Kenai Peninsula Fishing

Welcome to our Kenai Peninsula Fishing Home Page

The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula on the southern coast of Alaska. The peninsula extends approximately 150 miles southwest from the Chugach Mountains, south of Ancorage. It is separated from the mainland on the west by Cook Inlet and on the east by Prince William Sound. Most of the peninsula is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

The Kenai Peninsula might be one of the most well-known vacation destinations in Alaska. The Kenai River has been featured on fishing shows and talked about among fly fishermen as well as other anglers for years. The salmon run is incredible on the Kenai River with 40 to 50 pound chinook salmon being common each year. Fish some of the other areas on the Peninsula for halibut, rockfish and lingcod. Whether you want to plan a trip to the Kenai River or some of the other popular waters to fish on the Kenai Peninsula, you have plenty of options to plan a fishing vacation to remember.

The Larger Towns

The Smaller Towns

Saltwater Fishing

The Cook Inlet & Resurrection Bay offer some excellent fishing for salmon, halibut and cod. When visiting the Kenai Peninsula, you will have access to these waters from the following towns:

River Fishing

There are several very good rivers in this area that offer some excellent fishing for salmon and trout. The Kenai river is famous for its King salmon fishing, but there is much more there than just King salmon. The Kasilof river and Russian river are also solid rivers to fish. The key for the river fishing is to time it correctly. Hit the peak of the runs and you will catch a lot more fish.

Kenai River

The Kenai River is famous for its salmon and trout fishing. The King Salmon fishing can be unbelievable during the summer. Anglers fish for sockeye, coho and pink salmon, rainbow trout, dolly varden and lake trout.

The main towns to stay at while fishing this river are listed here:

Run Timing

King Salmon (Chinook)
First Run: Mid May to July; Second Run: Mid July to July 31 (last day of season)

Red Salmon (Sockeye)
First Run: Late May to Early June; Second Run: Mid July to Early August

Silver Salmon (Coho)
Late July to Late September

Pink Salmon (Humpbacks)
Mid July to Late August (Even Years Only)

Rainbow Trout
June 15 – October 31

Dolly Varden and Lake Trout
Entire Year

Kasilof River

The Kasilof River is not as popular as the Kenai River, but it is also a very good river for fishing. Located just south of the Kenai River by 11 miles and is slightly smaller in size. It begins at Tustamena Lake and flows northwest for 17 miles before dumping into the Cook Inlet. Anglers target king, sockeye, silver (coho) and some pink salmon to go along with steelhead, dolly varden and rainbow trout. It is a drift only river, so no motors are allowed.

Run Timing

King Salmon (Chinook)
Late May to Late July

Red Salmon (Sockeye)
June through August

Silver Salmon (Coho)
Late July through September

Russian River

The Russian River is another popular river on the Kenai Peninsula. This river is known for its sockeye salmon and coho salmon runs. There are 2 runs for the sockeye salmon and a fall run of coho salmon. This river has a lot of access and is fairly shallow, so you can easily find a place with fishing access and waders will do the trick for fishing the Russian River.

Run Timing

Red Salmon (Sockeye)
First Run: Mid June to Mid July; Second Run: Mid July to Late August

Silver Salmon (Coho)
Fall Run