Fishing Ship Creek
Location: Downtown Anchorage
Map: USGS - Anchorage A-8 NW
Delorme
- Pages 82-83
Fishing Pressure: Moderate to Intense
Key Species: King Salmon, Silver Salmon
Tides: Anchorage Tide Chart
Where I grew up, fishing downtown meant catching carp
and coat hangers. But in Alaska, even urban fishing can be incredible.
Where else can you be fighting a forty-pound King Salmon ten minutes
after leaving the office or thirty minutes after your plane touches
down?
Of course we aren’t letting you in on any secret here. Ship Creek
is very well known and very accessible. In fact it is one of the only
places you can experience urban combat fishing. But despite the crowds,
a trip to the north side of downtown Anchorage can be well worth your
time. Especially if you are trying to squeeze a few more casts in before
your flight home.
There are a few other things that make Ship Creek unique
to the area. First, other than a small run at Eagle River and the stocked
fishery at the Eklutna
Tailrace, this is the only location near Anchorage you can fish
for King Salmon. Also, this is one of the few non-glacial salmon streams
in the area. The water typically runs clear, except after rain storms
or spring flooding.
The fishable section of the creek is just a short, half
mile stretch, from the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet to the demarcation
cable just below the dam at the Chugach Power Plant.This short length
makes the creek very easy to learn. Try to fish the creek an hour or
two before or after the slack tide to catch the next wave of chrome
salmon coming in from the salt water.
Ship Creek Salmon Runs
There are two main salmon runs on Ship Creek, a King
Salmon run from early June until the season closure on July 15th
and a Silver Salmon run that starts
in very late July and runs until Late October. The run peaks in late
July through August. In addition to these runs there is a moderate Pink
Salmon run on even years. Also, there are occasional Chum Salmon and
Dolly Varden and very infrequent Sockeyes.
Only the stretch downstream of the dam to the Knik Arm
is open to salmon fishing. However, above the dam there is a catch and
release Rainbow Trout fishery. For those not interested in fishing,
there is fantastic fish watching from the platforms around the dam.
In fact, if you lost tackle while fighting a fish, or if you were wondering
what other fishermen are using, go to the platform and check out the
collection of tackle embedded into the fish in the sanctuary below the
dam.
General Ship Creek Fishing Regulations
There are just a few regulations specific to Ship Creek
to be aware of. First, salmon fishing is only allowed from the creek's
mouth to the marked cable, 100 feet below the dam. Also, there are a
few closures for King Salmon. The King Salmon season usually ends mid-July
(July 13th in 2004) and the creek is closed from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM
for the duration of the King Salmon season to aid in escapement.
Remember, the limit is one King Salmon per day and once
you harvest a fish, you must register the fish on your King Salmon harvest
card and stop fishing immediately. For more detail on regulations check
the pages for the King Salmon and
Silver Salmon runs. Also,
be sure to check current regulations and the Alaska
Fish and Game site for up to the minute regulations and emergency
orders.
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