Sport Fishing

Cook Inlet sport fisheries are some of the most prolific, popular, and accessible sport fishing opportunities in Alaska.  The Kenai River is known for its large and feisty Chinook salmon as well as a tremendous run of sockeye salmon. The Susitna River has also boasted a popular sport fishery for coho and Chinook salmon in the past, though in recent years both rivers have seen a decline in the abundance of fish due to a change in ocean conditions.

Sport fishing in the Cook Inlet watershed occurs in both the marine and freshwater environments.  Anglers pursue a wide variety of species, including Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon, as well as several species of trout. Marine angling can include rockfish, halibut, lingcod, and more.

Sport anglers do not have to be Alaskan residents, and the Kenai Peninsula freshwater sport fisheries draw visitors from all over the world. Anglers can participate by trying their luck on their own, or using local knowledge by hiring a guide to take them to prime fishing spots.  Sport fishing is regulated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

To learn more about sport fishing in Cook Inlet, visit one of these informative links:

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sport Fisheries Division (external link)
  A great place to learn more about regulations, licensing, access, and details of the fishery.