Alaska offers a scenic geographical location and a perfect fishing spot for traveling anglers. There is no such thing as a shortage of saltwater fishing in Alaska with a huge coastline. It is as easy as pulling off the roadside and casting a line. Or you can charter a boat or seaplane. This way it will speed you off to the remote fishing spot where you can hook in one of the over 627 species. All these possess the Alaskan waters. Including a variety of salmon, trout, halibut, arctic char, pike, grayling, and Dolly Varden.
Nonetheless, you’ve probably heard of all the places to go fishing in Alaska. But the one place that is rarely talked about is, well, fishing in Kodiak. This town is on the very tip of the Alaskan Peninsula. It is an excellent place for people who like to explore the open waters of the Alaskan sea. However, fishing in Alaska has a particular local flavor that some people are not used to. So if you plan a fishing trip in Alaska, make sure you check out this place first.
If you are eyeing Chinook, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, Pacific cod, and Tanner crab, then dedicate your saltwater fishing experience to this island. Nicknamed Alaska’s Emerald Isle, you will surely be thrilled to get off the beat-out path and go the over-traveled roadways behind!
The best thing about Kodiak Island is the road system. Through this road system, travel anglers can explore the isolated fishing hole. Kodiak Island is 15-80km wide and 160km long. It is the second-largest island in the United States (Hawaii is 4,021 square miles). Like so, get your line wet avid fisherman, for this is the perfect place for your salty fishing trip!
Fishing in Kodiak Island, Species and Best Season
As feeder kings stay in the baitfish-loaded waters, king salmon lurk along the Sitkalidak Strait the entire year. May calls the come-back of the big fish bound for different watersheds. As they adventure close to Old Harbor through feeding paths. The giant Chinook of the year, fish in the 50-to 70-pound class. It’s normal for the biggest fish of the year altogether of Kodiak captured in Old Harbor.
Also, anglers can promptly discover halibut, lingcod, true cod, and rockfish of several species at better places all through the fishing season. Silvers begin returning in August. And a decent day late in the month may yield all the species accessible.
Species
Regardless of whether you need to fish the open waters for halibut or lingcod or to stock your cooler with silvers or kings, you will go home a happy wide-toothed angler.
Halibut
Halibut fishing from June through September is extraordinary! You can target them in shallower water in July and August.
Halibut Fishing
There’s nothing more rewarding than halibut fishing in the Kodiak Island region. Record weights for halibut snagged by sportfishing anglers are up to a tremendous 400 pounds. However, large halibut weighing around the 100-pound mark is all the more caught. You can have these “barn-door” sized halibuts any season. Yet you’ll get the best action and more significant fish in July and August. Since salmon runs are likewise crowded during this time, you can benefit as much as possible from your Alaska fishing occasion and go for both! Your saltwater fishing outing will similarly produce lingcod and some sorts of rockfish.
Chinook (King) Salmon
You can troll for kings from June to Mid-July; but, you can catch feeder kings all year. You can even jig for them here and there when everything adjusts.
Salmon Fishing
Kodiak Island has many deep bays that are very much protected from the open sea. And dwelling place to both baitfish and salmon spawning runs. If the salmon is not on a spawning run themselves in these areas, at that point, then they have shown up to enjoy from the baitfish. Even though the circumstance of these runs fluctuate in various regions of the island, anglers can look for King (Chinook) salmon. So as Silver (Coho), Pink, Sockeye (Red), and Chum salmon, for the most part, anyplace along the shoreline.
King salmon are the trophy fish of choice, with record catches gauging 50 to 90 pounds! You can land King salmon any season. Yet the greatest can be trapped in May through August when they come into the area to feed.
In July and into late August, you can use the high concentration of silver (coho) salmon. Particularly if there are generating baitfish nearby. Catch red (sockeye) salmon runs from mid-May through mid-August. Silver (coho) shows up in numbers in mid-August and can be gotten into September. You’ll discover Pink and Chum salmon around the island’s coast in July. And entering the inside streams toward the beginning of August.
Coho (Silver) Salmon
Silvers begin turning up toward the beginning of August. And you can find them through early September. Over 18-pound silvers are caught yearly, with the average size being around 13 pounds.
Lingcod and Rockfish
Uyak Bay has different kinds of rockfish. Including Alaska lingcod and yelloweye, all through the summer season. Be mindful not to overfish this delicate fishery. But you can take a couple of fillets responsibly for visitors.
Other species include yelloweye, different types of rockfish, and Pacific cod lurking throughout the season. Steelhead and trophy rainbow trout are also accessible. This wide variety of fishing opportunities expect any angler who plans and journeys to Alaska’s “Emerald Isle.”
Road System
There are around 100 miles of roads that link with the city of Kodiak. Most are hard-pressed and maintained gravel paths. These pathways lead to first-class fishing destinations of waterway, stream, ocean, and lake entrances.
All salmon species are accessible by these roads. So as Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and landlocked coho. These tracks loop through backwoods, wander through grasslands and arrive at impressive shores. They include one of the most economical. And the most beneficial sides of the road fisheries on the whole of Alaska.
Fishing from the Kodiak road system can be so natural you, in a real sense, can leave your vehicle and cast. It is every angler’s budget idea.
Remote Zone
Fishing Kodiak’s remote zone gives excellent chances for the angler who will settle for remote service. The majority of packages offered are seaplane and frequently inclusive with food, guides, and boat opportunities. Anglers will indeed feel ecstatic about these destinations. Given the excellent fisheries in a great environment.
The island is the Kodiak brown bear’s place, and once you go remote, the odds are the bears will be part of your adventure. This is your fishing spot if you seek trophy rainbow or steelhead trout. Salmon tracks are quite massive. Remote services accessible at Kodiak can incorporate raft and outdoor outings for the more adrenaline-seeking angler.
Know that climate directs everything on Kodiak Island. Always plan additional days in case the climate fence you out.
Fishing Spots in Kodiak Island
Outside the central city of Kodiak, with its fishy and vast road system, a few distant communities fill in as hopping off spots for some of the abundant and energizing experience Alaska angling has to bring to the table.
Larsen Bay
Apart from wildlife viewing, fishing is the primary interest of most visitors to Larsen Bay. Incredible fishing lodges keep a charter boat that gives saltwater fishing opportunities under the protected coastlines and inlets close to the town or on the open sea for salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish.
Port Lions
Port Lions is situated in Settlers Cove at the north end of the island. For saltwater anglers, this is complete happiness. The protected bays between Kodiak, Afognak, and Raspberry islands are home to the most extravagant fisheries in Alaska. In May and June, trophy king salmon are indeed caught, and in August, silvers start to show up. You can trap in halibut nearly whenever from May through September. While fishing outings in July frequently bring about various kings, silvers, and halibut.
Old Harbor
Old Harbor, a calm and peaceful port for sport-fishing activity, lies 70 miles southwest of Kodiak and is hidden in the shielded waters of Sitkalidak Strait. This haven is home to the two lodges and charter operators. The two aim kings all year, especially in May and June, and silvers in August and September. The region is referred to for producing trophies also. Halibut fishing is fair all through the summer.
Akhiok
Hidden in Alitak Bay, the most distant town on Kodiak, Akhiok, secures the southern end of the island. 98 miles southwest of the city of Kodiak, and is available just by plane or boat. For anglers looking for outside of everyday adventures, the town fills in as a gateway to a portion of the shelter’s more remote areas. And this end of the island additionally offers top-notch sport-fishing opportunities in the many protected coves, bays, and inlets that encompass the region, just as remarkable as sockeye and pink salmon returns.
Afognak Island
Although not part of Kodiak Island-proper, actually the second-largest island in the archipelago. Afognak Island gives an intensely forested landscape and fertile, protected coastal waters for the sport angler. Saltwater fishing is also remarkable, featuring halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. There are four public-use cabins in either the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge on Afognak or along Afognak Island State Park.
How to Get to Kodiak Island
Entry to Kodiak Island is most promptly achieved by flying on ERA Alaska from Anchorage to Kodiak. The trip is about an hour long, and there is an ample schedule of daily flights.
Once you arrive in the city of Kodiak, your next plane ride will take you to distant destinations. Like the Karluk River or communities like Old Harbor. Flights are hardly more than 30 minutes in length. Loaded up with magnificent perspectives on mountains, coves, and wilderness.
Essential Things to Note Before You Go
After everything mentioned above, it is reasonable to turn that excitement on about fishing on the island! You can not wait to think of the best fishing gears and tools you possibly have in your arsenal. But as a rule of thumb, always know the standard protocols before catching the kings or some trophy halibuts, perhaps.
Documents
Kodiak Island fishing vacations don’t need a passport or some other extra documents. A similar distinguishing proof of identification (for example, your driver’s license) is all you require to venture out to Alaska. Buying sports fishing licenses is very basic. All anglers over 16 years of age should buy licenses. Permissions might be requested on the web, purchased at many outdoor supplies stores or Alaska Fish and Game offices. Sometimes the licenses are accessible at your fishing lodge as they are at Kodiak Sportsman’s Lodge.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance ought to be considered for Kodiak Island fishing trips. Similarly, as with other spots in Alaska, Kodiak has periods of fog and wind, which will prevent travel. Usual airline insurance doesn’t cover your expense for some issues that can emerge out traveling to a remote area – particularly cancellation fees.
Fishing Limits
Fishing limits are consistently a concern, as they are different in all of the areas in Alaska. There are many fishing miles with many various areas. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game makes a decision as far as possible. Limits change every year. And fluctuate depending upon the location of every zone in Alaska. Kodiak Island fishing is the absolute highest limit in Alaska.
