Ketchikan sits where salmon runs, halibut grounds, and rocky bottomfish structure all overlap, which is a big part of why the town has been a fishing port for as long as it has. Over a season, charter boats here see king (Chinook) salmon, coho (silver) salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Here is what each one brings to the boat.
The salmon
- King (Chinook) salmon. The big prize. Powerful fish with careful regulations, including a king salmon stamp on your license when king fishing applies. Kings lead the early season, and trolling for them is the heart of a June trip here.
- Coho (silver) salmon. Aggressive, acrobatic, and a favorite of many guests. The full coho run arrives late in the season and makes September a sleeper pick.
- Pink salmon. The most numerous salmon in Southeast Alaska in their strong years. Steady action, especially for kids learning what a bite feels like.
- Chum salmon. Underrated fighters that show up in the mix through the season.
The bottomfish
- Halibut. The heavyweight of the bottom. Guests have boated halibut well over a hundred pounds with Captain Jim, and even modest ones convert into a serious pile of firm white fillets.
- Lingcod. Aggressive, toothy, and excellent eating. Some real giants come over the rail.
- Rockfish. Bright orange, hard fighting for their size, and great on a plate. They also make some of the best photos of the trip.
Which ones will be biting on your dates?
That depends on when you come. Salmon timing shifts from year to year and species to species, while halibut and bottomfish are more about location and tide than the calendar. Regulations also set what can be kept at any given moment, and they can change partway through a season. The current rules always live with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. The seasons page covers the shape of the year, and for your specific week, ask. Matching trips to dates is a big part of Jim’s job.
If a particular fish on this list is the one you came for, start with the salmon or halibut page. If you want the widest sample of what swims here, the combo trip was built for exactly that.
Species questions we hear a lot
What is the biggest fish you can catch in Ketchikan?
Halibut, by a wide margin. Guests have boated halibut well over a hundred pounds fishing with Captain Jim, and among the salmon, kings are the heavyweight.
Which Ketchikan fish are the best eating?
You will start arguments answering that. Salmon is the classic for the grill, halibut and lingcod produce firm white fillets people prize all winter, and rockfish make great table fare. A mixed fish box settles the debate by including everything.
Do you have to pick a species before booking?
No. Tell us your dates and what a great day looks like, and the trip gets built from there. Chasing one fish, sampling everything on a combo, or leaving it captain’s choice all work.