Alaska Fish Species

Alaska River Fishing for Salmon Species

Alaskan salmon spawn at different times of the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Alaskan Halibut spawn in Alaska breeding grounds throughout the season. Educational information on this page is for your guided fishing charter and vacation for Alaska salmonids in the Kenai River and the Kasilof River, and Halibut fishing charters in Seward, Deep Creek, and Homer. These seasonal spawning patterns also occur simultaneously across Cook Inlet for fly-out fishing charters. Listed fish are King (Chinook) salmon, Red (Sockeye) salmon, Pink (Humpies) salmon, Silver (Coho) salmon, Rainbow trout, a non-migrating salmonids species, and Halibut. At the bottom of this page you will find a chart and information on the life-cycle of the salmon.

Salmon Recipes

• King (Chinook) Salmon - Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha

King salmon runs in South Central Alaska start in May and end in August. Kings run from 25 - 125 lbs. and are 5 - 7 years in age. They have a bluish-green back with black spots, silvery sides, white belly and silver streaks in its tail. the flesh of the King salmon is highly prized for its firmness and rich flavor. Great fresh or frozen, baked, barbequed, or broiled.

The world record sport caught King salmon: 97 lbs. 4 ounces by Lester Anderson of Soldotna, Alaska on May 4, 1985 on the Kenai River.

Alaskan Kenai & Kasilof Rivers both have a large Red (Sockeye) Salmon run from July to September, growing up to 33 inches and 16 lbs. Red salmon are recognised by fine black spots on the caudal fin and turn from silver to red with green heads and tails after a few days exposure to fresh water. Reds tend to swim along the shore line and are easily caught from the bank or boat. A strong fighting fish with a good textured pink flesh, fine fresh or frozen, and exellent smoked.

Alaskan Kenai River Pink (Humpies) Salmon grow 6 - 10 lbs. and return every other year. These fish are the smallest of the Kenai salmon, and its a good thing because there sure are alot of them. Great fun for the kids and adults alike to catch. Pink salmon are best preserved by canning, either smoked or natural. Once you've tried the light, slightly oily flavor, you will never buy another can of tuna again.

Alaskan Silver (Coho) Salmon run from Mid-July to late December. Such a late in the year run is unique to only a handful of river systems in Alaska. Growing up to 35 inches and 26 lbs, but most average from 8 - 15lbs. Silvers are recognised by black spots on the upper lobe and caudal fin. These are strong, challenging, fighting fish that jump and skip acrobatically atop the water, all by themselves or on the end of your line. Their life span can be as long as 5 years, but most return to spawn after 3 years. Silver salmon is considered the best eating fish, fresh, frozen, or smoked. Firm fleshed and textured, with a very light subtle taste.

Salmon Recipes

• Rainbow Trout -Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus Mykiss

This big beautiful Rainbow is being released back into the Kenai River.

The Kenai Rainbow Trout average 16 - 18 inches with some fish up to 26 inches and about 8 pounds fairly common. Every season we luck into a handful of 'bows in the plus 30 inch range (12 pounds up to low 20 pound range). Rainbow trout, a member of the salmon family that do not migrate to the ocean to grow to adulthood in saltwater feeding grounds, but spend their entire life-cycle living in an ultra-clean fresh water habitat. Trout are considered an indicator fish that something is changing within the environment, a polluted or stagnant water zone without a feeder stream or spring will cause trout to die off.

Salt Water Fishing

In addition to all the salmon species except for Rainbow trout (fresh water only), Pacific Halibut is your fish-on goal for salt water fishing.

• Halibut -Scientific Name: Hippoglossus Stenolepsis

Pacific Halibut run from May to late September, average weight between 20 - 200 lbs.
'Butt are a dark brownish-grey on their top side and white on their underside. Halibut have both of their eyes on their top side. Their meat is white, mild, tender and flakey, sometimes called "poor man's lobster" without the rubbery texture. Halibut can be baked, broiled, steamed, pan-fried, battered & deep-fried, smoked, and just about any other way you can think of to prepare it.

World record is 459 lbs. caught by Jack Tragis in 1996 while fishing in Unalaska Bay.

Deep Fried Halibut

Life-Cycle Of The Salmon

The First Stage 3,000-7,000 eggs or 'roe' laid by the female salmon then fertilized by the male's 'milt'. This proces is called "spawning".

The Second Stage aleviens hatch with nutrient rich egg yolk still attached.

The Third Stage salmon fry or fingerlings eat un-hatched eggs, dead salmon already spawned out, and anything else they can find to eat until they reach the juvenile stage and most migrate to the ocean. Some of them stay and spend their entire life-cycle in fresh water.

The Fourth Stage salmon grow to maturity in the ocean feeding grounds.

The Fifth Stage salmon complete the long journey to their birth place, spawn and die. Scientists don't really know how they know which way to go. Some think the fish can taste the water or that the salmon can smell their way home. Early in their life they could have stored the taste or smell in their brain. Others think that the salmon navigate by the stars.

© 2005 McClure's Guide Service

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April 17, 2005 9:08 PM