Sitka Borough County, AK · Pacific Ocean
Sitka
A Southeast Alaska saltwater hub on Baranof Island, fishing the open Pacific off Cape Edgecumbe for Pacific halibut, lingcod, and rockfish, plus king and coho salmon along the outer coast. Protected inside waters and exposed offshore banks give year-round bottomfish and a strong summer salmon troll. Live tide from the Sitka NOAA station and seas from the Cape Edgecumbe buoy.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Lingcod, Rockfish, Chinook Salmon & Coho Salmon — tied at the top (76/100)
4 species tied for best of 5 tracked at Sitka.
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:52 AM | High | 8.7 ft |
| 10:53 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 5:43 PM | High | 7.5 ft |
| 10:57 PM | Low | 4.0 ft |
Species at Sitka
5 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 4 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Lingcod Great day to fish for Lingcod. In season 76/100
What's helping
- 51°F water — right in lingcod's ideal range
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 77% rain — wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite
About. Ophiodon elongatus — A toothy, aggressive ambush predator of Pacific rocky reefs and kelp — hammers jigs and live bait fished near the bottom. Often caught while rockfishing; big “lings” are a prize from jetties and nearshore reefs.
Prefers. Water 45–58°F (ideal 52°F) · either tide · depth 20–300 ft.
- Daily creel
- no limit
Southeast: lingcod carry season and annual/size limits (nonresidents commonly 1–2/year within a size slot, open ~mid-May–Nov). Confirm the current area rule.
Source: Alaska regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Rockfish Great day to fish for Rockfish. In season 76/100
What's helping
- 51°F water — right in rockfish's ideal range
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 77% rain — wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite
About. Sebastes spp. — The Pacific “RCG complex” — dozens of Sebastes species worked over rocky reefs, kelp, and structure from jetties to offshore banks. The backbone of West Coast bottom fishing; dropped baits and shrimp flies take them.
Prefers. Water 45–58°F (ideal 52°F) · either tide · depth 20–300 ft.
- Daily creel
- 5
Southeast: pelagic rockfish commonly 5/day for residents, 3/day for nonresidents, within a combined rockfish limit; non-pelagic (yelloweye) are tightly capped. Confirm the area.
Source: Alaska regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Chinook Salmon Great day to fish for Chinook Salmon. In season 76/100
What's helping
- 51°F water — right in chinook salmon's ideal range
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 77% rain — wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite
About. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha — The “king” — the largest Pacific salmon and the marquee stocked predator of the Great Lakes. Trolled over open water through summer, then staged off river mouths and run up tributaries on the fall spawning push. Flow and water temperature drive the river bite.
Prefers. Water 42–58°F (ideal 50°F) · either tide · depth 15–150 ft.
- Min size
- 28"
- Daily creel
- 1
Southeast saltwater: 1 king salmon/day, 28" minimum, with nonresident annual limits — confirm the current king salmon management measures. Alaska adjusts limits by Emergency Order in-season — check the ADF&G hotline or app the day you fish.
Source: Alaska regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Coho Salmon Check local Coho Salmon regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 76/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Coho Salmon in AK on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 51°F water — right in coho salmon's ideal range
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 77% rain — wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite
About. Oncorhynchus kisutch — “Silvers” — acrobatic, aggressive salmon that school near the surface and along piers in summer before their fall tributary run. A staple of the Great Lakes stocking program and the Pacific coast alike.
Prefers. Water 44–58°F (ideal 53°F) · either tide · depth 10–120 ft.
No regulations on file for Alaska / pacific. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
#5 Pacific Halibut Workable day for Pacific Halibut. In season 64/100
What's helping
- 51°F water — inside pacific halibut's active range
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 77% rain — wet day — uncomfortable but fish still bite
About. Hippoglossus stenolepis — The giant flatfish of the North Pacific — the premier saltwater quarry from Homer to Sitka, where "barn-door" halibut can exceed 300 lb. Caught on the bottom in deep water with heavy gear and bait, it is managed coast-wide by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, so daily limits and size rules are set annually and differ for guided vs. unguided anglers.
Prefers. Water 37–55°F (ideal 45°F) · either tide · depth 60–600 ft.
- Daily creel
- 2
IPHC Area 3A (Southcentral, incl. Homer): unguided anglers 2 halibut/day, no size limit. Guided (charter) anglers in 3A are limited to 2/day within a reverse-slot (≤34" or ≥80"). Southeast (Area 2C) charter anglers have a one-fish daily size rule. Set annually by the IPHC.
Source: Alaska regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
Location Info
Water Body
Pacific Ocean
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Alaska
Coordinates
Notes
Southeast (IPHC Area 2C) halibut carries a charter size rule; lingcod and rockfish have season and annual/size limits, and king salmon is tightly managed — confirm current ADF&G measures.
Local reports & rules for Sitka: Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game fishing report → · fish-consumption advisories (EPA directory) →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Sitka?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Sitka you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Sitka?
Sitka is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Pacific Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Sitka?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Sitka against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Sitka have?
Sitka has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Southeast (IPHC Area 2C) halibut carries a charter size rule; lingcod and rockfish have season and annual/size limits, and king salmon is tightly managed — confirm current ADF&G measures.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Sitka?
state agency regulations apply at Sitka. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Sitka tidal water?
Yes. Sitka sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.