In Geographic Harbor, Alaska, it’s a cool summer morning, and I’m sitting on a Zodiac watching a mother brown bear gently lead her two cubs toward a running stream. She slowly walks toward the water after being pointed in the right direction. Every once in a while, she turns around like a mother to make sure the baby is still following. Alaska’s salmon fishing season is now open, and she’s probably thinking about what her family will eat next.
Of course, the cubs don’t notice because they are too busy playing. They paw and pat each other as they roll around in the leaves and then run to their mother. They are about two and a half years old and are still getting used to life outside of their den.
When the sow gets to the stream, it paces back and forth along the pebbles to find the best place to cross. Then, once she’s found her spot, she jumps into the water with a splash and stops suddenly in the middle of the flow, her nose pointing down as she works her catch. As her head lifts, I see she has achieved her mission. This bear has caught a salmon. Related Cruises.
She walks across the stream with the fish firmly in her teeth. I notice that this salmon’s story is not about to end here, even though it died in a horrible way. Many people agree that salmon are an important part of Alaska’s ecosystem, but I didn’t realize how important they are to the whole circle of life in this healthy environment.
“That is the beauty of a functioning ecosystem,” explains fisheries expert and Silversea expedition expert Luke Kenny. “Everything relies on everything else to a degree, either directly or indirectly. Everything relies on salmon. ”.
Salmon spawning season in Alaska is a magical time of year. Across the state, different salmon species make their annual journey from the ocean back to their natal streams and rivers to continue the cycle of life Witnessing thousands of salmon arriving to spawn is one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring natural events in Alaska
Overview of Salmon Spawning Season
When salmon runs happen each year depends on the species, where they happen, and the water conditions. However, the general salmon spawning season in Alaska runs from June through September.
Here is an overview of when different salmon species typically spawn:
- King (Chinook) Salmon: May – July
- Sockeye (Red) Salmon: June – August
- Coho (Silver) Salmon: July – October
- Pink (Humpy) Salmon: July – September
- Chum (Dog) Salmon: July – October
Runs often overlap, with peak activity occurring in July and August when all five salmon species may be present and spawning. Some salmon arrive early and others run late, so it’s possible to witness salmon in their spawning ritual throughout the summer season.
Best Locations to See Spawning Salmon
Salmon return all across Alaska to spawn in the same rivers and tributaries where they hatched. Here are some of the best places to see huge salmon runs and active spawning
Southcentral Alaska
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Russian River – The confluence of the Russian and Kenai Rivers near Cooper Landing attracts an enormous run of sockeye salmon in June and July. Anglers flock here to catch salmon on their journey to spawn in Upper Russian Lake.
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The Kenai River has blue-green water that is home to king salmon as early as May and sockeye salmon runs that last until August. View spawning activity along riverbanks and shallow gravel beds.
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Ship Creek – Right in Anchorage, Ship Creek offers front-row seats to salmon spawning near the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. King and chum salmon runs occur July to August.
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Indian Creek – Along Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, pink salmon fill Indian Creek from mid-July into August. The fish are so plentiful they appear bank-to-bank in the shallow waters.
Southeast Alaska
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Mendenhall River – Coho and chum salmon runs draw black bears to feast along the Mendenhall River near Juneau from July to October. View bears catching salmon as well as the fish spawning in the clear glacial river.
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Steep Creek – Near Mendenhall Glacier outside Juneau, this creek has a fish ladder and walkway allowing visitors to watch sockeye salmon migrate upstream to spawn from June to August.
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Petersburg Creek—During August, people can go to the Petersburg Creek State Recreation Area and watch thousands of pink and chum salmon swim upstream and spawn.
Western Alaska
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Wood-Tikchik State Park – Home to enormous runs of sockeye salmon, the rivers and streams within the park offer exceptional salmon viewing and spawning sights from June into September.
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Nushagak River – The Bristol Bay region supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. On the Nushagak River near Dillingham, visitors can see hundreds of thousands of salmon staging and spawning from June to August.
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Kvichak River – Flowing out of Iliamna Lake, the Kvichak River hosts the largest natural sockeye salmon run on earth, with spawning activity peaking in July.
When to See Peak Salmon Spawning
The most intense salmon spawning activity occurs when each run reaches its peak. Timing varies annually based on water conditions and temperatures. However, here are the general peak months for witnessing each salmon species spawning in Alaska:
- King Salmon: June
- Sockeye Salmon: July
- Coho Salmon: August
- Pink Salmon: July – August
- Chum Salmon: August
Your best chance to see multiple salmon species spawning is during the months of July and August. However, depending on your location, some runs occur earlier or later. Be sure to check local fishing reports and salmon counts to know when each type of salmon is expected to be running strong in the river or region you plan to visit.
Tips for Observing Spawning Salmon
When venturing out to see salmon in their natural spawning ritual, keep these tips in mind:
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Be respectful and keep your distance from spawning salmon. They are vulnerable and easily disturbed during this critical life stage.
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Bring binoculars and a zoom lens for close-up views without disturbing the natural behavior you’ve come to observe.
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Dawn and dusk are excellent times to spot salmon. Many are more active at these times than broad daylight.
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Look for salmon congregating at river mouths before making their push upstream to spawn.
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Higher water levels and faster currents draw more spawning salmon into streams.
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Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk along rivers, creeks, and wet, uneven terrain.
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Follow wildlife viewing etiquette principles to protect animals and their habitat.
Witnessing the ancient ritual of salmon returning to their birthplace to spawn and perpetuate the cycle of life is a moving experience. Seeing the mighty salmon runs of Alaska should be on every nature lover’s bucket list. Use this guide to plan your visit during peak salmon spawning season. Whether you see salmon by plane, boat, or on foot near spawning grounds, observing these incredible fish complete their life’s purpose is sure to leave you in awe.
When do salmon run in Alaska?
Based on the species and area, the salmon run usually starts in the spring, around April or May, and goes through the fall. The run changes every year in terms of both the number of fish and the time of year. The main runs happen in July and August.
“King salmon are usually the first to return. For that reason, they are sometimes referred to as ‘spring salmon,” Kenny says. They are followed by the other four types of salmon in Alaska: sockeye, pink, chum and silver.
Even though the ranges of the two species overlap, pink salmon are known to spawn closest to the ocean, in the lower parts of rivers and streams. The best places for king, sockeye, silver, and chum salmon to live are higher up in big rivers and in some short to medium-length rivers as well.
“Salmon bury their eggs in permeable gravel,” explains Kenny. “This allows clean and oxygenated cold water to reach those eggs. Unfortunately, activities such as logging operations cause soil erosion, which often blocks the gravel. ”.
The salmon’s life cycle
Brown bears consume what is seasonally available to them, including berries, grass, insects and fish. But salmon become the most important part of their diet in the fall, when they need to gain a lot of weight before going into hibernation for the winter. Following this, they focus on eating the oily parts of the fish, especially the fat under the skin and the eggs.
It’s not just brown bears who benefit from a flourishing salmon run in Alaska. Many species, such as orcas, seals, black bears, wolves, eagles, gulls and ravens, do, too. “Or anything else that eats the dead salmon as they float down the river or get left behind by bears that are too full to eat,” Kenny adds.
Piles of salmon carcasses eventually lodge in pools and bends and slowly break down. “The dead salmon in the forest, along with bear, wolf, and bird poop, add nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and carbon to the forest.” It provides food for a whole host of other creatures, building a habitat for large predators,” he explains. “At the same time, anything left in the river helps to improve that freshwater ecosystem by providing food for different invertebrates and insect nymphs.” ” Eventually, this injection of fresh nutrients will feed and nourish the new, young salmon to come.
The Salmon’s Life Mission | Destination WILD
FAQ
What months do salmon run in Alaska?
Where is the best place to see the salmon run in Alaska?
What time of year do salmon swim upstream in Alaska?
Can you fish for salmon during spawning season?
When do Alaska salmon runs start?
Alaska salmon runs extend from May through October. Fresh water runs typcially begin in mid-May with the arrival of King (Chinook) Salmon, followed by Sockeye runs from June through August. As the season heats up, Pink and Chum salmon runs get into full swing in July and fishing remains strong through late August.
When is salmon season in Alaska?
If you’re visiting Alaska, you’ll mostly likely to arrive in summer. Peak season for salmon fishing occurs from May through September, with the five major species spread across the season. King Salmon fishing begins in May, and you can continue fishing for Silver Salmon all the way through November.
When do king salmon spawn in Alaska?
The earliest Kings return to their Alaskan spawning grounds in May to late May. They will continue to return through the end of July when most of the freshwater areas close to King Salmon fishing for the season. King Salmon on average weigh between 15-35 pounds in most of the state with some achieving weight of up to 50 pounds!
When do salmon spawn?
This is a very unique run, salmon begin entering the lake as late as September and spawn until April. The Nome River is a good place to see salmon. Pink and chum salmon spawn in August, coho are usually present in August and September. Sockeye salmon, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden may be present.