King salmon, also known as Chinook salmon, are the largest of the Pacific salmon species and typically reach about 30 to 40 inches and about 20 pounds. King salmon are found along the West Coast of the U.S., Canada, and throughout Alaska, although their numbers have declined over the years in the lower 48 due to habitat loss, logging, and dams. King salmon are typically harvested July - September and Winter Kings are typically harvested October - March. King salmon have a rich color, full flavor and are loaded with healthy Omega-3's. They are the culinary world's salmon of choice, prized for their color, high oil content, firm texture and succulent flesh.

Fish Chinook Salmon: May through September

Coho salmon, also known as “silver” salmon, are the second largest salmon species, ranging from 25 to 35 inches in length with an average weight of 12 pounds. Coho salmon are found along the West Coast, Canada, and throughout Alaska and their harvest season varies depending on their natal river. Coho salmon are typically harvested July - September. Coho salmon has a mild flavor, bright red flesh and firm texture that makes it widely popular among fish connoisseurs. Their size and excellent color retention make them particularly amenable to both freezing and smoking.

The daily bag limit for both residents and nonresidents is six coho per person per day, with no annual limit. Many Charter clients enjoy mixing salmon fishing with groundfish fishing.

Other salmon frequently encountered by the Sitka, Alaska fishing fleet include pink (humpy) and chum (dog) salmon. Both are present at the same time as coho.

Coho salmon: Mid-July through September

Pink salmon: August through September

Chum salmon: August 

Pacific halibut are one of the largest flatfish species, growing up to 500 pounds and 8 feet long! They inhabit the continental shelf of the U.S. and Canada (California up to the Bering Sea) and are most commonly found in the Gulf of Alaska. Alaska’s halibut fishing season typically opens in mid- March and runs through November or December. Halibut is highly prized in the kitchen for its firm and thick texture, white color, and mild flavor, making it easy to prepare and adaptable to a variety of cooking methods.

Halibut has a delicious firm, white, nearly boneless meat. It is rich in protein and minerals and low in fat, which makes it a fabulous staple to a healthy diet. There are a variety of ways to cook halibut, including baking, frying, poaching and barbecuing.

Lingcod are neither a ling nor a cod, but with their white and flaky flesh, they have some resemblance to both of those fish. Lingcod can grow up to 60 inches and 130 pounds. They are spotted in various shades of grey, and sometimes have a blue-green flesh prior to cooking. Lingcod are unique to the west coast of North America. They live on the sea floor, mostly occupying rocky areas at depths of 32 to 328 feet. Lingcod are an incredibly versatile fish in the kitchen.

The resident daily bag limit for Alaska lingcod is one fish per day, any size. Residents do not have an annual limit.

For nonresidents, the daily bag limit is one lingcod, either between 30- and 35 inches, or 55 inches or bigger. Non-residents have an annual limit of two lings. One must be in the 30- to 35-inch slot; the other must be 55 inches or greater.

There are numerous species of rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska, all of which are slow growing, late to mature, and long-lived. They can reach up to 3.5 feet and 39 pounds. Juveniles prefer rocky reefs, kelp canopies and artificial structures such as piers and oil platforms. Adults move into deeper water, typically between 300 to 590 feet, and can be found on rocky bottoms and outcrops. Rockfish are most commonly found from central California northward to the Gulf of Alaska, and are fished in limited quantities in the halibut and sablefish longline fisheries. They have a firm fillet and a delicate flavor well suited to Cajun-style "blackened" rockfish, chowder, or light sauces.

Pelagic Rockfish include Black, Blue, Dark, Dusky, Widow and Yellowtail rockfish. They are relatively fast growing, numerous, and tend to move around rather than live on one rockpile their entire lives. Because of this, Sitka anglers are allowed to keep two pelagic rockfish daily of any size. These are the fish to target for your next several batches of fish tacos.

Slope Nonpelagic Rockfish include Blackgill, Blackspotted, Bocaccio, Brown, Chilipepper, Darkblotched, Greenstriped, Harlequin, Northern, Pacific Ocean Perch, Puget Sound, Pygmy, Redstripe, Redbanded, Rougheye, Sharpchin, Shortbelly, Shortraker, Silvergray, Splitnose, Stripetail, Vermilion, and Yellowmouth rockfish. The daily limit on these species is one fish per day of any size. If you think you want to target Slope nonpelagics, you’ll want to study, very carefully, rockfish identification characteristics as many rockfish species look very similar.