Best Times & Seasons to Fish Alaska (Freshwater & Saltwater)

Alaska is one of the top destinations for sports fishermen in the world. Knowing the best times to go fishing here can make a huge difference. So what are the best times and seasons to fish in Alaska for both saltwater and freshwater?

The best time to fish in the state of Alaska in saltwater is normally May through September whereas the best times to fish freshwater are spring through November. Each species of Alaska gamefish will have its peak high seasons.

Alaskan Fish Species	Best Seasons to Fish Alaska
King Salmon (Chinook)	May through November is the best season with salmon runs throughout.
Chum Salmon	Late June through Late August is the best season with salmon runs throughout.
Coho Salmon (Silver)	August & September are the best months with salmon runs throughout.
Pink Salmon	Mid-July through Mid-August is the best season with salmon runs throughout.
Sockeye Salmon	Mid-June through Mid-August is the best season with salmon runs throughout.
Rainbow Trout	May through September is the peak rainbow trout season in Alaska.
Steelhead	3 major runs: March-June, July, and August-October.
Arctic Grayling	May through September is the peak grayling season in Alaska.
Arctic Char	May through July is the peak grayling season in Alaska.
Northern Pike	March through September is the best time to catch pike in Alaska.
Whitefish	Year-round availability; ice fishing is especially popular.
Halibut	May through September is the peak halibut season in Alaska.
Lake Trout	Year-round availability; summertime is the peak laker season in Alaska.
Rockfish	Year-round availability; peak season is February through early December.
Lingcod	May through November is the peak lingcod season in Alaska.

Alaska is one of the most unique states in the country. With beautiful mountains, coastlines and glaciers, it’s a very popular state to visit. Along with the great sights, Alaska offers some of the best fishing in the country.

In Alaska, you can go offshore and catch halibut, rockfish, and lingcod and if you’re staying closer to shore or fishing inland, you can experience once in a lifetime salmon, trout, grayling, and char fishing.

Some of the most popular areas to go fishing in Alaska include Seward, Kenai, Homer, and Anchorage. In Alaska, some areas may seem similar, but each area offers its own unique experiences.

Best Time to Fish Alaska

Fishing in Alaska is at its peak from summer through late fall. Offshore species start migrating north during the early summer and finally settle in during the middle of summer. Salmon start their runs as early as August and fishing for salmon in the ocean just before the run can also be good.

In general, most fish will be looking to feed a lot during the fall to bulk up for winter, so the fish will be very active during these times.

Other factors to think of are how much sunlight you will be getting. In the summer, you will have the most daylight compared to any other time of the year with it tapering off as fall comes around. More daylight generally means more fishing hours.

The weather in the summer and fall is also very good. During the summer, you can expect temperatures to be around 50 degrees at night and up to 80 degrees in the afternoon. During the fall, the average temperature is around 60 degrees, with night temperatures being right around 30 degrees.

One more thing to think about when planning your trip is how busy things are going to be. Summer is the peak of the tourist season in Alaska, so you should be prepared for more crowds than usual. This also means that you should try to book your trip as early as possible so that you can make sure you get the charters that you want. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Alaska

These Alaska-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Alaskan Adventure Guides (Homer)	Salmon & Bottom Fishing
Anchor Down Sportfishing (Seward)	Salmon & Bottom Fishing
Big Butt Charters (Homer)	Salmon & Bottom Fishing
King of the River Charters (Kenai)	River Salmon Fishing
Alaskan Widespread Fishing (Soldotna)	River Salmon Fishing
Peninsula Sportfishing – Kenai River (Soldotna)	River Salmon Fishing
Alaska Slammin Salmon Charters (Kenai)	River Salmon Fishing
Red Door Charters – Tuff Stuff (Homer)	Salmon & Bottom Fishing

Species of Alaska (Best Times & Seasons)

Chinook (King) Salmon

King salmon are one of the most sought-after species of salmon in the state. They are the largest out of the five species of pacific salmon. King salmon are available from May through November. In the earlier months of the season, you can find the salmon in nearshore waters, and in the late summer and fall, you’ll find them in rivers connected to the ocean.

Some great areas to fish for kings are the Kenai River in the late summer and fall and Seward during the earlier months of the season. You’ll generally want to get out on the water in the early morning to target kings, but they can be caught all day.

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon are the least sought-after species of salmon in Alaska, but they are still a fun fish to catch. The peak season for chum salmon runs from late June through late August. Chum salmon run twice a year, making them one of the most accessible species of salmon in the state.

Chum salmon can be found in the same rivers as every other species of salmon, but some of the most popular spots in the state are the Nushagak River and Kenai River.

Coho (Silver) Salmon

Silver salmon are said to be the best tasting species of salmon. They are generally smaller than the other species of salmon, but still put up plenty of a fight and you will usually catch more of them compared to other species. Silvers run during the early fall, usually from August to September.

You can still find them out in the ocean all throughout the year. Some of the most popular spots for silvers are the Kenai river, Little Susitna River and if you are going in the ocean, Seward is a good option.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon are a very unique fish as they only run once every two years. When they run, they run in groups of millions of fish, so during the even years, you can expect a ton of pink salmon.

During these years, they will run from mid-July to mid-August, so you have a somewhat short window to catch a ton of fish. Some of the most popular spots to fish for pinks are the Soldotna River Walk and the Solomon Gulch Creek. 

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon, otherwise known as red salmon, is available in the ocean almost year-round, with larger ones out in the ocean and smaller ones in the lakes and rivers. Sockeyes run from mid-June through mid-August, giving anglers a large window to catch them. Some popular areas to fish for sockeyes are the Kasilof River and fishing out of Homer.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are a species commonly found all over Alaska. They are mainly found in streams, rivers, and some lakes. Rainbow trout season is open from May through September, but the peak season is from early June until the end of the season.

Popular spots for rainbow trout include the Naknek River and the Nushagak River. Both have plenty of other species, but the rainbow trout fishing there is great. Rainbows will generally be in tributaries to lakes and stay there their entire lives.

Steelhead

Steelhead are rainbow trout that live in freshwater lakes but spawn in rivers and streams connected to the lakes. Steelhead season is open year-round, but the best time to target them is when they run, which is from March to June for spring-run steelheads.

Summer-run steelhead are not nearly as common as spring runs, but they are still available. Summer-run steelhead run in the streams in July.

Fall-run steelhead are the second most common type of steelhead and run in the streams and rivers from August to October. Some popular spots for steelhead include the Stariski Creek, Kasilof River, and Anchor River.

Arctic Grayling

Grayling are a small, freshwater fish that is easily identifiable by its large dorsal fin. Grayling are commonly found in small streams but can be found in larger rivers as well.

Grayling can be caught during the times of the year when there is no ice on the water, with the best months being from May through September. Some popular creeks for grayling include Faith and Birch Creek. One of the most popular rivers to fish for grayling is the Chatanika River.

Arctic Char

Arctic Char are a freshwater fish, commonly mistaken for dolly varden. They look a lot like salmon or trout, just with a bright orange underside and white-tipped fins.

They are available during ice-free times with their peak season being May through July. Mirror Lake is a very popular spot for char, along with Silver Lake and Summit Lake.

Northern Pike

Pike are one of the most popular freshwater species across North America. They have big teeth and the biggest can get up to 50 inches. Pike are technically an invasive species, but anglers don’t mind them being in Alaskan waters.

They can be found in lakes and rivers all throughout the state and they’re available all year through either conventional fishing or ice fishing. Some popular lakes and rivers are the Salcha River, Peterson Lake, and Kelly Lake.

Whitefish

Whitefish are small, silver fish found in freshwater and are the most common fish in Alaska. They are mainly targeted by shore anglers and don’t require a guide or charter service to catch.

They can be caught year-round as they don’t have a specific season. They can be found all over, but the most popular spots include the Salcha River, Sunshine Creek, and Quartz Creek.

Halibut

Halibut are one of the most popular fish in the state, they are big, hard fighting, and taste great. They are almost always caught at offshore reefs, so a charter will be necessary to get them.

Halibut season runs from March through November. The best times to fish for them are from May to September. Homer, Seward, and Anchorage are popular places to fish for them, but they can be found in almost any offshore water off the coast of Alaska.

Rockfish

There are over 30 species of rockfish in Alaska, including the red snapper. The season runs from February to December, giving anglers many opportunities to catch them.

The peak season for rockfish is in the summer when more of them start to migrate north and into nearshore waters. Seward, Homer, and Mitchell Bay are well-known spots for rockfish. 

Lake Trout

Lake Trout live in the freshwater lakes of Alaska and are the largest species of trout. They sometimes wander into the rivers that dump into the lakes, but generally, stay in the deeper waters of the lakes.

Lake trout can be caught year-round, through the ice or in open water and their peak season is in the summer. Some popular spots include Long Lake and Landmark Gap Lake.

Lingcod

Lingcod are very similar to rockfish in the way that they both like offshore reefs, but look nothing alike. They are lanky fish that can grow up to 5 feet long. Their season runs from May through the end of November. The warmer months are the best time to fish for them as they’ll be much more active.

Lingcod are targeted all across Alaska’s coast, but some of the best spots include Homer, Seward, and other coastal towns along the south coast of Alaska.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Anchorage, please check out this helpful article I wrote. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Alaska.

Best Time of Day for Alaska Fishing

The best time of day is affected by both tides and seasons but is most commonly the morning. This can change if there’s low tide in the morning, or if you’re fishing from late fall through early spring because there will be much less daylight.

During the summer, most species will be active during the morning, but during other times of the year, fishing during any time that there is daylight will work.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Sitka, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Juneau, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Homer, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best water temperatures for salmon, please check out this helpful article.

Tidal Impacts on Alaska’s Fishing

Tides can have a big impact on your fishing day, so it’s important to pay attention to them. The best tide to fish is high tide because it creates a strong current that brings in fresh, clean water and moves the baitfish around.

During high tide, more fish will be roaming around and feeding, making them easier to find. Fishing is also good during the times leading up to high tide for the same reasons.

Is Winter Fishing in Alaska any Good?

Winter fishing in Alaska can be difficult, but can still produce a lot of fish. With the lakes and most of the rivers being frozen over, ice fishing is very popular in the winter. You can catch char, trout, grayling, and pike through the ice, mainly in the lakes.

You will want to make sure that the ice is thick enough and that you have plenty of layers on as Alaska can get extremely cold. During the winter you will also want to take into account the lack of daylight, be prepared with flashlights, and pay attention to the time and sun while you’re on the water.

Booking Guides and Charters in Alaska

Best Season

The best season to book a charter in Alaska depends on what species you are targeting. You should try to book as early as possible if you are looking to fish during those species’ peak season. If you don’t want to deal with crowds, or can’t book a trip during the peak season, you should try for either early fall or late spring. There are plenty of species active during these times and you can catch fish all day long at these times.

-½ Day
With a half-day, you will have to decide on either a morning or afternoon trip. Usually, morning trips are more productive as most fish will be more active. This is especially true for salmon, trout, and pike fishing. As for halibut, rockfish, and lingcod, the time of day has less of an impact, but the impact is still there.

With half a day, you will obviously be more limited on time, but not necessarily on fish, if you are fishing during prime time, you will just be missing out on an afternoon of fishing, which is generally slower than the morning.

-Full Day

With a full day, you will have plenty of time to get to a few different spots and catch tons of fish. This is the most popular option among anglers booking trips. You will want to pack some drinks and food, unless if the charter provides them.

Full days are more for hardcore anglers who won’t have an issue spending a full day out in a boat, so if you are looking to book a family trip, a half-day might be a better option for you. Another possible downside of a full day is seasickness. If you have a history of seasickness, spending a full day on a boat out in the middle of the ocean may not be the best option for you.

-Multi-Day

Multi-day trips are one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences. Multi-day trips can include fly-in trips or just going out with the same charter multiple days in a row. These trips are generally more expensive, but multi-day trips can be necessary for some areas of Alaska. Some areas are extremely remote and will take half a day to travel to, so it only makes sense to stay there a few days and get your fill of fishing in.

Busiest Times of the Year for Charters

The busiest time of the year for charters is when salmon start to run in early fall. If you’re planning to book a trip around this time, it’s smart to try to book as soon as you know you are going.

The charters are also going to be busy during the summer as this is when the weather is the best and more tourists will be in the area than usual. This shouldn’t discourage you from booking trips during these times, just a reminder to book as early as you can to make sure you get the timing that you want.

Overlooked Times

A fishing season that is great but isn’t all that busy would be in the spring. Offshore fishing is just starting to heat up as more and more fish start to migrate into the waters of Alaska. As for trout, grayling, and char, they’ll be available year-round but will surge in the spring as the water warms up. Late spring is also when the lakes start to thaw out and fishing for lake trout and pike becomes available. 

Best Season to Book a Trip to Alaska

The best season to book a trip involves a few different factors, including, how busy it will be, what fish are biting, and the weather. The best season that encompasses the best of all three is the early fall. Charters will still be busy during this time, but if you book early enough, that shouldn’t be an issue. The tourist crowds start to thin out around this time and the weather is usually good in the fall.

During the fall, the salmon start to run into the rivers, inland fish are starting to bulk up for winter, and offshore fish are still active. If you’re looking for a certain species, the best time to book a charter would be that species’ peak season, but if you are just looking to catch as many fish as possible, fall will be a good option for you.

Morning vs. Afternoon

Fishing can be greatly affected by the time of day, so it is important to understand how fishing is affected by it. In the morning, fishing is usually at its peak. Most species of fish will be more active in the morning before the sun hits its peak.

The only exceptions for this would be from late fall through early spring. During these times, there will be much less daylight and the water will be much colder. This means that fishing during the afternoon is your best option during these times. Afternoon fishing in the summer can still be productive, but most anglers aim to get on the water in the morning.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Kenai, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch halibut in Alaska, please check out this helpful article I wrote.