Fishing Ketchikan, Alaska - Best Fishing Options, Top Rated Ketchikan Fishing Charters & Fishing Resorts

Ketchikan, Alaska, The First City, and the Salmon Capital of the World is a modest city of 8,300 people sitting along the beautiful Inside Passage midpoint on Revillagigedo island. Ketchikan features a deep and vibrant native history and culture that is very much alive and active today. It is known as the city of totem poles and for a good reason. These remarkable pieces of native art and culture are everywhere. It sits in such a spot that one could spend their entire vacation doing nothing more than admiring the beautiful scenery. Yet, many people come here to fish the salmon-rich waters of the Inside Passage and the Tongass Narrows.

The Alaska Marine Highway runs through Ketchikan, and you can fly here thanks to the Ketchikan International Airport. Getting here is not difficult, though the Alaska State Ferry System can take several days. It is much easier to fly here and rent a car unless you are bringing a vehicle or RV.

Ketchikan has a lot to offer everyone. It is a city with a deep and rich native history, and it is full of monuments. It sits in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and many outdoor activities include options for the whole family. Fishing is one reason people come here, but it is rarely all that they discover they love once they arrive.

Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, and the calm waters around the Inside Passage never disappoint. The town is also a major cruise ship port of call and makes an excellent base for those who want to explore the area.

Things to do here include sea kayaking and guided tours of both the city and the remarkable surrounding area. Misty Fjords National Monument makes a beautiful example. The multi-million-acre national monument runs deep into the Tongass National Park as it sits between the mountains and the ocean. Expect sweeping 3,000-foot snow-capped mountains that end dramatically at the deep and steep Fjords. Sit and watch the glaciers calve or take a tour of the quiet bays and enjoy the wildlife. Sit and watch eagles soar, orcas hunt, or the mountain goats play amid the high reaches of the snow-capped mountains. There are wolves, black bears, wolverines, otters, sea lions, many sea birds, terrestrial birds, and whales here.

The local area has many hiking areas that are DIY or guided, and with two harbors, you can find many companies that offer tours of the Fjords, monuments, and national parks. Inside the city is a wealth of historical and cultural venues. The Ketchikan Waterfront Promenade is park-like and dotted with monuments, historical markers, and benches from which you can watch endless sunsets and take in the majestic wilderness views. An excellent walking tour for the DIY or for those who want a guide is Creek Street, which features a long wooden boardwalk suspended over Ketchikan Creek.

Lodging is relatively easy, though, with the significant number of visitors who come here each summer, reservations are required. You can find luxury fishing lodges, cabins and vacation rentals, and even campgrounds. Settlers Cove State Recreation Area, which is 18-miles outside of Ketchikan, offers RV and Tent Camping. Signal Creek Campground also makes a beautiful destination for tent campers. It is not difficult to find the perfect place to call home in Ketchikan or the surrounding area.