When is the Alaska Salmon Run? A Guide to the Peak Salmon Fishing Season

Is there a certain time of year to fish for salmon on the Kenai River? If not, let us quickly explain. This page tells you when and why to plan your trip to Alaska during the most important months. If you want to know when the best times are to fish for salmon in the Kenai River, please keep reading. Best time to go fishing in Alaska. May through September, something is always jumping in the Kenai.

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Alaska is renowned worldwide for its incredible salmon fishing opportunities Each year, all 5 species of Pacific salmon make epic migrations back to Alaska’s rivers, lakes and streams to spawn. For anglers, knowing when the peak salmon runs occur is key to planning a successful fishing trip. In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the timing of salmon runs across Alaska and the prime months to catch these hard-fighting fish

Overview of Salmon Species in Alaska

The five salmon species found in Alaska are

Chinook (King) Salmon – The largest salmon species weighing up to 40+ lbs as adults.
Some sockeye salmon are bright red when they spawn, and they have a great flavor. Average 4-8 lbs.
Coho (Silver) Salmon – Acrobatic fighters when hooked on light tackle. Average 6-12 lbs.
Pink (Humpy) Salmon – Abundant run; smaller size averaging 2-5 lbs.
Chum (Dog) Salmon – Mainly used for food, oil and dog food. Average 4-8 lbs.

When Do the Salmon Run in Alaska?

The exact timing of the salmon run varies across Alaska’s massive geography, but in general:

May – Early king salmon begin entering rivers. Sockeye and pink salmon runs start.
June – Peak of king salmon run. Sockeye run builds through the month.
July – Height of sockeye salmon run. Pink salmon abundant.
August – King salmon winding down but silvers rapidly build up in numbers.
September – Peak of the coho (silver) salmon run. Pink salmon runs continue.
October – Later part of silver salmon run. Chum salmon runs occur.

So the core Alaska salmon fishing season is from May through September when most of the runs occur. But good fishing can happen earlier and later depending on location.

Salmon Run Timing for Major Regions

The precise timing of salmon returns varies across Alaska based on differences between the major regions:

Southeast Alaska

May/June – Peak of king salmon. Early sockeye runs start.
July – Massive sockeye runs. Pink salmon abundant.
August/September – Silvers and pinks peak. Chum salmon runs begin.

Southcentral Alaska (Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage)

Late May – Early king salmon enter rivers.
June/July – Height of king salmon run. Sockeye run starts.
July – Peak of sockeye salmon run. Pink salmon abundant.
August/September – Silver and pink salmon peak spawning runs.

Bristol Bay (Nushagak River, Kvichak River)

June – First king salmon enter Bristol Bay rivers.
July – Peak of the huge sockeye salmon run that Bristol Bay is famous for.
August – Silver salmon begin spawning run.

Kodiak

June – King salmon run starts in earnest.
July – Peak of king salmon run. Pink salmon abundant.
August/September – Silvers begin spawning run.

Cook Inlet (Kenai River, Susitna River)

Mid May – Early king salmon run starts.
June – Peak of king salmon run. Sockeye run builds.
July – Height of sockeye run. Pink salmon plentiful.
August/September – Silver and pink salmon runs.

Best Fishing Techniques for Salmon

Trolling with plugs – Cover water to find active salmon. Dodgers and flashers with hoochies are effective.
Casting spoons & spinners – Great for targeting salmon holding in rivers and streams.
Drift fishing with roe – Drifting cured salmon eggs is deadly when salmon are spawning.
Backtrolling bait – Slowly backtrolling bait like herring near mouths of spawning streams is effective.
Jigging – Vertically jigging large spoons and jigs works when salmon are schooling.

Make sure to use stout tackle – salmon put up amazing fights! Use baitcasting or spinning gear with 20-50 lb braided line and leaders.

Prime Locations for Trophy King Salmon

While king salmon can be caught across Alaska, the top destinations to catch a trophy-sized Chinook over 40 pounds are:

Kenai River – Consistently produces kings over 50 pounds in May/June during the famous early run.
Nushagak River – Remote and full of giant kings in June/July with many weighing over 60 pounds.
Situk River – Located in Yakutat, it holds massive Chinook averaging 20-40 pounds in June/July.
Kanektok River – This remote Southwest Alaska river sees kings over 50 pounds every summer.
Copper River – Landing a king salmon commercially fished from the Copper River is a bucket-list achievement.

Best Places to Catch Limits of Sockeye Salmon

When it comes to sheer numbers of sockeye salmon, these Alaska fisheries can’t be beat:

Bristol Bay – The sockeye capital of the world, with runs averaging 37.5 million fish! The Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers are top producers.
Kenai River – 1-2 million sockeye salmon return annually, with impressive fishing for bank and boat anglers.
Copper River – Hundreds of thousands of sockeye salmon return to spawn upriver, making for exciting fishing at the mouth.
Russian River – Accessible site on the Kenai Peninsula that often sees excellent sockeye fishing in June/July.
Upper Talarik Creek – Remote fly-out location in Bristol Bay that produces amazing sockeye action in July.

Techniques for Late-Season Silver Salmon

As the silver salmon runs build in August and September, try focusing on these tactics:

Target the lower sections of spawning streams for intercepting silvers.
Downsize your bait to smaller spinners, spoons and plugs.
Use lighter line and leaders – silvers can be line shy when clear water is present.
Fish early/late in lower light when silvers actively feed in shallow riffles and tailouts.
Drift float with eggs or small flies/jigs to cover water methodically.

Salmon Fishing Charters

Due to Alaska’s remote fishing locations, immense rivers, and massive tides, hiring a guide is advisable for maximizing your experience. Top-notch charter captains have the local knowledge, best equipment, and handling experience to make sure you catch salmon. They take care of all the logistics so you can focus on fishing.

From the legendary waters of Bristol Bay to the salmon hotspots around Anchorage, there are excellent fishing guides across Alaska’s prime salmon destinations. Don’t be afraid to spend the extra money – it is well worth it when battling tough Alaska conditions and salmon.

License Requirements

In Alaska, anglers 16 and older need a sport fishing license to fish legally for salmon. You can get annual licenses or short-term 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day licenses if you are visiting. King salmon stamps are also required in some areas. Know the daily limits, slot limits, gear and bait restrictions.

Essential Salmon Fishing Gear

Be prepared for Alaska’s rough conditions and big fish with this well-rounded tackle kit:

Rods – Medium-heavy power, fast action 8-9 foot rods rated for 30-80 lb braid. Baitcasting and heavy spinning rods.
Reels – Quality reels with smooth drags in the 30-50 lb range. Lever drags recommended for big kings.
Line – 30-65 lb braided line. 40-50 lb leaders if targeting kings. 20 lb leader for silvers.
Terminal Tackle – Assortment of plugs, spoons, spinners, hoochies, bait hooks. Pro-Cure bait scents.
Landing Net – Required in Alaska. Large hoop net with long handle.
Rain Gear – Quality rain jacket and bib pants. Alaska weather can turn quickly.

Tips for a Successful Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip

To maximize your limited time fishing in Alaska, keep these tips in mind:

Research the run timing and book your trip during the peak months for target species.
Hire a reputable guide if heading to remote regions like Bristol Bay or Southwest Alaska.
Bring plenty of rods/reels/terminal tackle in case equipment gets damaged.
Use heavier line/leaders than you would for most freshwater species due to the massive size Alaska salmon can reach.
Check the tides if fishing tidal areas – incoming tides often produce the best action.
Follow all regulations and guidelines

when is alaska salmon run

Kenai Salmon Fishing in July

For locals, July is known as “Fill the Freezer” fishing season because that’s when the wild and crazy sockeye salmon fishery on the Kenai River starts up again. Just think: on July 17, 2018, 230,643 sockeye, or almost two hundred thousand fish, came into the river on that one day. How many rivers can say that? What makes it really amazing is how big it is; this isn’t the Columbia or Yukon. If you need a Kenai River sockeye fishing guide give us a call.

Kenai Salmon and Trout Fishing in September

Rainbow, Dolley Varden, Silver salmon and a combo of all three. As September goes on, there is still a lot going on, with waves of Silver Salmon making their way to the spawning beds in the upper Kenai River. To really go after the big rainbow trout in the Kenai River Special Management Area, September is the month to do it. A very small group of people, including us, have the right permits to fish legally in this area of the Kenai watershed.

Grizzly Bears: The Drama of the Alaskan Salmon Run | Alaska | Wild Travel | Robert E Fuller

FAQ

When to see salmon run in Alaska?

King Salmon, also known as Chinook salmon, run from late May until late July. During mid-July to mid-August, it’s the pink and sockeye salmon’s turn. July to October rounds out the spawn with silver, also called coho, salmon.

What is the best month to fish for salmon in Alaska?

September is our “best” time of the year to go fishing in Alaska as guides and avid anglers. July is great for peak Sockeye Salmon, but September is the absolute peak of the trout fishing as well as Silver or Coho Salmon fishing. The action in September is unmatched.

Where is the biggest salmon run in Alaska?

Bristol Bay Watershed Area Run Timing Saltwater fishing availability is mid-June through the end of July. Peak availability is mid-June running through early July. Largest King salmon run in Alaska.

What month is the salmon run?

Fall-run Chinook Salmon migrate upstream as adults from July through December and spawn from early October through late December. The timing of runs varies from stream to stream. Late-fall-run Chinook Salmon migrate into the rivers from mid-October through December and spawn from January through mid-April.

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.

How are salmon runs forecasted in Alaska?

PRELIMINARY FORECASTS OF 2022 SALMON RUNS TO SELECTED ALASKA FISHERIES ADF&G prepares forecasts for salmon runs that affect major fisheries around the state. Salmon runs to be forecasted are selected using several criteria, including economic importance, feasibility, compatibility with existing programs, and management needs (Table 8).

How is Alaska salmon run timing determined?

These factors are all dependent upon when you’re coming to Alaska and what your goals are. Determining the Alaska salmon run timing is actually pretty straight forward. Data is gathered every year down to the single fish. Furthermore, this is done for more than 100 rivers and species of salmon throughout the state.

When do pink salmon run in Alaska?

The following tables list the historic dates and peak activity for Pink salmon in Alaska. Begins early to mid-July and runs through mid-August. On even years Pink salomon are abundant. Early July through mid-August on even years. Peak availability is from mid-July through August. Pink salmon runs only occur on even numbered years.