Southeast Alaska Salmon Fishing Trips

Join us at Dove Island Lodge

There are no words to describe the initial run of an ocean-bright, wild Alaska king salmon after it first attacks a lure or cut-bait. After a firm hook-set, trophy kings become a torpedo of flexing muscle, racing through the water at speeds over 25 miles per hour. Rods bend over double and line peels from the reel, accompanied by the song of the drag’s gears. Sometimes the best you can do is, simply, hold on tight.


At Dove Island Lodge, our Southeast Alaska salmon fishing trips focus on making dreams like this a reality. We target both king (Chinook) salmon, and silver (Coho) salmon on our daily excursions, oftentimes during the same trip.
 

Sitka Alaska boasts one of the best catch rates for king salmon in the entire state, with typical salmon running between 15 and 40-pounds. Still, it is not uncommon for our guests to tangle with king salmon  over 70-pounds, and this is just one reason our Southeast Alaska salmon fishing trips are so popular with our guests. May and June are the best months to catch Chinook (king) salmon, but kings, and all other salmon species, are plentiful year-round.


The peak run for silver salmon fishing is between July and September. Silvers are plentiful this time of year and we normally have no problem ensuring our clients catch their daily limit of six silver salmon. Silver salmon are known for their fierce runs and aerobatic displays, and typically weigh between 12 and 18-pounds.


We use two different vessels, both known for their comfort, speed, and ability to handle our unpredictable waters. Our 28-foot SeaSports is built for six anglers, but we only carry four maximum on our Southeast Alaska salmon fishing trips. These boats are equipped with modern radar, GPS, fish-finders, and VHF radios. Cabins are heated and there is plenty of room for all anglers to have a seat, and there is even a private head.
 

Our 34.5-foot Coldwaters vessels provide one of the finest rides in the industry. These boats are built for ten people, but we only fish a maximum of four to six anglers which translates into 15-feet between each fisherman. The 11-foot beam boasts a full walk-around, making it that much easier to land the big one.


These vessels make our run-times to the salmon fishing grounds a breeze, and make it possible to drop lines within one hour after departing the dock. When the fish are running deep, we use trolling methods to entice the fish. Sometimes, huge schools of fish work bait-balls near the surface in a flurry of attacking fish and diving birds. On these occasions we use mooching techniques for fast hookups and unbelievable salmon fishing action.


We provide our guests with the finest of salmon fishing gear including G-Loomis rods equipped with Shimano reels. Our captains are all licensed by the U/S. Coast Guard, and we are proud to employ guides who are Alaska residents with many years of experience targeting local waters. A deckhand accompanies all of our salmon fishing trips and makes sure you’re always baited and ready to go.


On our Southeast Alaska salmon fishing trips we also catch pink salmon, chum salmon, and sockeye salmon. Join us for the Alaska Salmon fishing excursion of a lifetime at Dove Island Lodge.