Catch Care

Alaska Salmon is nutritious and delicious. To ensure a great meal, you need the right equipment for catching and harvesting your fish.

Angler Stewardship

Proper fishing practices help preserve Alaska's abundant salmon resources and fishing opportunities.

• Keep only fish that you will use. Release the rest unharmed.
• Keep injured fish unless prohibited by size or bag limit regulations.
• Follow fishing regulations and help protect salmon habitat.

Landing

Extended fighting adversely affects the quality of fish you harvest and survival rates of fish you release.

• Keep your fish in the water until you know it's a "keeper."
• Avoid bruising—don't let fish flop about.
• Use a soft or knotless mesh landing net.

Removing Hooks

• Use needle-nose pliers to back the hook out.
• Remove hooks quickly and gently with your fish in the water.
• When hooked deeply, cut the line and leave the hook in the fish.

Releasing

• Keep fish in the water as much as possible.
• Handle fish with wet hands.
• Cradle large fish gently with both hands.
• Keep your fingers out of the gills and eyes.
• Never squeeze your fish.

Harvesting

• Quickly stun your catch with a sharp blow to the back of the head.
• Don't kick or toss your fish. This will bruise the flesh.
• Bleed your catch immediately—cut through the gill arch, allowing blood to pump out.
• Gut fish right after bleeding and remove the kidney "blood line" with your thumb or a spoon.
• Keep fish cool until cooking or processing.