Alaskan Fish

Chinook Salmon (King Salmon)

Black gums inside mouth

Black spots on tail

Fun fact: The Alaska state record was 97 pounds 4 oz in Kenai.

• May through early July is the prime king salmon season around Juneau.

• 10–30 pound range, with fish in the teens and low 20s being very common. Truly big kings can reach 40–50+ pounds

Coho Salmon (silver salmon)

White gums with black tounge

• Late July through September

• Average Size: 6–12 lbs

Nickname to Remember:

“The acrobat.”

Because compared to kings, silvers are much more likely to jump, thrash, and put on a show for the guests. 🎣

Pink Salmon “humpy”

• Smallest common salmon

• Large oval black spots on tail

• Males develop huge hump while spawning

Peak season: July–August (especially odd-numbered years)

* 3–5 pounds

Nice fish:

* 5–7 pounds

Big pink:

* 8+ pounds

Chum or Dog Salmon

How to identify

• Vertical tiger-like bars when spawning

• Large teeth

• No obvious spots

Peak season: July–September

Fun fact: Called “dog salmon” because early sled-dog teams were fed them.

Average Size

Typical Juneau chum:

* 8–15 pounds

Nice fish:

* 15–18 pounds

Big fish:

* 20+ pounds

Sockeye Salmon

How to identify

* Little to no spots

* Bright red body and green head when spawning

Peak season: June–August

Fun fact: Sockeye flesh is naturally the deepest red of all salmon.

Sculpin “Double Ugly”

That thing may be ugly, but it’s a predator. It hides on the bottom and waits for something to swim by, then sucks it in like a vacuum cleaner

• Ling Cod

• Can grow over 4 feet long

Season Around Juneau

• Most commonly caught from May through September

Dolly Varden

🎣 How to Identify

• Trout-like body shape

• Light pink, cream, or yellow spots on a darker body

• No obvious black spots on the tail

• Often has orange or pink coloring on the belly during spawning season

Easy guide trick:

“Light spots on a dark fish = probably a char, and in Juneau that’s often a Dolly Varden.”

😎 Fun Fact

Dolly Varden often follow spawning salmon around like seagulls following a fishing boat. They sit behind salmon and gobble up eggs that drift downstream.

Greenling

• Long, torpedo-shaped body

• Large pectoral fins

• Usually covered in bright blue spots

• Often brown, olive, or reddish underneath the spots

One weird thing:

• Males and females look very different.

• Males are usually darker with more dramatic blue spotting.

• Females are often lighter and more golden-brown.

Easy guide trick:

“If it looks like someone splattered blue paint all over a fish, it’s probably a kelp greenling.”

😎 Fun Fact

Kelp greenling can change color somewhat to blend into their surroundings, helping them hide among kelp-covered rocks.

Black Rockfish

Black Rockfish

• Dark gray to black

• Common and relatively shallow

• Often caught in schools

• One fish often means more fish nearby

Yelloweye Rockfish

Yelloweye Rockfish

* Bright orange

* Yellow eyes

* The famous “100+ year old fish”