Alaska's Salmon Fishery

A look at salmon fishing in the last frontier: Alaska. Writer Harry Smith talks about Alaska's 3 main salmon species, as well as fishing for them in this article.

Alaska Salmon Fishing: 3 Main Species

Salmon fishing the wild and pristine waters of Alaska is sure to be on everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. You are surrounded by rugged mountains, glacier blue water, photogenic wildlife, and hoards of other anglers. It is just as you see in pictures. Salmon fishing is unlike any other fishing you have done, and depending on which species of Salmon you are after, tactics change drastically. Add the element of close wildlife encounters, elbow to elbow with other anglers and frigid water temps and it quickly becomes an experience like no other. The three most sought after salmon in Alaska are the Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye.

1. Chinook Salmon

itsnature / Via itsnature.org

Chinook aka King Salmon are the biggest of the Salmon species. The world record King Salmon was taken from the Kenai River in Soldotna, AK weighing in at 97lbs.! These behemoths are not only sought after for their size, but they are arguably one of the best tasting salmon as well. It is also good for you. Salmon contains many vitamins and minerals, lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. King salmon can be caught using lures near the bottom of the deepest part of the river, usually the channel, or with bait in the form of salmon roe. Once they are hooked, hang on! They are powerful fish and must be played out in order to have a successful landing.

2. Coho Salmon

Mark Hieronymus / Via alaskaflyfishinggoods.com

The Coho aka Silver Salmon is a highly sought after game fish due to their hard fighting, acrobatic tendencies. Their catching appeal also comes from the fact that they are aggressive strikers and will readily hit spoons, lures, and salmon roe. You can find these fish hanging out in slower water. Look for eddies behind rocks, trees, bends in the river, etc., this is where Coho like to hang out. They are also sought after for their phenomenal table fare and nutritional value. After spawning, all salmon die, but before they perish, they undergo a transformation, but none more spectacular than the male Coho salmon. They begin life with a silvery/blue skin, but then turn a bright red along their sides and bright green along the top of their backs. Their jaw becomes severely hooked and their teeth become sharp, making them look like something out of a horror movie.

3. Sockeye Salmon

Mother Nature Network / Via mnn.com

Sockeye aka Red Salmon is the smallest of the pacific salmon, but their meat is prized above all. Their diet however consists solely of plankton, thus making them the trickiest salmon of all to catch. When coming up river they swim close to the bottom while continually opening and closing their mouths. The trick is to get your leader line to thread their mouth thus bringing the hook to the corner of the jaw, and wham! Fish on! This is what has been dubbed flossing. The most important step in this process is to find the correct weight to get your line to slowly bounce the bottom of the river with the current. Sockeye tend to migrate up rivers in big hoards, so once you find one, there are usually many, many more!

2017 Alaska salmon harvest expected to double this year

"Alaska salmon fishermen could haul in a harvest nearly double last year's catch due to a projected uptick in the number of pinks." - adn.com

Oasis Alaska Charters / Via oasisalaskacharters.com

Regardless of the type of salmon that you choose to target, one thing is for sure, it will be an experience of a lifetime along with some of the freshest and best tasting fish you have ever put in your mouth!