King salmon Fishing in Alaska
The Alaska rules trail for king salmon: sections, stocking, trophy lines and the pages that list it.
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King salmon across the Last Frontier, at a glance
ADF&G's 2026 booklets carry 29 regulation sections under headings for king salmon, across Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (Arctic), Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (Yukon), Interior, Southcentral, Southcentral (Anchorage), Southcentral (Kenai Peninsula), Southcentral (Mat-Su), Southcentral (Prince William Sound), Southcentral/Southwest (Kodiak), Southeast, Southwest (Alaska Peninsula-Aleutians), Southwest (Bristol Bay) and Southwest (Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutians) booklets. 187 Alaska water pages on this site carry it in an ADF&G layer, 183 through species lists.
23 waters got fish of this kind in 42 2026 stocking events. Its trophy certificate table has 2 lines.
Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026.
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Photo of Paxson Lake: Bureau of Land Management Alaska, Public domain
Closures and king salmon in Alaska
Many 2026 king salmon rows say the fishery was closed in 2026 by emergency order; the text is as printed, so check the current emergency orders. Printed limits give way to emergency orders, which ADF&G posts on its own page.
Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026.
How ADF&G words its king salmon sections
| Booklet area | Heading as printed | First rule lines as printed | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) | KING SALMON | YAKUTAT AREA – between Cape Suckling and Cape Fairweather: See map on page 16. Alaska Residents: | – |
| Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) | KING SALMON | 28 inches or longer: Bag, possession, annual, and size limits are established annually by an emergency order, as specified in the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan. Less than 28 inches: Retention prohibited. | – |
| West Cook Inlet | KING SALMON | King salmon fishing is closed in 2026 by emergency order. January 1September 30: CHUM, | – |
| Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay salt waters | KING SALMON | In 2026, king salmon were restricted in the Cook Inlet salt waters. See the emergency order for more info. Summer Fisheries – April 1-August 31: | page 67 |
| Susitna River drainage | KING SALMON | A king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. You must not remove a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the water before releasing. If you reta | page 15 |
| Susitna River drainage | KING SALMON | In all waters draining into the east side of the Susitna WITHIN 1/2 mile from the Susitna River: Closed to king salmon fishing. | page 16 |
| Susitna River drainage | KING SALMON | In stocked lakes: Open year-round 10 per day, 10 in possession, in combination with other salmon. See pages 86-87. In unstocked lakes and in all flowing waters: | page 19 |
| Susitna River drainage | KING SALMON | Upstream of Devils Canyon: Closed to king salmon fishing. | – |
| Susitna River drainage | KING SALMON | – | – |
| Susitna River drainage | SPECIES KING SALMON | – | – |
| Susitna River drainage | SPECIES KING SALMON | – | – |
| Knik Arm | KING SALMON | The fresh waters of the Knik Arm are closed to king salmon fishing, except Eklutna Tailrace, see special regulations. In stocked lakes: Open year-round 10 per day, 10 in possession, in combination with other salmon. See pages 86-87. In stocked lakes: Open year | page 33 |
| Anchorage Bowl | SPECIES KING SALMON | – | – |
| Kenai Peninsula | KING SALMON | King salmon fishing is closed in 2026 by emergency order. The fresh waters of the Kenai Peninsula are closed to king salmon fishing, except for the Kasilof River and Ninilchik River. See king salmon emergency orders. | – |
| Kenai River | KING SALMON | Morgan's ! Hole RM 30 ! RM 32 Scout RM 26 na! RM 24 RM 16 RM 10 Sli eek RM 4 COOK INLET Warren Ames Bridge RM 0 ! Kalifornsky Beach Road RM 8 RM 2 6 ! Sterling Hwy Bridge Soldotna ! RM 18 RM 22 RM 14 ! RM 12 Kenai RM 28 ! Soldotna Cr Questions? Please contact | – |
| Kenai River | KING SALMON | Closed to king salmon fishing. | page 53 |
The 2026 booklets stay in force until the 2027 summary appears (ADF&G's own wording), and none for 2027 has been published; emergency orders come first.
Booklet areas differ, so a limit from one section does not carry to another area.
Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026.
Alaska areas with a heading for king salmon
- Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula fresh waters
- Anchorage Bowl
- Bristol Bay salt and fresh waters
- Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay salt waters
- Kenai Peninsula
- Kenai River
- Knik Arm
- Kodiak Island fresh waters
- Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands salt waters
- Kuskokwim and Goodnews drainages
- North Slope drainages
- Northwestern drainages
- Prince William Sound
- Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water)
- Susitna River drainage
- Tanana drainage
- Upper Copper and Upper Susitna area
- West Cook Inlet
- Yukon River drainages
Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary, Southeast Alaska general seasons, bag and size limits (fresh and salt water) (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026.
Alaska pages that carry king salmon from ADF&G records
The waters below come from agency layers that note the species, with no word on abundance.
- Big LakeADF&G species list; 2,495 acres
- Trapper LakeADF&G species list; 1,133 acres
- Alexander LakeADF&G species list; 880 acres
- Flathorn LakeADF&G species list; 787 acres
- Finger LakeADF&G species list; about 359 acres of mapped outline
- Chena LakeADF&G species list; about 241 acres of mapped outline
- Bunco LakeADF&G species list; 200 acres
- Otter LakeADF&G species list; 126 acres
- Campbell LakeADF&G species list; 124 acres
- Clunie LakeADF&G species list; 116 acres
- Prator LakeADF&G species list; 98 acres
- Beach LakeADF&G species list; 90 acres
- Sand Lake (Anchorage)ADF&G species list; 73 acres
- Mirror Lake (Anchorage)ADF&G species list; 64 acres
- Jewel Lake (Anchorage)ADF&G species list; 28 acres
- Cheney LakeADF&G species list; 24 acres
- DeLong LakeADF&G species list; 20 acres
- Green Lake (Anchorage)ADF&G species list; 19 acres
- Taku Campbell LakeADF&G species list; 13 acres
- Hillberg LakeADF&G species list; 11 acres
- Gwen LakeADF&G species list; 10 acres
- Campbell Point LakeADF&G species list; 10 acres
- Spring LakeADF&G species list; 9.6 acres
- Tangle PondADF&G species list; 7.5 acres
Record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database (SF_Lakes), read November 14, 2026.
The 2026 stocking list for king salmon
| Water as printed | Events in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Chena Lake | 7 |
| Eklutna Tailrace | 4 |
| Ship Creek | 3 |
| Homer Spit | 3 |
| Quartz Lake | 3 |
| Cushman Lake | 3 |
| Seward Lagoon | 2 |
| Ninilchik River | 2 |
| Herring Cove | 1 |
| Crystal Creek | 1 |
Stocking events from the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking search, 2026 events read November 14, 2026. The search returns past stocking events, not a forward schedule.
ADF&G certificate thresholds for king salmon
| Program | Category | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| adult | catch release length | 45 inches |
| youth | catch release length | 45 inches |
The table shows certificate qualifying sizes only, since no state record list is published.
Minimum weights and lengths from the ADF&G Trophy Fish Program (minimum requirements PDF), read November 14, 2026. They are certificate thresholds, not records.
More on king salmon from ADF&G
- ADF&G species information for king salmon
- Alaska license and bookletsfees and the four 2026 regional booklets
- Alaska saltwater areasmarine areas and their management units
- All Alaska fish pages26 species
Your King salmon questions about Alaska rules and waters
Is king salmon in the 2026 regulation headings?
29 booklet sections are headed for it, in Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (Arctic), Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (Yukon), Interior, Southcentral, Southcentral (Anchorage), Southcentral (Kenai Peninsula), Southcentral (Mat-Su), Southcentral (Prince William Sound), Southcentral/Southwest (Kodiak), Southeast, Southwest (Alaska Peninsula-Aleutians), Southwest (Bristol Bay) and Southwest (Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutians) booklets.
What year are the king salmon rules?
The 2026 booklets stay in force until the 2027 summary appears (ADF&G's own wording), and none for 2027 has been published; emergency orders come first.
Can limits for king salmon change during the year?
Printed limits give way to emergency orders, which ADF&G posts on its own page.
Is there an Alaska record table for king salmon?
None is printed. The agency offers certificates with minimum sizes instead.
Does a listing mean king salmon are easy to catch?
No. Entries show where an agency layer or stocking row names the fish.
Are any king salmon planted by the state?
Search results list 42 releases at 23 waters this year.
Is there a state species sheet for king salmon?
ADF&G keeps a species page at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=chinook.main.
Which license do king salmon anglers carry?
On cost, a resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100. A license applies to residents 18 and over and to nonresidents 16 and over; anglers below those ages need no license but carry a free Sport Fishing Harvest Record Card for annual-limit fish.
Are king salmon rows always open?
Many 2026 king salmon rows say the fishery was closed in 2026 by emergency order; the text is as printed, so check the current emergency orders.