Tongass National Forest

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Fishing the Tongass

Fishing is serious business in Southeast Alaska. A large part of the population make their livelihood from it. An even larger part take non-commercial fishing seriously - for fun and food. Most communities host annual fishing derbies which draw hundreds of anglers.

The Tongass National Forest provides some the the best cold water fishing in the world. Most of the forest is part of the Alexander Island Archipeligo, a collection of thousands of islands, from house size, to almost 2 million acres. We have great fishing for salmon and trout in freshwater and in salt. We also have outstanding ocean fishing for halibut and rockfish. Come see "Southeast" and give our waters a try.

Fishing the lakes and streams of the Tongass National Forest is popular. Cutthroat trout grow to trophy size in some of the larger lakes. Salmon and steelhead trout, returning to the rivers, attract both humans and bears eager to face the challenge of catching a fresh meal. Some of these fisheries are catch-and-release - at least for the human participants. Know before you go.

Even more popular - to residents and visitors alike - is fishing in salt water for halibut, shrimp, crab, and coho, king, and pink salmon (not to mention the ever-popular bullhead). All depend on a healthy habitat for their continued health and abundance. The salmon are born, spend their early lives, and return to spawn in the rivers, streams, and lakes of the Tongass. The Forest Service manages these waterways and the land around them to assure their continuing health.

Sport fishing is regulated by the State of Alaska. Be sure to check the regulations before you head out to try your hand at landing any of the water's bounty. Once you're out there, you'll also want to know what that is you just brought up.