Sockeye Salmon Fishing in Alaska

Alaska sockeye salmon, or red salmon, pound for pound, are the hardest fighting salmon in the world. Fresh from the saltwater, these beautiful Alaska Salmon are like silver torpedoes and they offer very consistent and exciting fishing action. Sockeye Salmon in the Kenai River average between 8-12 lbs. and 5-8 lbs. in most other locations. Since they swim close to the shore on their journey upriver, sockeye salmon are most commonly caught from the bank. Several million sockeye salmon return to the Kenai River and surrounding Cook Inlet rivers every summer, and excellent fishing is often the result.

The first sockeye salmon enter the Kenai River in late May and June and are largely headed for the Russian River, a tributary of the upper Kenai near Cooper Landing. Beginning in early July, the late run of Kenai Sockeye salmon begins to arrive, and this return often extends well into August. Sockeye & Red Salmon Fishing in Alaska is world class on the Kenai River and presents an excellent opportunity to bring home one of Alaska’s most cherished delicacies.

In addition to the Kenai, Sockeye Salmon return to several locations throughout Alaska including the nearby Kasilof and fly out locations on the West Side of Cook Inlet. We offer a wide variety of sockeye salmon adventures; both on the Kenai Peninsula and the main Alaska Peninsula. Plan your Alaska Fishing Trip today.

Sockeye Salmon Kenai River Fishing

The Kenai River sockeye salmon sport fishery is the largest in Alaska. These hard fighting fish run close to shore and are largely caught from the bank. Sockeye salmon are considered by many to be the finest table fare of all the Alaska salmon. The Kenai sees an annual in-river sockeye salmon return of between 750,000 and 1.5 million fish. This run typically peaks sometime between July 10-25 but fresh sockeye will continue to enter the system well into the month of August.

The Kasilof River sockeye salmon run has an average annual return of  400,000 to 750,000 fish. The Kasilof sockeye salmon run begins in early June and peaks in the first two weeks of July.  Much like the sockeye salmon on the Kenai River, Kasilof river reds run close to shore so most of the fishing is done from the bank.  Since the Kasilof is a drift boat only river, we often float from the outlet of Tustumena Lake and through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, stopping at select gravel bars along the way.

Kasilof River Sockeye & Red Salmon Fishing in Alaska

FLY-OUT SOCKEYE SALMON FISHING TRIPS

Fly out sockeye salmon fishing is one of our most popular remote adventures for sockeye & red salmon fishing in Alaska. We frequent several locations both on the West Side of Cook Inlet as well as the Bristol Bay watershed. One of the most affordable yet also spectacular fly out locations for sockeye salmon fishing in Alaska is Big River Lake. This glacial lake on the West Side of Cook Inlet supports multiple returns of red salmon as well as excellent bear viewing opportunities. For those that are looking for an all-day exclusive fly out adventure, the Gibraltar River on Lake Iliamna is an excellent choice.

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Sockeye Salmon Articles

SOCKEYE AVERAGE SIZE:
8 TO 12 LBS.
SOCKEYE WORLD RECORD:
16 LBS. KENAI RIVER, 1974
FISHING METHODS:
LINING OR FLOSSING, BACKTROLLING PLUGS

Alaska Sockeye Salmon Photos