Alaska Fishing Trips

Alaska is simply the best fishing ground in the United States. A higher percentage of resident Alaskans fish than do the residents of any other state and a full 20 percent of visitors to the state go there to fish. Hunting visitors, on the other hand, were comparably so small they did not even register in the 2006 study of tourism conducted by the state.

The sportfishing industry is a hug part of Alaska's economy. It has been estimated that over 475,000 resident and nonresident licensed anglers fished 2.5 million days in Alaska in 2007. Over $1.4 billion was funneled into local economies through the purchase of licenses and stamps, real estate, guide packages and other related expenses. Nonresident brought in over $653 million alone, which supported over 9,000 jobs and provided nearly $70 million in state and local tax revenues.

Most sportfishing adventures focus on salmon and halibut and take place in the Southcentral region, where most of the population lives and fishing areas are accessible by car.

While this website focuses on the sportfishing aspect, it is important to know commercial fishing also plays a large economic role. There are still fisheries on both coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico, but none of them compare to Alaska's unspoiled watery wilderness. Fifty percent of the fish United States citizens consume comes from Alaska. The Alaskan Pollack fishery harvests two billion pounds per year, which is the largest fishery in the world. Fishing is the primary economic activity in most coastal villages, from the western region bordering the Bering Sea, to the Aleutians and Dutch Harbor, to the numerous towns dotting the coasts of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.

Some fishermen plan to keep what they catch, while others intend to release their catch. Each practice has different procedures to optimize the experience.

Those planning to keep their catch should kill the fish immediately, through either a blow to the head or cutting a gill. Bleed it into the water as soon as possible will improve the quality of the meat while reducing the possibility of getting blood onto your clothing and attracting bears. If ice and coolers are available, clean, but don't filet the fish. Filets will absorb more water than just a cleaned fish, resulting in poorer meat quality. If they aren't available, keep the cleaned fish on a stringer in the water or wrap them in foil or a damp cloth. Never leave entrails on land, which would attract bears. Toss them into fast-moving water, keep on ice in a cooler or dispose in cleaning stations. Many fishermen store their cleaned fish in plastic, only to find them covered in a slime which reduces the quality of the meat. Instead, pack the fish with ice and keep out of the melted water to optimize meat quality.

For those only interested in the sport of catching a fish and intend to release it once caught, several steps should be taken to optimize the experience. Fish caught with artificial flies or lures tend to have a higher survival rate compared to those caught with bait. Don't use stainless steel hooks as those will last longer in the fish if the angler is not able to get the hook out. Use barbless or pinched barb hooks, as they will be easier to remove from the fish. Land a fish as quickly as possible and leave it in the water for as much of the time you have it as possible. Make sure to have long-nosed pliers to back out the hook and cut the line if the hook is imbedded deeply, especially near the gills. If landing the fish or removing the hook takes an especially long time, the fish may need to be revived as it is released. Point it into the current and move it back and forth slightly, providing oxygen into the gills, until it is able to swim away on its own.

Fishing in Alaska is unlike any other region in the country for another reason - bears. While encounters may be more likely when fishing on land, it is still important to know how to clean and store your catch to reduce the chances of any negative interactions. Bears can become conditioned, like any other animal, to the possibilities of easily obtaining food sources. Leaving garbage, food or fish parts out will greatly increase the chances of bringing bears into a camp. If a bear approaches you while fishing, give it plenty of room. If it comes directly towards you, stop fishing and leave the area but make sure to take any caught fish or gear with you so the bear doesn't associate a meal with seeing a fisherman.

Alaska Fishing Regulations >>>