Port Guide
Salmon staging off the Stikine River mouth, halibut all summer, and bears up Anan Creek.
Wrangell sits in Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage near the mouth of the Stikine River, and that river is the engine of its fishing. King and silver salmon stage in saltwater off the Stikine delta before running upstream to spawn. That puts quality salmon fishing within a short boat ride of the harbor, and gives the town its month-long King Salmon Derby each spring.
This is a charter town rather than a lodge town: most local operators run day trips for halibut, salmon, rockfish and lingcod, with a handful offering lodging packages and hunts. It's also one of the easier Southeast towns to build a varied week around. Jet boat trips run up the Stikine to Shakes Glacier through country John Muir called 'a Yosemite 100 miles long,' and the U.S. Forest Service's Anan Wildlife Observatory, about an hour by boat from town, is one of the few places where black and brown bears feed side by side.
| Species | Prime Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| King (Chinook) salmon | May–Jun | The derby fish. Kings staging off the Stikine River mouth are the spring headline; a King Salmon Stamp is required in addition to your license, and king regulations change often, so check current ADF&G rules. |
| Silver (coho) salmon | Aug–mid-Sep | Peak silver fishing runs roughly August 15 through mid-September, capped by the local coho derby. |
| Pink & chum salmon | Jul–Aug | Part of the summer mix as all five salmon species move through the Inside Passage May–September. |
| Halibut | May–Sep | Fishable all summer, typically peaking in July and staying strong through September. Charter size and bag limits change annually, so verify current rules. |
| Lingcod | Summer | A regular charter target alongside halibut. Lingcod carry their own season and size restrictions; confirm current ADF&G dates. |
| Rockfish | May–Sep | Consistent action on bottomfish trips; retention and release rules vary by species, so follow your captain's lead on current regs. |
Seasons and limits change — always confirm current regulations with ADF&G before booking.
Wrangell's fleet is mostly owner-operated day boats running salmon, halibut, rockfish and lingcod trips out of the harbor, with the Stikine delta and surrounding Inside Passage waters close at hand. Beyond fishing, the same small fleet runs jet boat tours up the Stikine River to Shakes Glacier and one-hour boat runs down Eastern Passage to the Anan Wildlife Observatory. A few operators offer lodge packages, and at least one runs Sitka blacktail deer and black bear hunts.
Alaska Airlines serves Wrangell on the Southeast 'milk run,' with jet service connecting through Seattle, Anchorage, Juneau, Petersburg and Ketchikan. From Juneau or Ketchikan it's about an hour in the air. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry also calls at Wrangell, whether you're walking on or bringing a vehicle; from Bellingham, Washington the ride is roughly 700 miles and about 48 hours. There's no road connection to the mainland highway system.
Yes. Nonresident licenses are $30 for a single day or $145 annual, plus a King Salmon Stamp if you fish for kings. Buy online from ADF&G or from local vendors.
It's a month-long derby each spring; recent editions have run from early May to early June. Exact dates change yearly, so check the derby's current schedule before booking.
Yes, from July 5 through August 25 each visitor needs an individual Forest Service permit. Most people go with a permitted Wrangell tour operator, about an hour by boat from town.
Fly Alaska Airlines via the Southeast milk run (connections through Seattle, Anchorage, Juneau, Petersburg or Ketchikan) or take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, about 48 hours from Bellingham, WA. There's no road access.
Yes. The surrounding islands hold Sitka blacktail deer and black bear, and neither requires a nonresident to hire a guide. Local operators offer boat-based hunts; confirm current Unit 3 seasons and permits with ADF&G.
wrangell, Alaska
Alaska Native, family-owned Wrangell operator running custom Bentz jet boat tours on the Stikine River, to LeConte Glacier, and the Anan Bear & Wildlife Observatory, plus Tlingit-guided cultural and heritage land tours.
wrangell, Alaska
wrangell, Alaska