KING  SALMON  (chinook  salmon)

While king salmon can be caught year round in Ketchikan, the most productive months are May through mid July.  The king salmon averages 20-40 pounds and has to be over 28inches to keep. The king salmon is known for its powerful, often drawn out fights.

limits

Ketchikan Alaska has a very large King Salmon run.  On the south end of town, Mountain Point area, we have what we call a terminal hatchery area.  This means that we have several fish hatcheries.  Since we are in this area our local limits are a bit more favorable than other areas that are more remote.  The limits change on King Salmon several time yearly, depending on their migration from the ocean to spawning grounds.  King season is May through mid July.  May things are very slow, but we are starting to catch a few.  June we catch more but have to compete with the very skilled hunter "KILLER WHALES!"  Our best King Salmon fishing is undeniably Herring Cove when the Salmon are schooled up and biting the hook! By mid July most King Salmon are at the end of their life cycle and in the rivers.  Then we move onto the very abundant Pink Salmon!