This Ship Creek Fishing Report brings you fresh updates straight from downtown Anchorage’s favorite urban fishery. Throughout the season, we’ll be posting photos, conditions, and local insights to keep you in the loop on what’s running and how the bite’s been. Check back regularly for the latest from Ship Creek.

Silvers Take Over Ship Creek After a Rough Ride for Kings

July 21, 2026
A Hard Closure, But the Right Call

Ship Creek’s king season ended early this year. ADF&G closed the creek entirely to sport fishing from July 3 through July 13, a step taken after stream surveys showed returns tracking below what the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery needed for broodstock, a program that also supports several other terminal fisheries around Southcentral Alaska. It’s only the third time in a decade ADF&G has had to take this step, and it says a lot about how tight king returns ran this season. The creek reopened July 14, though king retention stays off the table for the rest of the year.

The Silvers Are Stepping In
The reopening turned out to be good timing. Anglers are already back on the banks working incoming tides for coho, and early reports describe good numbers of fresh silvers moving through. It’s a welcome shift after a king season that closed early, and it’s keeping Ship Creek’s famously crowded banks just as busy as ever, just with a different target. The Bait Shack’s Coho Rodeo, a local derby event, is coming up July 25, right in the middle of what should be a strong silver push.

Mitchell Tremblay put an early hook in his 23.05 lb, 39 inch king on 6/19/2026, good enough for first place in Military/Veteran and third heaviest overall at the Bait Shack’s Slam’n Salm’n King Derby.

Kings Peak Early, Then Fade Fast on Ship Creek

June 26, 2026

King fishing hit its stride through June, with the run typically peaking around the third week of the month. Ship Creek kings are mature three- to five-year-old fish, most in the 15 to 40 pound range, with a genuine shot at something over 50 pounds on any given tide. The Bait Shack’s Slam’n Salm’n Derby ran across three weekends this month, drawing plenty of anglers to the banks and adding some friendly competition to an already busy season. Retention stayed capped at one king per day, a limit ADF&G holds firm to protect the hatchery broodstock this fishery depends on.

Fishing Slows as the Month Winds Down

By late June, the pace started cooling off, with only a handful of fish landed on each tide. It’s a normal part of the run’s rhythm, but this year it also foreshadowed the tighter restrictions that would follow in July. Anglers who wanted a shot at a king made the most of the strong stretch of fishing, while everyone else kept an eye on the water for signs of the first silvers to come.

Kings Return to Downtown Anchorage as the Season Opens

May 29, 2026

An Iconic Urban Fishery Wakes Up
Few places in Alaska let anglers catch a king salmon within walking distance of a downtown office building, and Ship Creek is exactly that kind of place. Every king here is hatchery-produced, born and released as smolt from the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery sitting right on the creek, which puts out roughly 200,000 to 300,000 young kings each spring. The fish that return this time of year are quite literally coming home, and the ones that make it back to the hatchery become broodstock for next year’s release. That hatchery support is also why Ship Creek allows bait when most wild Southcentral king streams don’t, there’s no wild run here to protect from added pressure.

The season typically opens in mid-May, and this year the first king of the summer showed up right on schedule, kicking off a season locals and visitors alike look forward to every year. The hatchery also released roughly 4 million Chinook, coho, rainbow trout, and Arctic char into around 200 lakes across the region this spring, a program that supports fishing opportunities well beyond Ship Creek itself.

Combat Fishing at Its Finest
Ship Creek in May means elbow-to-elbow banks and a genuinely fun, high-energy scene as anglers line up for a shot at a Chinook. It’s not a quiet wilderness experience, but that’s exactly the appeal for a lot of people. With the season underway and the fish starting to show, anglers had every reason to be optimistic heading into June’s peak.

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2025 on Fish Creek

Short Silvers Window and the Quiet Winter Months

King salmon fishing at Ship Creek slowed substantially by August with the run winding down. The coho salmon run started to pick up in late August and early September but was a short window. Fishing season on Ship Creek is mostly over by mid-September with winter months quiet until early summer opens next year. This wraps up the Ship Creek 2025 season; see you next season!

Coho Action Slows at Ship Creek as Run Winds Down

August 15, 2025

Silver salmon fishing at Ship Creek has shifted as the run moved past its peak this past week. While limits are now less common and anglers have to work a bit harder, steady catches of coho are still happening, especially for those using roe under a bobber or casting spinners around incoming and outgoing tides. The freshest fish are usually found on the tide, and some pink salmon remain mixed in with the silvers. Most anglers report the action has slowed compared to the initial wave but remains worthwhile for those persistent with the right tactics.

A recent emergency order continues to allow a bag and possession limit of six salmon per day, with all six allowed to be coho (silver) salmon. There have been no major changes in regulations over the last week, so Ship Creek is still open for this more liberal limit due to the strong silver return this season. As always, check for the most current regulations before heading out, and enjoy the tail end of another great Ship Creek coho run.

Mix of Coho and Pink Salmon Keeps Rods Bending

August 9th, 2025

Ship Creek in Anchorage continues to deliver good silver salmon fishing in early August. Although the run has likely peaked, many anglers are still catching multiple fish, and the recent emergency order has increased the bag and possession limit for salmon other than king salmon to six per day. That means you can keep up to six coho if you land them. The most productive techniques right now are fishing roe under a bobber or casting medium-sized spinners during the incoming tide. Action has been consistent, and conditions favor those fishing around tide changes. With pink salmon mixed in, there’s nearly always something biting, making this urban fishery a prime pick for local anglers looking for strong late-summer salmon opportunities.

Sport Fishing Limits Increased on Ship Creek After Strong Coho Return

July 30, 2025

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has increased the sport fishing bag and possession limits for salmon other than king salmon in Ship Creek, Anchorage to six fish per day and six in possession for salmon 16 inches or longer. This emergency order is in effect from July 31 through December 31, 2025. The change follows a strong return of coho salmon, with nearly 1,100 fish counted upstream and more entering daily, exceeding hatchery and spawning needs. King salmon limits remain at one per day and one in possession. Anglers are encouraged to take advantage of the surplus coho salmon now available in Ship Creek. See the emergency order here. 

End of July

July 29, 2025

Ship Creek continues to fish well as July draws to a close, with the Coho (silvers) salmon run gaining momentum and excellent angler turnout on the banks. Silvers have been arriving in good numbers, especially during incoming tides, and both spinners and jigs tipped with shrimp or roe have been producing solid results. Pink salmon have also added to the action, ensuring steady fishing opportunities for locals and visitors alike in downtown Anchorage.

Coho Rodeo Hosted by The Bait Shack

The 5th Annual Coho Rodeo, hosted by The Bait Shack on July 26, brought high energy and fierce competition, with the derby leaderboard seeing dramatic last-minute changes. Robert Rozelle landed the first fish at 7:06 am and later topped the heaviest stringer category with three coho totaling 20.80 pounds. Geoff Wells earned smallest fish honors with a 3.40-pound Coho, while James Hyun captured both the biggest (8.00 lbs.) and longest fish (28.5 inches), as well as second heaviest stringer with 20.35 lbs. Other notable stringers included catches from Vaughn Pacis (19.45 lbs.), Jacob Herring (18.90 lbs.), Caine Demers-Isidore (18.65 lbs.), and Chris Kalmakoff (18.35 lbs.), with the leaderboard shifting right up to the finish. Congratulations went out to all anglers who took part in this event!

With silver and pink salmon now providing excellent action, Ship Creek is expected to offer continued opportunities into early August. Anglers are advised to keep up with current regulations and tides, as conditions promise more rewarding days ahead on Alaska’s premier urban fishery.

July 19th, 2025

Between the Runs: Late Kings and Early Silvers

king salmon fishing on Ship Creek has slowed considerably as the run winds down. Most anglers are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first coho (silver) salmon, which are expected to start showing up in the coming weeks. Water levels remain low, so a careful and stealthy approach is important for success. If you’re still hoping to catch a lingering king or the first coho of the season, try using bright spinners, spoons, or roe fished near the bottom, especially around high tides. Remember that single, unbaited hooks and artificial lures are required through the end of July, so check the current regulations before heading out. Ship Creek continues to be a popular spot, so practicing good fishing etiquette and patience will go a long way.

June – Peak of the King Run

The king salmon run reached its peak and then began to taper off. Catch rates started to decline, but persistent anglers were still able to land some nice fish, particularly during strong tidal swings. As water levels dropped, salmon became more concentrated in deeper pools, making those areas the best places to target. Switching between bait and hardware, such as spinners, helped increase your chances as the run slowed down.

In early June, the king salmon run was building momentum. More fish entered the creek with each tide, and catch rates improved, especially for those fishing during high tides in the mornings. The lower reaches and mouth of Ship Creek were the most productive areas, and both roe and large, bright spinners worked well. The fishery was busy, so patience and respect for fellow anglers were important.

June 24th, 2025

2025 Slam’n Salm’n Derby

During the 2025 Slam’n Salm’n Derby at Ship Creek put on by The Bait Shack on June 22nd, a total of 220 king salmon were checked in, weighing a combined 3,263 pounds. The average fish weighed nearly 15 pounds and measured about 33 inches. The first fish of the derby was caught by Rachael Storh, while the smallest catch was a 1.35-pound king salmon landed by Cody Lyden. Anglers enjoyed strong participation and steady action throughout the event.

The top five heaviest kings showcased some impressive catches, led by Dana Mills with a 24.45-pound fish, earning him the top prize. Following him were William Gochanour (23.00 lbs), John Polonowski (22.70 lbs), Phil Pringle (22.60 lbs), and Lloyd Dahling (21.80 lbs). Division winners included William Gochanour in the Men’s Division, Cheri Brukardt in the Women’s, Dana Mills in the Military, and Brock Baker in the Youth category. Overall, the derby was a great success, bringing together anglers of all ages and skill levels to celebrate the king salmon run while supporting local charities.

Special recognition also went to Carol Myers, who caught the 49th fish of the derby and earned a 49th State Brewing gift card. The derby featured generous prizes for various milestones, including landing the first fish and the smallest fish.

Early Season – May

In late May, the first king salmon of the season were caught, marking the start of the Ship Creek king run. Fishing was slow but promising, and excitement was high as the annual Ship Creek Salmon Derby kicked off. Anglers using roe or bright spinners during high tide had the best luck. As always, a valid Alaska fishing license and king salmon stamp were required, and everyone was reminded to check for any emergency orders or updates to regulations.

For the most up-to-date information, always check the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before you go. Good luck and tight lines!

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