Seward is the poster child of the Alaskan outdoors, with untouched forests, crystal-clear rivers, and deep blue seas full of giant fish. Seward fishing charters will take you on a tour of this timeless landscape, hugging the craggy coastline or launching out into deeper seas in search of monster Salmon, Halibut, and Rockfish.
But there’s more to Seward than just fishing. Smithsonian Magazine ranked Seward as one of their top 20 towns in America. The area really is a playground of the great outdoors, and even its art scene has taken to the streets. Seward is known as the “Mural Capital of Alaska” and you’ll find colorful paintings dotted all over town.
What the area is most famous for, though, is its access to the remote wilderness of the Kenai Fjord National Park. This is a land of towering ice cliffs and savage beauty, and Seward fishing trips are a great way of getting a view of it.
Types of Fishing
With very few people and hundreds of miles of coastline, you’ve got plenty of fish to target in these waters. There are a few local favorites that most charter guides go after. Chances are you’re already set on bagging at least one of them.
Salmon Fishing
Salmon are the most important gamefish in Alaska, and we can see why. King (Chinook) Salmon can weigh well over 50 pounds, and even smaller Silver (Coho) Salmon are big enough to put seasoned anglers to the test. These intelligent hunters put on a serious show when hooked and are one of the most expensive fish on the market. You sure do get your money’s worth on these trips! The best Salmon fishing Seward has to offer is along its coastline, as King Salmon are protected along much of their freshwater run. Time your trip right, though, and you could battle 40-pound fish right in Seward Harbor.
Halibut Fishing
If fighting 50-pound Salmon just doesn’t quite cut it for you, you’ve got to try Seward Halibut fishing. These monster flatfish can grow to almost 500 pounds, and even the 100-200-pound fish you’ll be targeting will give you the fight of your life. Seward’s Halibut are mainly found around reefs and craggy bottoms, living in anything from 50 to over 2,000 feet of water. However far down they are, it takes some serious effort to work them to the surface!
Rockfishing
There are a variety of species which fall under the umbrella of “rockfish”. They all taste great and are all pretty fun to catch, making Rockfish trips a great family option. Rockfish also live around reefs and rocky bottoms, so you can often catch them while out looking for Halibut.
Freshwater fishing
It’s not all about the ocean - there are plenty of great fish in Seward’s rivers and streams. Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, and several species of Salmon live in these remote waters. All these fish have awesome game potential, and most of them taste great, too!
Fishing Seasons
Most Seward fishing charters operate from May until October. The main Salmon season is from mid-May until mid-September and you’ll find big fish close to the shore all summer long. Halibut and Rockfish are present almost year-round, and you can catch them through the whole of Seward’s charter season.
If you’re planning on fishing the Resurrection River you’ll have to wait until June as the area has a closely-managed closed season. You can never keep freshwater King Salmon and you can only keep other species in certain parts of the river. Fishing with a guide is a good idea, as they can show you the best fishing spots and keep you from straying into protected waters.
Fishing Techniques
Trolling with downriggers is the most common way of catching saltwater Salmon. You can also drift bait plugs over them when they’re schooling in large numbers. Whatever you do, make sure you bring plenty of Herring to tempt them onto the hook. Fly fishing is another common tactic when targeting Salmon, and is productive for all Seward’s freshwater fish.
Halibut and Rockfish can both be caught by jigging or bottom fishing. Some of the most productive Halibut fishing Seward has to offer is done on jigs, both metal and plastic. If you don’t fancy jigging, just drop a few strips of Salmon belly and wait for the action to happen - it won’t take long!
Need to Know
Fishing licenses are not normally included on Seward fishing trips. You’ll need to buy a license for fresh or saltwater, and will need separate stamps if you plan on catching Salmon. As well as a fishing license, it’s a good idea to bring an extra layer of clothing, even in the middle of summer. You should also consider taking seasickness tablets if you’re not sure of your sea legs - better safe than sorry!
Dolly Varden
Halibut
Lake Trout
Lingcod
Pike (Northern)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rockfish
Salmon (Chinook)
Salmon (Chum)
Salmon (Pink)
Salmon (Sockeye)
