Port Guide

Valdez Fishing Guide

Deep-water halibut, hatchery-fueled salmon runs, and the oldest fish derbies in Alaska at the head of Prince William Sound.

Valdez sits at the end of a deep fjord on the northeast corner of Prince William Sound, ringed by the Chugach Mountains. It's a working port town with a busy small boat harbor, and its saltwater is some of the most accessible in the Sound: halibut, all five salmon species, rockfish, and lingcod all swim within charter range of the harbor.

Two things set Valdez apart for a visiting angler. First, the derbies: the town runs what it bills as the oldest fish derbies in the state, with a halibut derby spanning roughly late May through August and a silver salmon derby from mid-July through the end of August (dates and prizes change year to year, so check the derby office). Second, shore fishing that actually produces. Thanks to the Solomon Gulch Hatchery across the bay, huge returns of pink salmon, and silvers behind them, stack up where bank anglers can reach them, which is rare for Prince William Sound saltwater.

You can drive here, ferry here, or fly here, and once you arrive almost everything is within a few minutes of the harbor. It's an easy town to fish without a lot of logistics.

When to Go

• Late May–June: The halibut derby traditionally kicks off Memorial Day weekend and halibut fishing builds toward its June–July peak. Fewer crowds than midsummer.
• Late June–July: Pink salmon flood the bay: they arrive around mid-June and peak near the Fourth of July, with strong shore fishing at Allison Point. Lingcod season typically opens after July 1. Halibut fishing stays strong.
• August–early September: Silver salmon are the show: they push into Valdez Bay by the first week of August and peak mid-August through early September, with the silver salmon derby running through August 31.
• September: The season winds down. Silvers linger early in the month and charters thin out; weather gets less predictable.

What You Can Catch

Species	Prime Months	Notes
Halibut	May–Sep	Peak fishing is June–July. Charters run to grounds in and beyond Valdez Arm. Size and bag rules for the charter fishery change annually, so confirm current regs with ADF&G/NOAA before you go.
Silver (coho) salmon	Aug–early Sep	Arrive in Valdez Bay by the first week of August, peak mid-August to early September. Taken by boat in Valdez Narrows and from beaches at Allison Point and other nearby shorelines.
Pink salmon	mid-Jun–Aug	Massive hatchery-boosted runs from Solomon Gulch. Peak around early July. Allison Point on Dayville Road is the classic shore fishery.
Rockfish	May–Sep	Commonly caught on halibut and combo charters. Bag and release rules vary by species group, so check current ADF&G regs.
Lingcod	Jul–Sep	Season typically opens after July 1, following the spawn, so verify the current opening date and size limits with ADF&G.
Other salmon	Jun–Sep	All five Pacific salmon species occur in Prince William Sound; pinks and silvers dominate the Valdez sport catch.

Seasons and limits change — always confirm current regulations with ADF&G before booking.

How Trips Work in Valdez

Most Valdez charters sell seats per person and include tackle, bait, and cleaning your catch. Trips run from half-day to full-day, roughly 5 to 12 hours depending on the target species, how far the grounds are, and weather. Halibut, rockfish/lingcod, salmon, and combo trips are all standard offerings out of the small boat harbor.

You don't need a boat to catch fish here. Shore anglers do well on pinks and silvers along Dayville Road (Allison Point) and near town, and you can also rent a skiff or launch your own boat at the harbor. Weather in Prince William Sound is unpredictable, so captains adjust plans or cancel for safety; build some flexibility into your itinerary.

Getting to Valdez

Valdez is one of the few Prince William Sound towns you can drive to. From Anchorage it's roughly 300 miles, about 6 hours, via the Glenn Highway to Glennallen, then south on the Richardson Highway over Thompson Pass, one of the more scenic road stretches in the state. Alaska Marine Highway ferries connect Valdez with Whittier and Cordova across the Sound (check current schedules, as sailings are limited), and scheduled commuter flights link Valdez with Anchorage in under an hour.

Local Tips

›Buy your derby ticket before you fish: you can't claim a derby prize on a fish caught without one, and tickets are sold at local vendors in town.
›Bring your own rain gear and rubber boots. Charter boats don't provide it, and Valdez is one of the wetter towns in Southcentral Alaska.
›For shore fishing, drive Dayville Road to Allison Point when the pinks or silvers are in, and stay bear-aware, because bears work the same salmon.
›Everyone 16 and older needs an Alaska sport fishing license, sold at local vendors and online through ADF&G.
›Charters typically clean your catch, but processing, freezing, and shipping are on you, so ask your captain about local processing options before your trip.
›The Solomon Gulch Hatchery on Dayville Road is worth a stop in July and August: salmon stack up by the thousands, and sea lions, otters, and bears show up to feed.

Valdez FAQs

When is the best time to fish in Valdez?

June and July for halibut and pink salmon; mid-August through early September for silver salmon. The derbies run roughly late May through August 31, so most of the summer offers a shot at a prize fish.

Do I need a fishing license in Valdez?

Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs an Alaska sport fishing license. Nonresidents pay $30 for a single day or $145 for an annual license, and a King Salmon Stamp costs extra if you'll target kings. Buy online from ADF&G or at vendors in town.

Can I fish from shore in Valdez?

Yes, and it's genuinely productive, which is unusual for Prince William Sound. Allison Point on Dayville Road is the best-known bank fishery for hatchery pink salmon (peaking around early July) and silvers in August.

How long is a halibut charter out of Valdez?

Anywhere from about 5 to 12 hours. Most operators sell per-person seats and include tackle, bait, and fish cleaning; longer runs reach grounds farther out in the Sound. Book ahead for peak dates in June–August.

What are the Valdez fish derbies?

Valdez runs summer-long derbies billed as the oldest in Alaska: a halibut derby from roughly Memorial Day weekend through August 31 and a silver salmon derby from mid-July through August 31, plus a women's silver derby and a kids' pink salmon derby. Top prizes have run to $10,000 cash. Dates and prizes change annually, so check valdezfishderbies.com.