Silver Salmon
Silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch, also referred to as Coho salmon) are a species of Pacific salmon and can be seen and caught in the waters of Port Valdez and Prince William Sound. The town of Valdez, Alaska is one of the best silver salmon fishing spots in Alaska, and hosts the Silver Salmon Derby and Women's Silver Salmon Derby Day as part of the annual Valdez Fish Derbies.
The silver salmon runs in Valdez are bountiful due to the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery which raises and releases 1.8 million silver salmon smolts every year.
Fishing Season
Good silver fishing can usually be had by the end of July throughout the Arm and Narrows area and exceptional fishing in the Port by the 1st or 2nd week of August. The fishing can then be great through Labor Day with many fish in the 10 to 15 pound range and some at 20! Early in the run a boat is required to catch silvers and downriggers are by far the best way to troll. As the run comes in closer, silvers can be caught from shore at Allison Point and on the city side around the mouth of the small boat harbor.
Please see the the Alaska Department of Fish & Game's Sports Fishing Regulations and Prince William Sound Supplement for more regulations on silver salmon fishing. Fishing licenses may be purchased online or at local outfitters in Valdez.
Fishing Locations
"Silver salmon tend to like slow moving, finely graveled, water and live closer than other fish to the shoreline of the ocean. This makes for good fishing from the banks like at Allison Point," Fish Alaska Magazine
Silvers can be caught from shore in town along Kelsey Dock or at Allison Point on Dayville Road. Saltwater fishing charters are also available out of Valdez.
