COHO SALMON
BAG LIMIT- 6 PER DAY
The Coho or Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) are hard fighters and
are the most popular sport fish in Alaska. Cohos range from 3 to 20 lbs with an
8-12 lb average throughout the summer and fall in Ketchikan. They will spend 1-3
winters in their stream of origin before heading out to sea for 18 months to
feed hard and pack on the pounds.
DESCRIPTION: Coho salmon have green spotted backs and a boxy tail with
silver streaks and only a few spots on the upper part of the fin. As the male
coho nears fresh water his nose will hook and the fish will eventually turn a
golden color.
AVAILABILITY: There are several coho runs around Ketchikan. The early
summer run begins late June and continues through August. The fall run begins
late August and continues through mid October.
FISHING TECHNIQUES: Coho bite best on herring or green hoochies trolled
behind a flasher from depths of 70’ to the surface. Mooching whole herring is
also very effective when large schools are encountered.
CHUM SALMON
BAG LIMIT – 6 PER DAY
The Chum or Dog Salmon (Onchorhynchus Keta) have the widest
distribution of all pacific salmon. They range from the Sacramento River to the
Arctic Ocean, Japan and Siberia. Ocean fresh chums are beautiful silver fish
with greenish blue backs that fight hard and are excellent eating. Chum
typically mature between 3 and 5 years.
DESCRIPTION: Ocean fresh chum are metallic greenish-blue along the back
with bright silver sides and silver streaks in their forked tail. Chum average
7-15 pounds with some males exceeding 30-lbs. When nearing their spawning
destination chum will turn green with purple & brown vertical bars on their
sides. The male’s nose will hook and their teeth will protrude from its mouth
like a snarling dog.
AVAILABILITY: Chum salmon are most abundant in Ketchikan from July
through August.
FISHING TECHNIQUES: Chum are caught at deeper depths 70-100’ with whole
herring or hoochies trolled behind a flasher. Schools of chum jumping on the
surface are easy to spot but usually won’t bite. Jumping chum are distinguished
by multiple sideways jumps like skipping a stone across the water.
PINK SALMON
BAG LIMIT – 6 PER DAY
The Pink or Humpy salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha) is the smallest of
the pacific salmon at 3-4 pounds and is the most widely caught. Pink salmon are
mild in flavor and are great eating provided it is properly taken care of.
Commercial caught pink salmon are harvested in great abundance and are typically
canned. Pink Salmon are strictly a 2 year fish so there is no relation between
the even and odd year runs. Alaskans enjoy pinks annually with rivers and
streams supporting separate runs each year.
DESCRIPTION: Ocean fresh pinks are silver bright with a slight pink
sheen. Pinks have small scales and large oval spots covering the back and tail.
As pinks near fresh water they turn olive green with white bellies and the males
develop large humps on their backs.
AVAILABILITY: Pinks will show up in late June but are most abundant in
late July and August. Pinks in September have begun to turn green and are not
typically good eating.
FISHING TECHNIQUES: Pinks will bight herring, spoons and hoochies trolled
at shallow depths. The most reliable rig is a white flasher with a pink hoochie.
Pinks travel in large schools and give away their presence by frequent jumping.
SOCKEYE SALMON
BAG LIMIT – 6 PER DAY
The Sockeye or Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka) is a fantastic fighting
and excellent eating fish but can only be successfully caught in the ocean with
nets. Their flesh is bright red and oily with a rich flavor. Sockeye will spend
up to 4 years in fresh water lakes before heading out to sea where they grow
quickly. Mature salmon coming back to spawn weigh 4 to 8 pounds. Sockeye will
travel thousands of miles from ocean feeding grounds to spawn in the rivers
where they were born.
DESCRIPTION: Sockeye can be distinguished from most salmon by the lack of
spots and having no silver in the tail. Sockeye have a blue-green back with an
abrupt transition to bright silvery sides along the lateral line.
AVAILABILITY: Sockeye arrive in late June & July and enter the creeks and
rivers in July & August to spawn.
FISHING TECHNIQUES: Sockeye eat krill and plankton so trying to get them
to bight a lure in saltwater is very difficult and usually not worth the time
and effort. But get a school of them bunched up in a stream and you can have the
time of your life. Most successful stream fishermen floss or snag the mouth by
pulling a fly through a dense school and across the open mouths of the fish.
ALASKA SALMON FISHING METHODS & TECHNIQUES
Trolling is typically done between depths of 20’ to 100’ depending on
target species. A 4-6 oz. lead is used for shallow trolling and Down Riggers are
used to reach depths below 30’. We generally use a spoon or a double hook leader
with a herring or hoochies. Typically a flasher is used 3’-5’ above the leader
when trolling with herring or a hoochie. Some of the flashers used are Abe&Als,
Hot Spots, Fish Flash, and Herring Dodgers. Recommended flasher types and colors
vary between species and changes from year to year. We will have on the boat
what’s been hot when you arrive. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques
– have no fear, we will coach you to success.
Mooching is done from depths of 20’ to 120’. Mooching through schools of
bait or along ledges, shelves and pinnacles with a herring and a 4-oz. lead
weight can be very productive. This technique can result in the catch of Salmon
and various bottom fish including rock fish, ling cod and halibut. Mooching is
most effective if done in the presence of large schools of bait fish where
salmon are feeding.
