Port Guide

Whittier Fishing Guide

Prince William Sound charters an hour's drive from Anchorage — through one shared tunnel.

Whittier is the fastest way from Anchorage to saltwater fishing: about 60 miles down the Seward Highway and Portage Glacier Highway, then 2.5 miles through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a single lane through Maynard Mountain that cars share with the Alaska Railroad on an alternating one-way schedule. On the other side you pop out at the head of Passage Canal, where a fleet of charter boats works the protected waters of Prince William Sound and, on longer runs, the Gulf of Alaska.

The town itself is tiny: a couple hundred year-round residents, most of them living in one building, Begich Towers. Even so, the harbor is busy all summer with charter boats, cruise ships and the railroad. Nearly every operator here is a fishing charter, and combo trips are the norm: a halibut day commonly brings rockfish, lingcod or cod over the rail too, with silver salmon joining the mix from late July on.

When to Go

• May–June: Halibut season opens strong with fish feeding actively after winter. Salmon haven't arrived in numbers yet, so charters focus on bottomfish.
• July: Halibut stays productive and variety builds; lingcod season typically opens in midsummer.
• August: The month for variety: halibut remain plentiful, silver salmon run hard, and in even-numbered years pink salmon flood the nearshore waters.
• September: Silvers continue and the crowds thin, but weather windows get shorter. Most charters wind down after this month.

What You Can Catch

Species	Prime Months	Notes
Halibut	May–Sep	The mainstay. Fish commonly run 20–80 lb with occasional catches well over 100 lb. Charter halibut size and bag rules change annually, so verify current limits before your trip.
Silver (coho) salmon	Late Jul–Sep	The main salmon target out of Whittier, trolled or mooched in the Sound alongside bottomfishing.
Pink salmon	Jul–Aug (even years)	Pinks flood Prince William Sound in even-numbered years, with fast action when they're in.
Lingcod	Midsummer–Sep	Often a bonus on halibut trips once the season opens. Lingcod have their own season and size rules, so check current ADF&G regulations.
Rockfish	May–Sep	Regular bycatch and a deliberate target on combo trips. Release rules and deepwater-release gear requirements apply, and your captain will know the current drill.
Pacific cod	May–Sep	Common on bottomfish trips and good eating; usually part of the mixed bag rather than the headline.

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

How Trips Work in Whittier

Full-day trips are the standard out of Whittier, typically departing around 7:00 a.m. and returning around 6:00 p.m. Boats run anywhere from thirty to ninety miles from port (one to three hours each way), choosing between the protected waters of Prince William Sound and the more exposed Gulf of Alaska depending on weather and what's biting. Most operators sell combo trips covering halibut plus salmon, rockfish, cod and (in season) lingcod. Because the run to the grounds is long, half-day options are uncommon here; plan on a full day on the water.

Getting to Whittier

Whittier is a day-trip from Anchorage: roughly 60 miles via the Seward Highway and Portage Glacier Highway, then through the one-lane Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which at 2.5 miles is North America's longest combined rail-highway tunnel. Traffic alternates: in the current summer schedule, cars generally enter Whittier on the half-hour and leave on the hour, with trains taking priority slots. Arrive at least 10 minutes before your opening and allow about 1.5 hours total from Anchorage in summer. The toll has been $13 for a standard passenger vehicle; check the Alaska DOT tunnel page for current rates and the day's schedule. The Alaska Railroad and cruise ships also serve Whittier.

Local Tips

›Build the tunnel into your morning: for a 7:00 a.m. charter departure, take an early inbound opening or stay overnight in Whittier, because if you miss your window, you're waiting for the next one.
›Bring your own rain gear and layers. Charter boats don't provide it, and Passage Canal weather is wet even in July.
›Don't count on electric reels; they're not standard equipment, and plenty of anglers prefer cranking halibut up by hand anyway.
›If you're flexible on dates, even-numbered years add a pink salmon bonanza to the usual halibut-and-silvers program.
›Longer Gulf of Alaska runs mean bigger water, so take motion-sickness precautions the night before, not on the boat.
›Lodging in Whittier is limited, so book early or plan around the tunnel schedule for a same-day round trip from Anchorage or Girdwood.

Whittier FAQs

Do I need a fishing license in Whittier?

Yes. A nonresident Alaska fishing license is $30 for one day or $145 for the year, purchasable online from ADF&G or from local vendors. A King Salmon Stamp is only needed if you fish for kings.

How much does a fishing charter in Whittier cost?

Full-day combo and halibut trips are the norm; published 2026 listings start around $400 per person, and prices vary by boat, trip length and target species. Confirm current rates directly with operators.

How does the Whittier tunnel work?

It's a single lane shared by cars and the Alaska Railroad, open in alternating one-way windows: generally into Whittier on the half-hour and out on the hour in summer. Check the Alaska DOT schedule the day you travel and arrive at least 10 minutes early.

When is the best time to fish out of Whittier?

Halibut fish well May through September. For the widest variety, August combines plentiful halibut with hard-running silvers, plus pink salmon in even-numbered years.

Can I do a Whittier charter as a day trip from Anchorage?

Yes. It's about 60 miles and roughly 1.5 hours each way in summer, tunnel included. Most boats leave around 7:00 a.m., so plan an early tunnel opening or overnight in town.