Fishing Information
SALMON RUN is located, approximately 40 miles west of Juneau, Alaska, in Excursion Inlet off the Icy Straights, a part of Southeast Alaska’s inside passage. The areas you will be fishing are made up of deep fjords and emerald-green waters. Because of our location on the inside passage we enjoy relatively calm waters, even on windy days we experience no ocean swell and only a small chop. Rarely do we fish more than a mile or two away from camp and within 200 yards of shore.
Our 20 foot skiffs have an 8 foot beam and are especially designed for Alaska’s ocean waters and your comfort and safety. They are equipped with the required Coast Guard life preservers and safety equipment. We furnish all the necessary fishing tackle and bait for your use in catching both salmon and halibut along with other species found in these abundant waters. Be prepared to bring in a trophy fish.
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon, commonly called King salmon are Alaska’s state fish. They are the largest and scarcest of the pacific salmon found in Alaska's waters. Known for their fighting power and endurance they are most abundant in June and July.
We troll for Kings using rigged herring, although spoons and flashers of varying colors may be used. The Kings in our area range from 15 to 50 pounds.
Trophy size is 50 plus pounds and Alaska’s record is 126 pounds.
Coho Salmon
Coho salmon are called Silvers and are most plentiful in our waters they are hard fighters and can provide as much action as the Kings of the same size. The Coho average 12-15 pounds, but can be found well over 20 pounds. The Coho are most plentiful in late July thru August and on into the middle of September.
Trophy size is 20 plus pounds, Alaska’s record is 20 pounds and was caught in the Icy Straights.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon are commonly called Humpy because they develop a dorsal hump on their back when they enter the fresh water streams to spawn. Pinks have a two-year life cycle and average 3 to 5 pounds. Saltwater fishing for Pinks is better in July and August.
Chum Salmon
Chum salmon are also called Dog salmon because the natives fed them mainly to their dogs. Chums are known for their strength, for their size, and the large teeth the males develop when entering the fresh water of the streams. Chums average 15 pounds with an occasional fish reaching up to 25 pounds. They are most abundant in mid-July through August.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye salmon are also called Reds for the color of their flesh. Sockeye are the most difficult to catch trolling, but we have been having some good luck with them, even though Sockeye sport fishing is limited. Most Sockeye are taken, non commercially, with nets in the mouths of fresh water streams. They are very tasty when smoked.
Halibut
Halibut are the most sought after bottom fish that are found in our waters of the inside passage. Most bottom fish are an ugly fish and the halibut is one of the ugliest. When hatched both eyes are on opposite sides of their head as with other fish but as they grow older their eyes migrate to one side of their head. They are a relative flat fish that swims along the bottom of the ocean with its eyes on the upper side. The bottom side is white and the upper side is a mottled greenish brown that looks like the bottom of the ocean for camouflage. Most bottom fish are fished by drifting in about 100 to 200 feet of water and letting your weight bounce off the floor of the ocean. We prefer to anchor over a rise in the ocean or off the shore in about 200 of water. We rig our lines with a bottom weight and large hooks about 8 above the weight. The weight is positioned on the bottom and hooks are baited with salmon bellies and a herring head suspended about 8. Then you wait for the strike and be prepared for your arms to grow tired from their brute strength and weight, as it may take hours to bring up the big ones. The average and best eating halibut weigh about 25 to 50 pounds but don't be surprised if you land one of 250 pounds or more.
The largest pacific halibut caught while sport fishing topped the scales at 459 pounds in Unalaska Bay.
Halibut is prized for its delicate sweet flavor, snow-white color and firm flaky meat. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein and minerals, low in sodium, fat and calories and contains a minimum of bones.
Rockfish
Rockfish is not a species of fish but a common term used to identify over 10 species of fish that feed off the floor of the ocean, such as yellow-eye also more commonly known as red snapper, and black sea bass. Rockfish will average from 1 to 6 pounds with the Red Snapper averaging 6 pounds. Their flesh is light in color and good fishing lasts thru the warm summer months.
Lingcod
Lingcod like rockfish and halibut are usually found at or near the bottom over rocky reefs or points. Lingcod can be identified by their elongated body shape, large head and mouth, and jaws containing large canine teeth interspersed with smaller teeth. They have dark mottling on their backs and sides that can be brown, gray, green or orange depending on their environment. They are very aggressive feeders and grow to over 5 feet in length and over 50 pounds. They are more often found toward the outer limits of the inside passage but can be found in our waters from 10 to 30 pounds.
Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden are found in our local streams during our season and are excellent fish ranging 10 to 24 inches