Alaska
fishing: Valdez area
Species
Valdez is one of the most active summer communities in all of Prince William Sound. It is home to the oldest fish derby in Alaska and has the well-deserved reputation of being the
pink salmon capital of the world. Anglers have the opportunity to fish in either salt or fresh water while being surrounded by some of the most majestic mountains and glaciers in the state. Valdez and the surrounding Chugach Mountains offer such awesome alpine scenery that this community is sometimes referred to as “Little Switzerland.”
Surrounding salt waters offer opportunities for pink, silver, king, and chum
salmon. Pinks and silvers can be caught directly from shore as well as by boat. Anglers who venture out into the adjacent seas will encounter all four of these species, as well as rockfish, lingcod, and Pacific halibut. However, the
700 lb gorilla of the salt-water show is always the pink. Millions return to Valdez during even-numbered years.
Some parts of Port Valdez will actually look black due to the unbelievable
numbers of fish.
Salmon that reach the fresh water streams and rivers surrounding Valdez include
pink, silver, and an occasional sockeye. Dolly Varden char can also be found in those same waters.
Some nearby ponds and lakes are stocked with rainbow trout and anglers who depart the community and head for the interior will also find arctic grayling along the way.
Area
Sponsor
 Fear
Knot Charters invites you to experience some of the greatest fishing
Alaska has to offer! We fish for halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and salmon
in Prince William Sound. We target all available species daily and we
will always give a 110% to ensure you have the fishing trip of your
life. Snacks, soda, water, and coffee provided. Minimum 3 people and
a maximum of 5. Heated cabin and enclosed bathroom on board. Give us a
call and let’s make some memories to last a lifetime. Owned and
operated by Bob Summers. Call today to make your reservation
(907)347-7204, or visit their
website.
[ADV]
Geography
The Port of Valdez is the gateway to Interior Alaska and the terminus of
Trans-Alaska pipeline. It holds a year round population of about 4,500 residents that swells considerably during the summer. Besides the derbies, area events include glacier cruises, kayaking, trail hiking, and birding. There are numerous B&B’s, ample hotels and restaurants, RV campgrounds, a shopping district, and even a museum. Reservations are recommended.
 The seas that surround Valdez are rich with life. Above the waves fly numerous species of year round and migratory birds. On the waves float sea otters, harbor seals, and Stellar sea lions. Below the waves swim Dall porpoise, Humpback and Orca whales.
The land is just as interesting. Nearby cliffs are home to mountain goats and Dall sheep, and further to the interior the landscape holds populations of both black and brown bears. The
five major glaciers that you can visit from Valdez, including the largest in North America, offer excellent exploring opportunities.
Best saltwater times in the Valdez area
(ADF&G data)
|
Species
|
Availability
|
Peak
|
|
King
salmon (feeder kings)
|
year
round
|
|
|
Coho
salmon
|
mid-July
through September
|
Late
July through early
September
|
|
Pink
salmon
|
mid-June
through late August
|
Late
July
|
|
Chum
salmon
|
May
through August
|
June
and July
|
|
rockfish
|
year
round
|
year
round
|
|
lingcod
|
July
through December
|
July
through September
|
|
Pacific
halibut
|
February
through December
|
early
June through mid-August
|
Best freshwater times in the Valdez area
(ADF&G data)
|
Species
|
Availability
|
Peak
|
|
Pink
salmon
|
July
through September
|
August
|
|
Coho
salmon
|
August
through October
|
mid-September
through early October
|
|
Sockeye
salmon
|
mid
to late June
|
mid
to late June
|
|
Dolly
Varden Char
|
year
round
|
June
and July
|
|
rainbow
trout
|
year
round
|
June
through August
|
|
artic
grayling
|
year
round
|
May
through September
|
We invite a Valdez
fishing service provider to advertise in this spot. The cost is $60 for a
year. You can provide up to 50 words. We will include a
hyperlink to your website.
We want to provide visitors a good illustration of what fishing is
like in Valdez -- and show what you are doing, too. If you would
like to provide a picture for this spot, please contact
contact Pam at 1.907.895-4919; 9 - 5 Alaska time. |
Transportation
Valdez lies at sea level and is reachable by land, sea, or air. A 35 minute jet flight from Anchorage can put you there, or you can elect to drive the 305 mile route through stunning interior scenery of mountain passes, waterfalls, and desolate road wilderness.
One of the more interesting ways to arrive at Valdez is via the
Alaska Marine Highway, where you can ferry your vehicle from Whittier
(just east of Anchorage) to the port itself. This is by far the most scenic way to discover the majesty of Prince William Sound. Visitors also have the opportunity to experience the best of both worlds by traveling back to Anchorage via the interior highway. However, space is
usually limited in the months, so plan on making reservations months ahead.
 Weather
Weather conditions in Prince William Sound can change quickly -- layered clothing and raingear are a must. Mid-summer is the best time for favorable weather, with average highs ranging form the 50’s to 70’s
Destination Information Resources
The Chamber of Commerce in Valdez has an excellent
website. Consult the Alaska Marine Highway if you plan to ship your vehicle, and most importantly, check out the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s website for more detailed information on fishing in Valdez.
You can also check out the onroute.com
page for information regarding camping, hotels, and a brief history of
the area.
Other resources
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game Publication: Fishing for Salmon in Prince William Sound
(PDF file)
Valdez area sport fishing opportunities ADF&G publication (PDF file)
The ADF&G
Sport Fish Division for Southcentral Alaska
Alaska
Wildlife (including fish) Notebook Series
Current fishing
report from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (updated regularly during the
summer months)
Valdez
|
Search the Alaska Outdoors Supersite for
fishing information
|
Area Descriptions for Southcentral
Alaska
Anchorage
fishing
Cordova fishing
Homer fishing
Kenai fishing
Kodiak fishing
Matanuska/Susitna/West Cook Inlet fishing
Prince William Sound fishing
Seward fishing
Upper Copper / Upper Susitna area
fishing
Valdez fishing
Whittier Fishing
Area Descriptions for other regions of the state
Southeast
Arctic, Yukon and Kuskokwim
|
