Welcome to the Ketchikan fishing report October edition. The highly anticipated winter king salmon (Chinook) season has officially opened, and we’re already seeing some quality fish coming over the rail of the 4 C’s. After a short closure, it is fantastic to be back on the water targeting these “feeder” kings that are so prized for their rich, oily meat.

We are finding the fish in their usual autumn haunts, primarily holding near the large bait balls at depths of 90 to 120 feet. Clover Pass and Mountain Point are both showing good potential early in the season, and we expect the action to remain consistent as we move deeper into the fall.

Ketchikan Fishing Report October: 2024/2025 Regulations

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing the winter 2024/2025 sport fishing regulations for king salmon in marine waters of Southeast Alaska and Yakutat. These regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2025 or until the regulations for the 2025 season are announced. The regulations are:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From October 1 through March 31, a resident sport fish angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon;

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From October 1 through December 31, 2024, the nonresident annual harvest limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through September 30, 2024, will apply towards the one fish annual harvest limit;
• From January 1 through April 30, 2025 the nonresident annual harvest limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

In the spring of 2025 king salmon nonretention areas may be necessary to protect wild Alaska king salmon stocks. These regulatory actions will be announced separately in March of 2025. Sport fishing regulations for the 2025 season will be announced in late spring once the sport fish allocation of king salmon for 2025 season is known.