$6.99
Single Printed Issue
The June 2026 issue heads offshore. Features cover Old Harbor’s overlooked Kodiak fishery, making the most of chums, pinks, and sockeyes in saltwater, and why light-tackle rockfish and lings are worth a second look. Plus, new research tracking steelhead ocean movements from the Situk to the Kenai Peninsula.
Like the magazine? Subscribe and get every issue delivered, save money, and never miss an issue.
Departments
4 Fish Alaska Online
6 Alaska Traveler
8 Creel
10 Gear Bag
14 Fishing for a Compliment
16 Salmon Sense
18 Fly
20 Saltwater
22 Flyfishing
24 Conservation
28 Wind Knots
54 Recipe
56 Ad Index
58 Final Drift
On The Cover
Marcus Weiner and Brian Woobank enjoyed outstanding angling while fishing with Jeff Peterson of Kodiak Combos in Old Harbor, Kodiak. © Brian Woobank
30
Adventures in Old Harbor by Marcus Weiner
Old Harbor, on the east side of Kodiak, is a fantastic place to catch a multitude of Alaska saltwater species. There is very little fishing pressure in this area, and captain Jeff Peterson grew up there and has been fishing the area all his life. Publisher Marcus Weiner has been to Old Harbor several times, and this is the story of his latest soirée.
38
Targeting the “Other” Salmon in Saltwater by Josh Leach
Kings and silvers are the most desired, but least numerous, salmon species on the east side of the Pacific. Chums, sockeyes, and pinks are magnitudes more numerous, but largely ignored in saltwater by sport anglers. Catching them consistently in saltwater requires some changes in gear and presentation, but they can be caught and they can fill in the gaps between runs or when there are closures preventing the opportunity to fish for silvers and kings.
46
Light-Tackle Rockfish and Lings by JD Richey
While the majority of Alaska saltwater anglers are most interested in salmon and halibut, rockfish and lings are becoming more popular all the time. They are relatively plentiful and durable, are great candidates for catch-and-release, are almost always willing to play, and are great on the table. Tackle advancements over the past couple decades have made it possible to catch these fish with light tackle, making them much more fun to pursue.
24 Conservation
Unraveling the Mysteries of Steelhead by Chennery Fife
Steelhead, like salmon, are mysterious, anadromous fish of which not much is known regarding the ocean phase of their life cycle. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is teaming up with researchers Michael Courtney and Dr. Andy Seitz from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), to study post-spawn, ocean movements of adult steelhead from the Situk River near Yakutat, the Karluk River on Kodiak, Prince of Wales Island streams, and now, the Anchor River and Ninilchik River on the Kenai Peninsula. The data will be immensely helpful to understand oceanic steelhead movements, predation, and man’s activities that could negatively impact them.
| Weight | 3 oz |
|---|
