Year Round Alaskan Fishing Calendar
Ahh the fishing season! Most might think the fishing season is a lot like a sports season with a very specific start and end date, and that’s true….. sort of. Unlike a sport season, such as baseball, that starts in the spring and ends in the fall, fishing season is really an all-year round “sport” with a line-up that changes month to month.
The Alaska Fisheries Calendar and Seasons offers a very detailed breakdown of each month’s fishing season. Here at Alaska Air Forwarding, we pay very close attention to the year round season as there are many fleets out in the waters allowing us to provide services as needed.
Although the season begins in January and continues through the year, the busiest months of the year are June, September and October. Various types of salmon fishing begin throughout the month of June while September is a popular month for Mackerel and Cod. October is the month for King Salmon, Crab and Shrimp. Although no specific seasons begin in July, many seasons continue through this month which is always a peak month.
Alaska is divided into five areas, each one offering a desirable fish at different points throughout the year.
Area 1
Southeast Alaska is considered the gateway to Alaska and is one of the more accessible areas of the state. This area is made up of 250 small islands that can be accessed by ferry or plane. It boasts the most temperate climate in Alaska and is a popular spot for the Alaskan salmon fisheries. This area is a popular summer employment spot with the season beginning in July and peaking in August. The cities that make up the Southeast area are: Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, and Juneau, all of which are easily and readily served by Alaska Air Forwarding.
Area 2
Prince William Sound is also known as “the sound” and covers Prince William and the Kenai Peninsula. Area 2 is home to the Copper River which is the most significant and important part of the region for Alaska’s fishing. Sockeye salmon are netted each year in mid-May and supply the US, Japan and the rest of the world with salmon. The Copper River salmon is the most expensive of the Alaskan salmon. The cities that make up area 2 are: Anchorage, Seward, Kenai, Homer, Cordova and Valdez.
Area 3
Kodiak Island is Alaska’s most productive fleet of fishing vessels and is considered one of the largest fishing ports in the country. This port is busy year-round and focuses on fish as well as bottomfish and crab. Here at Alaska Air Forwarding, we provide year-round service to the busy port of Kodiak enabling the fishing vessels to maintain peak performance.
Area 4
The Aleutian Islandsstretch 600 miles from the Alaskan shore out to a sea of islands that are sparsely populated and difficult to reach, but not for AAF. The areas larger towns include Dutch Harbor, King Cove and Unalaska.
Area 5
Bristol Bayis the most northerly of the five areas and one of the most lucrative salmon fisheries in the state. While the season is a lucrative one, it is quite short beginning in late June and ending the last week of July. Area 5 also happens to be the most remote and difficult to get to, which makes it a prime area for Alaska Air Forwarding to service. The cities making up Bristol Bay are: Bethel, Togiak, Dillingham, Naknek and Egegik.
While we started out as a buying service for the fishing industry in 1965, we are now a primary means of support to Alaska’s commercial fishing industry providing transportation of supplies to the most remote corners of the state.
