You can experience many great opportunities for trophy salmon fishing in the state of Alaska. Whether in saltwater or freshwater, visiting anglers will be hard pressed to find better salmon fishing anywhere in the world than what can be found in Alaska. While good salmon fishing can be found throughout the state, anglers searching for true trophy sized fish will want to explore the southern regions of the state.
Licenses & Regulations
If you're going to go after trophy salmon, first you must purchase an Alaska sports fishing license. Non-residents have an option between one, three, seven and 14 day fishing licenses, or they can even purchase a year long license. If you're going after the largest salmon, the king salmon, then an additional "King Stamp" is required for any king salmon that are caught and kept.
Species
There are five species of salmon that you can find in Alaska, and all of them have two common names. They are: the King Salmon aka Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon aka Silver Salmon, Sockeye Salmon aka Red Salmon, Pink Salmon aka Humpies, and Chum Salmon aka Dog Salmon. The King Salmon are the largest by far, and are among the most popular with anglers.
Best Equipment
If you're going after the large trophy salmon, then the best equipment is going to be medium to heavy action with slightly larger test line that is at least 12 lbs, if not slightly higher. The pole needs to be able to take a beating and be flexible without breaking, and the line needs to be strong since big salmon can put up a major fight. A strong fishing net is always recommended to help land these trophy fish.
Charters & Guides
Charters usually refer to saltwater expeditions, but there are open saltwater salmon seasons so this is one way to try and track down a trophy sized salmon. Guides most often refer to lake and stream guides, where many anglers prefer to do their salmon fishing. Paid guides or charters can be found throughout virtually any town in Alaska, and using a knowledgeable guide can drastically increase your chances of success in tracking down a large trophy sized salmon.
State Records
As of 2010, game management officials keep track of all five species of salmon and records of the largest of each caught in Alaska. These are all fish that have been caught through sports fishing methods - commercial catches are not counted. According to The Alaska Sportsman website, as of 2010 the state record for king salmon comes in on top at 97 lbs 4 oz. This is followed by the Chum Salmon at 32 lbs, Coho Salmon at 26 lbs, Sockeye Salmon at 16 pounds, and finally the Pink Salmon at 12 lbs 9 oz.
Safety Considerations
Even in the "well developed" parts of Alaska you will still have a major chance of running into moose and bear, and it's easy to get lost in the woods even close to the road. You should always carry a GPS system set to help you locate your vehicle, an emergency first aid kit, a survival kit, or other supplies that can help you in a worst case scenario type of situation.
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