It’s a fishing day

Sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka

1 of 3worth the trip today

Best right now at Kenai River, Alaska. Water is inside the 40–60° range sockeye salmon like at 2 of the 2 spots with a live reading.

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Where sockeye salmon score best right now
Sockeye Salmon

About sockeye salmon

The "red" salmon — the backbone of Alaska’s fisheries and the most prized for the table. Sockeye return to their natal lakes and rivers in enormous summer runs (Bristol Bay alone sees tens of millions), holding in tight schools that anglers target by "flipping" weighted flies. The landlocked form is the kokanee. Bright red at spawning, it is the icon of a healthy Alaska watershed.

Oncorhynchus nerka, family Salmonidae.

Sockeye salmon, spot by spot

All 3 spots with sockeye salmon in season, scored for sockeye salmon, best first.

Kenai River (Soldotna)Kenai Peninsula Borough, AlaskaSockeye salmon

42° water · 15 mph wind

80Worth the trip

The water they want

Sockeye salmon feed from about 40° to 60°F and best near 52°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 2 of 2 are inside the range.

ideal 52°
40°60°

How they feed

  • Water40–60°F, best near 52°
  • TideIncoming
  • MoonEither
  • DepthUsually 1–20 ft
  • Active monthsJun–Aug

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Keep or release

  • Alaska non-tidal3 a dayKenai Peninsula flowing waters: chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon 16" or longer are 3 a day in combination, 3 in possession, and only 2 of those may be coho. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source · 8 days since checked

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Sockeye salmon are fished at spots in 1 state: Alaska.

Waters with their own rules

These waters set limits for sockeye salmon that differ from the rest of their state.

Fished in the same water

Species people target at the same spots as sockeye salmon, and how they’re doing today.

Chinook salmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha

8 of 29 spots worth the trip

Best now at Selkirk Shores, NY96

Bites in 42–58° water

Coho salmonOncorhynchus kisutch

8 of 20 spots worth the trip

Best now at Port Crescent, MI84

Bites in 44–58° water

Rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss

41 of 81 spots worth the trip

Best now at Bighorn River, MT100

Bites in 45–68° water

SteelheadOncorhynchus mykiss

5 of 26 spots worth the trip

Best now at Trinity River, CA92

Bites in 40–55° water