This Sitka fishing report highlights the abundant and diverse fishing opportunities found on Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska. Known for its rich salmon runs, halibut, and bottomfish, Sitka draws anglers looking for trophy catches and stunning outdoor settings. This report will keep you informed about current fishing conditions and regulations to help you get the best experience on the water.

Boats are ready, rods are rigged, and Sitka’s saltwater is calling in this scene captured by Fish Baranof.

In August Sitka’s Kings Persist as Coho Move In

August 26, 2026

Late-Run Kings Trickle On While Coho and Pinks Take the Stage

Sitka’s king salmon season has entered its long tail this August. Still, anglers keep finding success in scattered pockets around the sound. This extended action shows how good management can stretch opportunity well past the usual peak. ADF&G’s regulatory response has been generous this month. Effective August 1 through September 30, nonresident anglers keep their two-fish daily and possession limit. However, their annual cap rose from three fish to four. The department made this change because king salmon harvest ran lower than the season’s target of 43,600 fish.

Residents fishing in state waters still enjoy three fish per day with no annual ceiling. Anglers heading into the Exclusive Economic Zone should note different rules apply there. Both residents and nonresidents face a two-fish daily limit and four-fish annual limit in that zone. Knowing which rules govern your position on the water matters as much as knowing where the fish are holding.

Coho are having their moment now. Fishing has stayed decent through the month, though anglers report the fish sitting deeper than usual. A small adjustment to your presentation depth could help if you’ve come up short. Pink salmon have also arrived in force, crowding stream mouths throughout the area. This pattern fits a typical even year and gives anglers a reliable backup between coho bites. Meanwhile, sockeye are wrapping up their run, with over 90 percent of the season’s fish already past the Redoubt weir.

Halibut Holds Steady While Bottomfish Round Out the Season

Halibut remains the fishery you can set your watch by in Sitka. Fishing stays open and good, holding steady through the summer months. This consistency makes halibut a dependable anchor for any trip.

Lingcod also offers a strong opportunity this August. Resident anglers can keep one fish daily, two in possession, with no size or annual restriction until the season closes on December 1. Nonresidents, however, must wait until September 1, when their season reopens under a tighter slot limit.

Rockfish round out the bottomfish picture nicely this time of year. Demersal shelf rockfish stay open year-round for residents. Slope and pelagic species, especially black and yellowtail rockfish, continue to bite well around structure and kelp beds.

Between persistent kings, a building coho run, and reliable bottomfish, Sitka’s August offers anglers a genuinely full plate.

Sitka’s July Bite Hits Full Stride

July 20, 2026

A Better Deal for Visiting Anglers

King salmon action picked back up around Sitka this month, with trollers reporting solid catches both offshore and closer to the islands. There’s good regulatory news too: ADF&G liberalized the nonresident king limits twice this month, and the current rule, effective July 11 through September 30, sets the nonresident bag and possession limit at two kings a day, with an annual limit of three, up from the tighter numbers earlier in the season. Kings harvested before July 11 still count toward that annual total. Residents continue to enjoy two kings a day, 28 inches or greater, with no annual cap. See the emergency order here.

Coho Are Building Toward Their Peak

Coho numbers keep climbing, building toward the kind of peak that makes late July one of the best windows all season. Limits are well within reach on the right tides, and the fast, aggressive strikes coho are known for are already showing up. Halibut and bottomfish round things out nicely, though anglers need to remember Thursdays are closed to halibut retention through September 10. Rockfish limits stay in place too, three fish per day and in possession, with no more than one yelloweye in that mix.

Lingcod and Kings Keep Sitka Busy Through June

June 26, 2026

Bottomfish Steal the Show

Lingcod fishing stayed strong through late June, giving bottomfish anglers plenty to celebrate. Residents can keep one lingcod a day, two in possession, with no size or annual limit. Flat seas this month let more boats get out after halibut too, and catch rates continued improving as the water warmed. Rockfish stayed part of the mix as well, with the three-fish daily limit, only one yelloweye allowed, keeping that fishery sustainable for the long haul.

Kings Hang On While Coho Start to Show

King salmon fishing held on nicely through June, with steady catches for anglers willing to put in the time. The first coho of the season began showing offshore in small numbers, a welcome early sign of the silver run building toward its July peak.

Kings and Steelhead Kick Off the Season

May 29, 2026

A Slow Start Gives Way to Good Fishing

Steelhead runs came in a little later than usual this year, likely thanks to cold water temperatures and lingering snow and ice around area streams. The good news is that steelhead numbers typically peak in May, so the late start didn’t slow things down for long. King salmon fishing got going in earnest as the month progressed, with anglers reporting good early success. Memorial Day weekend brings Sitka’s annual salmon derby, a longstanding draw for anglers from around the country and one of the best-known events on the local fishing calendar.

Lingcod Opens and Halibut Gets Rolling

Lingcod season opened May 16, and it didn’t take long for anglers to start filling coolers under the generous resident limit. Halibut fishing opened for the year too, with catch rates described as okay to start, the kind of early-season pace that typically improves through summer and fall.

Return to all Alaska Fishing Reports

Add Your Voice to the Fishing Report

Whether you’re a local who knows the rivers by heart or a visitor reeling in your first Alaskan catch, we want to hear from you.

Solid halibut haul with Fish Baranof in Sitka.

Catch Up on the 2025 Sitka Fishing Season

August Brings Strong Coho and Steady Bottomfishing

Sitka’s August fishing is marked by increasing coho salmon numbers entering local streams, boosting opportunities for both fly and gear anglers. Pink salmon runs also remain active in some areas, providing consistent action. Halibut fishing continues to be reliable, with bottomfish like rockfish and lingcod frequently filling coolers.

Sockeye salmon returns to Redoubt Lake near Sitka are exceptionally strong in 2025. As of August 5, the weir count sits at 183,393 fish, the highest total for this date in the past five years. The steady upward trend since 2021 highlights just how productive recent seasons have been, with 2025 on pace to set a new benchmark for the fishery.

Silver Surge and King Resurgence

July 29, 2025

Fishing has been red-hot around Sitka as we close out July. King salmon action picked back up, with trollers reporting solid catches both offshore and closer to the islands. Coho are coming in stronger every day, building toward their peak, and limits are very possible on the right tides. Halibut remain steady, especially on deep rockpiles west of town, and rockfish plus lingcod are filling coolers for many anglers.

Kings on the Bite, Halibut Make Headlines

The Fourth of July brought fireworks both above and below the surface. King salmon catches were steady, with some real slabs topping 30 pounds, although anglers are working harder than in June. The first good wave of coho arrived, and sea-run Dolly Varden are prowling estuaries in numbers. Everyone is buzzing about the large halibut being caught on the flats and reefs. Guides report successful trolling near Cape Edgecumbe and at Vitskari Rocks. Regulations remain mostly unchanged from late June, but always double-check for king salmon news when you launch.

Lingcod, Kings, and Flat Seas

Lingcod fishing stayed strong through late June, and king salmon are still being caught. Coho started to show offshore in small numbers. Flat seas let more anglers target halibut in the passes, while rockfish limits continue to protect stocks. In particular, around the Sitka, there are specific bag and possession limits for rockfish, with a maximum of three fish allowed per day and possession, including no more than one yelloweye rockfish. Anglers should always check current rules before heading out. When targeting mixed stocks, remember to release non-retained species quickly and safely.

King and Bottom Fishing is Steady

In Sitka’s saltwater earlier in June, king salmon were the focus with strong troller catches and productive mooching in the Sound. Many anglers reached their limits within a few hours. The 2025 Southeast Alaska king salmon sport fishing regulations are now in effect from April 3, 2025, through April 30, 2026. Alaska residents may keep one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresidents may keep one king salmon 28 inches or greater, with an annual limit of one.

Halibut fishing was steady, especially near St. Lazaria and the outer coast. Lingcod fishing remains good, especially for Alaska residents who continue to have access to productive grounds in deeper waters. Anglers report consistent catches as the season progresses, with steady opportunities to target this species. Nonresident anglers should be mindful that their season remains open only through June 14 before the midseason closure begins.

Fish Baranof guests starting the season strong with a mixed bag of lingcod and kings.

Early Season Action and Lingcod Opener

May fishing in Sitka brings excitement as the season wakes up. Boat launches buzzed as locals and visitors chased early king salmon, which were already showing near favorite spots like Biorka Island. Bottomfish trips yielded halibut, pelagic rockfish, and, starting May 16, lingcod. Reports showed strong lingcod fishing right from the opening day.

For the 2025 season, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has set the following regulations for Sitka lingcod: Alaska residents may retain one lingcod per day, with a possession limit of two, and there is no size restriction. The season for residents runs from May 16 through November 30. Nonresidents are allowed one lingcod per day and one in possession during two open windows: May 16 to June 14 and August 16 to November 30.

Freshwater lakes and streams also came alive, with Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout moving as the ice receded.

For the most up-to-date information, always check Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s emergency orders and regulations before you go. Tight lines from Sitka!