Waterlands

Species guide · Alaska

Chinook salmon fishing in Alaska

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, a sea-run species also called king salmon, king and blackmouth. Listed for the Alaska region. Off season, about 23 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Adak to Kiska Bering Side at 35, one of 66 Alaska bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Off season
Where it's scoring nowAll Alaska waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Alaska

Off season, about 23 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Shoulder season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Off season
  10. Oct: Off season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Off season

Peak: May to Jun. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Aug.

Research notes, Alaska region

Mature kings peak in Southeast and Southcentral salt water late May through June (Sitka prime late May to end of June; Seward hatchery kings mid-May through June, peak around June 15). Immature feeder kings are caught all winter in Southeast (winter season Oct 1 to Apr 30) and Kachemak Bay, weather permitting. King retention has been heavily restricted in recent years, including nonresident closures in Southeast and Cook Inlet saltwater limits.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 66

Alaska bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's chinook salmon score this hour.

1
35Fair
Adak to Kiska Bering Side

Best window today 1 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 214 named spots

2
35Fair
Adak to Kiska Pacific Side

Best window today 1 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 162 named spots

3
35Fair
Barren Islands East

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 114 named spots

4
35Fair
Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 50 named spots

5
35Fair
Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 7 named spots

6
35Fair
Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 21 named spots

7
35Fair
Cape Espenberg to Motherwood Point out to 10 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 6 named spots

8
35Fair
Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 29 named spots

9
35Fair
Cape Krusenstern to Cape Thompson out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 4 named spots

10
35Fair
Cape Stephens to Moses Point out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 15 named spots

11
35Fair
Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 5 named spots

12
35Fair
Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 112 named spots

13
35Fair
Central and Eastern Prince William Sound

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 130 named spots

14
35Fair
Chiniak Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 28 named spots

15
35Fair
Clarence Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 423 named spots

16
35Fair
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 18 named spots

17
35Fair
Cook Inlet North Kalgin Island

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 40 named spots

18
35Fair
Cross Sound

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 153 named spots

19
35Fair
Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 21 named spots

20
35Fair
Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 40 named spots

21
35Fair
Frederick Sound

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 81 named spots

22
35Fair
Glacier Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 44 named spots

23
35Fair
Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-10 PM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 2 named spots

24
35Fair
Icy Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 37 named spots

25
35Fair
Kachemak Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 36 named spots

26
35Fair
Kiska to Attu Bering Side

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 39 named spots

27
35Fair
Kiska to Attu Pacific Side

Best window today 1 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 53 named spots

28
35Fair
Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 14 named spots

29
35Fair
Marmot Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 84 named spots

30
35Fair
Moses Point to Sledge Island out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 10 named spots

31
35Fair
Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 14 named spots

32
35Fair
Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side out to 15 NM

Best window today 1 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 10 named spots

33
35Fair
Nikolski to Seguam Pacfic Side out to 15 NM

Best window today 1 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 7 named spots

34
35Fair
North and West of Nunivak Island

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 42 named spots

35
35Fair
North Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 27 named spots

36
35Fair
Northern Chatham Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 151 named spots

37
35Fair
Northern Lynn Canal

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 34 named spots

38
35Fair
Northwest Prince William Sound

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 100 named spots

39
35Fair
Passage Canal

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 8 named spots

40
35Fair
Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 40 named spots

41
35Fair
Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 29 named spots

42
35Fair
Port of Valdez

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 5 named spots

43
35Fair
Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 28 named spots

44
35Fair
Resurrection Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 2 AM (35)

45
35Fair
Rota Coastal Waters

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

46
35Fair
Saint Matthew Island Waters

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 4 named spots

47
35Fair
Saipan Coastal Waters

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

48
35Fair
Shelikof Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 184 named spots

49
35Fair
Sledge Island to Wales out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 9 named spots

50
35Fair
South Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 25 named spots

51
35Fair
Southern Chatham Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 186 named spots

52
35Fair
Southern Lynn Canal

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 23 named spots

53
35Fair
Southwest Prince William Sound

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 215 named spots

54
35Fair
Stephens Passage

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 108 named spots

55
35Fair
Sumner Strait

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 378 named spots

56
35Fair
Tinian Coastal Waters

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

57
35Fair
Unalaska Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 85 named spots

58
35Fair
Unimak Pass

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 203 named spots

59
35Fair
Valdez Arm

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 12 named spots

60
35Fair
Valdez Narrows

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 3 named spots

61
35Fair
Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 NM

Best window today 2 AM-11 PM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 2 named spots

62
35Fair
West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 33 named spots

63
35Fair
Yakutat Bay

Best window today 2 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35) · 55 named spots

64
33Fair
Guam Coastal Waters

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

65
33Fair
Koror Palau Coastal Waters

Best window today 7-8 PM (33) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 AM (35)

66
26Fair
Yap Coastal Waters

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (26) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 6 PM (35)

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 42°F to 60°F, best between 46°F and 54°F.
Water depth
10 to 300 ft of water.
Structure
Point, rip, kelp, channel, open water, estuary and bay, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers incoming tide, high tide and moving water, with moderate current.In Puget Sound and Southeast Alaska, Chinook gather where tidal current runs past points and over underwater ridges, forming rips that stack herring and needlefish. At estuary mouths like Buoy 10 the incoming tide brings cooler ocean water, bait and salmon in, and ODFW names the first hour after high slack as the tide starts out as a prime window. Ocean trolling is less tide driven than inside waters.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 7 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Chinook hold near bait off points, kelp edges and tide rips, usually suspended 20 to 120 feet down and deeper as the sun gets higher. Troll slowly, under 2 mph, with a flasher and herring, hoochie or spoon on a downrigger, or mooch a plug-cut herring at the depth where the sounder shows bait. Winter blackmouth and feeder kings sit within 10 feet of the bottom in 60 to 200 feet.

Methods
downrigger trolling, trolling with flasher, mooching, motor mooching, casting from shore
Lures
11-inch flasher with hoochie, trolling spoons, plugs, bucktail flies, large spinners and spoons from shore
Bait
plug-cut herring, whole herring, herring strip, anchovy

Regulations

ADF&G saltwater regulations Buy a Alaska fishing license License types

Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Synced with ADF&G Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed chinook salmon rule for Alaska is on file yet. Check with ADF&G before you keep one.

Other Alaska species