first days of August, the average count has dropped to around 30,000 sockeye per day. Fishing remains solid, with anglers managing to reach their limits, though it requires more time and effort than the previous week.
• The sockeye salmon counts in the Kasilof River remained steady at the end of July, with nearly 30,000 fish recorded daily. However, by early August, the numbers has declined to an average of 8,700 per day as of today.

July AK Fishing Report 2024

July 22, 2024

Valdez Halibut Derby Current Standings

1st	Dennis Moore	Bremerton, WA	190.4 lbs	July-13	Dan Orion
2nd	Sammy Hubbard	Wasilla, AK	170.2 lbs	July-21	Lena Claire
3rd	Jeff Smith	Tucson, AZ	160.8 lbs	29-June	Connie B III

Winner of the 5-7 age bracket, Hudson Lukens.

Kids Derby

The 2024 Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby kicked off with the timely arrival of Pink Salmon, allowing children to relish a successful day of fishing amidst clear skies and calm waters. The event also included a kid-produced radio show and various prizes, such as $100 cash awards and fishing poles. Teaching kids to fish is incredibly valuable, providing life skills and confidence, and this event was filled with fun and excitement, with many kids going home as winners.

July 19, 2024

Crazy good fishing on the Kenai with Alaska Fishing Adventures!

Sockeye Surge: Kenai and Kasilof River 

After a decrease in sockeye numbers and slower fishing last week, on Monday and Tuesday, the numbers started climbing. On July 17th, the Kenai River alone saw a huge surge with 191,000 sockeye at its mouth! This resulted in some of the best sockeye fishing and dip netting this season over the past few days. Limits were being reached in just 20 minutes, with both beach and boat dippers achieving triple-digit catches within an hour or two!

July 17, 2024

Due to bad weather in the Gulf of Alaska, many saltwater charters were rescheduled on Saturday the 13th. However, anglers across the state continued to make the most of the peak fishing season. Here’s an updated AK fishing report with conditions around the state and what to expect next.

Bad weather didn’t prevent anglers with Big Dan’s Fishing from making some nice catches this weekend.

Ship Creek in Anchorage:
Ship Creek, a popular urban fishing spot in Anchorage, reopened on July 14th. Anglers are beginning to see Coho salmon slowly making their way upstream. This is an exciting time for local fishermen, as the Coho run marks one of the highlights of the fishing season in this easily accessible location.

Chitina Dip Net Salmon Fishery:
The Chitina dip net salmon fishery on the Copper River reopened on July 14th for sockeye salmon. Anglers have been putting in some effort but are being rewarded with limits of sockeye. This fishery is known for its intense but rewarding experience, with families often coming away with enough fish to fill their freezers for the year.

Kenai River Sockeye Fishing:
Sockeye salmon fishing on the Kenai River has been spotty. Some anglers are managing to find their limits, though the action tends to slow between runs. With the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers reporting sockeye counts near or over 30,000, on July 16th, the pace is expected to pick up fast.

Klutina River Sockeye Fishing:
On the Klutina River near Copper Center, anglers are having success filling their sockeye limits by putting in the necessary hours. This river is known for its clear waters and strong runs of sockeye, making it a prime spot for dedicated fishermen looking to harvest salmon.

Deshka River Coho and Fish Creek Dip Netting:
In the Mat-Su Valley, Coho salmon are beginning to appear on the Deshka River, with the first two counted at the weir on July 14th. This early arrival signals the start of the Coho season, which many anglers eagerly await. Additionally, dip netting for sockeye at Fish Creek opens on July 20th, offering another exciting freezer filling opportunity.

July 10, 2024

Matsu Valley

The Susitna River is currently hosting chum and pink salmon, with early coho expected soon at the mouth of the Deshka. Anglers can target sockeye at the weekend fishery near Cottonwood Creek’s mouth. Willow and Montana Creek offer excellent trout and grayling fishing opportunities, while Northern Pike can be found in various locations, including Nancy Lake, Big Lake, and Long Lake.

Valdez Halibut Derby

The leaders in the halibut derby remain the same this week:

1st	Jeff Smith	Tucson, AZ	160.8 lbs	29-June	Connie B III
2nd	Summer Ruge	Fairbanks, AK	159.4 lbs	27-May	Chugach Girl
3rd	Tim Bouchard	Valdez, AK	153.4 lbs	28-June	Alaskan Adventure

A nice halibut catch with Kodiak Legends Lodge.

Kodiak

Halibut fishing out of Kodiak has been excellent, with common catches in the 20-40 lb range. The most productive fishing spots have been farther from town. Saltwater king salmon fishing has been good in the last week. Lingcod fishing has been consistently productive since opening, with fish averaging around 15 lbs., and rockfish catches have also been plentiful.

June AK Fishing Report 2024

June 29, 2024

Valdez Halibut Derby

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders Standings as 6/29:

Nushagak River

42-inch beauty caught at Nushagak River Adventures

Beautiful trout caught at Bear Trail Lodge in Bristol Bay.

June 21, 204

Father’s Day weekend was exceptionally sunny and beautiful around the state. Hopefully the solstice weekend gives Alaska more sunshine! Anglers everywhere are reeling in the catches!

• Snagging sockeye out of Seward is still hot.
• Fishing in King Salmon in Bristol Bay is off to a great start with this beautiful trout caught at Bear Trail Lodge showcasing the excellent fishing opportunities available in the area.
• The early sockeye run has hit the Russian River near Kenai and combat fishing is in full force. Anglers are working hard to fill their limits, but many are succeeding, making for a thrilling fishing experience.
• Ocean fishing charters out of Seward are seeing nice halibut catches and meeting limits.
• Ship Creek in Anchorage is still seeing a mix of hatchery and wild kings. Anglers are having success catching these kings, adding to the excitement of fishing in this popular spot.

This family reeled in a nice haul with Alaskan Fishing Adventures!

June 17, 2024

Valdez Halibut Derby

At Valdez Harbor, excitement was high over massive catches and derby prizes, but for many, the true reward lay in the thrill of the fight. Leroy Kreider from Orofino, Idaho, embodied this spirit last Friday. Despite a long hospital stay, Kreider managed to reel in the biggest fish on his boat, marking a 50-year dream fulfilled as his wife proudly took photos. His catch didn’t make the leaderboard, but the achievement was deeply meaningful. Meanwhile, Michael Olson from North Pole, Alaska, who regularly made the leaderboard, secured 3rd place with a 151.6-pound halibut caught on June 8th. Frieda Wiley of Valdez took 1st place for Week #3 with a 133.8-pound halibut, and Zach Gorg from Minnesota claimed 2nd with a 120.6-pound catch.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders Standings as 6/17:

June 6, 2024

Alaska fishing is heating up as we move into June!

Late April into May brought hot steelhead fishing in Yakutat, highlighting a great start to the fishing season.

Halibut caught with Big Dan’s Fishing Charter out of Homer, Alaska.

Additionally, the end of May has seen incredible fishing action in Seward, Alaska. The 2024 fishing season kicked off there with excellent sockeye snagging. Many anglers are easily reaching their limits, and this early Sockeye run is expected to continue for a couple of weeks.

Despite rough saltwater during May, halibut fishing remained successful, with anglers enjoying consistent catches. Homer’s halibut fishing has also been picking up with anglers hitting limits.

Other recent fishing activity around the state includes the Ninilchik king salmon opener, which started a little slow, but is expected to pick up. In Anchorage, kings are hitting Ship Creek, both hatchery and wild kings are being caught. Beach halibut fishing has been notable, and the Kenai River is anticipating its first run of sockeye salmon soon, heading up to the Russian River.

Kodiak Legends Lodge took this little angler out to catch her first king this June!

The hooligan run on the Kenai has ended. Fishing on the Kasilof River is picking up, with peak fishing anticipated in the next week or two. In Homer, the Lagoon has seen action for kings, while saltwater trolling has also resulted in steady halibut catches and additional kings.

Fishing out of Kodiak Alaska has been fruitful with saltwater anglers reeling in halibut, rockfish, cod, and kings!

For areas we have not covered yet, we suggest clicking over to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for their Alaska fishing report provided by biologists from around the state.

This AK Fishing Report is brought to you by the expert anglers from Fish Alaska.