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Offshore

Ketchikan / Prince of Wales Offshore

Offshore · Alaska · Clarence Strait / Prince of Wales outside waters

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Location Snapshot

Ketchikan / Prince of Wales Offshore covers the outside waters and Clarence Strait fishing grounds beyond downtown Ketchikan, forming a broad Southeast Alaska charter fishery. Pacific halibut, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon are the principal supported targets, with black rockfish adding a bottomfish component.

Information Only

StrikeTracks does not currently provide an Offshore fishing-condition rating. Marine Conditions are observations and forecasts for trip planning. They are not an Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor fishing score.

Marine Conditions

Planning context — not a fishing rating.

Marine Forecast

Tonight

SE wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt late. Seas building to 4 ft. Rain late.

Marine Alerts

  • Gale Warning · Moderate — Gale Warning issued October 19 at 8:19PM AKDT until October 20 at 5:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
  • Gale Warning · Moderate — Gale Warning issued October 19 at 3:44PM AKDT until October 20 at 5:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
  • Gale Warning · Moderate — Gale Warning issued October 19 at 11:48AM AKDT until October 20 at 5:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
  • Gale Warning · Moderate — Gale Warning issued October 20 at 12:54AM AKDT until October 20 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
  • Small Craft Advisory · Minor — Small Craft Advisory issued October 20 at 12:54AM AKDT until October 20 at 1:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
  • Small Craft Advisory · Minor — Small Craft Advisory issued October 20 at 12:54AM AKDT until October 21 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK

Nearby fishing destinations

Other fishing destinations nearby

Fishery Profile

Fishery Overview

Ketchikan / Prince of Wales Offshore offshore fishery

Ketchikan / Prince of Wales Offshore is a salmon / halibut grounds destination in AK. This is southeast Alaska charter water. IPHC/NMFS charter rules are legal.

Fishery type
  • Salmon halibut grounds
Fishing modes
  • Offshore boat
Habitat and structure
Outside waters · Salmon and halibut water

Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Not a live bite forecast.

Fishery Targets

Seasons for Pacific halibut, Chinook, and coho change with the annual rules. Black rockfish follow a typical season.

This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations

  • Pacific halibut illustration

    Pacific halibut

    PrimaryRegulations vary annually

    Hippoglossus stenolepis

    Typical seasonal opportunity: LATE SPRING — SUMMER

  • Chinook Salmon illustration

    Chinook Salmon

    PrimaryRegulations vary annually

    Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

    Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER — EARLY FALL

  • Coho Salmon illustration

    Coho Salmon

    PrimaryRegulations vary annually

    Oncorhynchus kisutch

    Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER — EARLY FALL

  • Black rockfish illustration

    Black rockfish

    Secondary

    Sebastes melanops

    Also called Black bass

    Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — FALL

Typical Seasonal Targets

  • Pacific halibut — LATE SPRING — SUMMER
  • Chinook Salmon — SUMMER — EARLY FALL
  • Coho Salmon — SUMMER — EARLY FALL
  • Black rockfish — SPRING — FALL

Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.

Access, Safety and Regulations

Access

Offshore boat from Ketchikan / POW ports. Not the downtown basin.

Primary hazards

SE Alaska seas and mixed traffic.

Fishery considerations

  • Ketchikan harbor tides are not representative of this location.
  • Regional NWS.

Regulations

Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.

View current recreational saltwater regulations (opens in a new tab)

Location and Access

Offshore · Alaska

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This marker is the mapped fishing area. It is not a boat ramp, a parking area, or a place to drive to.