How to Catch Rockfish – Fun and Easy Fish to Catch

Rockfish are caught in the Pacific Ocean and are found in large numbers from southern California to northern Alaska. Personally, I have fished for rockfish in Sitka Alaska and Juneau Alaska on bottom fishing trips when running charter boats. There are 130 different species of rockfish. Rockfish are frequently caught when fishing for halibut, ling cod, and salmon.

Using herring is a sure way to catch rockfish. Herring can be used on a mooching rig, halibut rig, chicken rig, or placed on the tip of jigs and lures. When trolling for salmon with downriggers it is common to catch rockfish on hoochies and spoons. Swim jigs and bucktail jigs are good artificial bait to catch rockfish. Yelloweye rockfish are commonly caught when halibut fishing in water deeper than 200 feet. Make sure to have a rockfish release device on the boat to properly send fish caught deep back to depth.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski with a rockfish caught on a salmon rig

Rockfish are one of the most common and easiest types of fish to catch in the north pacific. However, there are over 130 types of rockfish and some rockfish are rare to catch. The basic strategy for catching rockfish is to first mark them on the fish finder. When targeting rockfish it is common to fish in less than 100 feet of water.

In Alaska, these fish are placed into two categories, pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish. Common Pelagic rockfish are dusky rockfish and black rockfish. Pelagic rockfish are often caught in water ranging from 40-200 feet deep and swim in large schools around rock-piles and reef structures.

Non-pelagic rockfish are typically found in deep water from 100-600 feet deep near any bottom structure. These fish are less common and include the quillback rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. Most pelagic rockfish that get caught are 7-30 years old compared to non-pelagic rockfish that are typically 15-75 years old but can live to be over 190 years old.

Rockfish are a fun target when catching lots if fish is the goad and they are also a great eating fish. It is important to locate rockfish with a fish finder before dropping baits. This is especially true when anchoring in one spot. If you are drifting you can locate fish while you drift. Depending on the current rockfish will move around rock piles and humps. Fish can be piled up on the hump, down-current, up-current, or on a certain depth on a ledge. It is important to move around initially and find the fish!

Finding Rockfish

Rockfish are relatively easy to target and are a great eating fish. It is important to locate rockfish with a fish finder before dropping baits. This is especially true when anchoring in one spot. If you are drifting you can locate fish while you drift. Depending on the current rockfish will move around rock piles and humps. Fish can be piled up on the hump, down-current, up-current, or on a certain depth on a ledge. It is important to move around initially and find the fish!

Rockfish can be caught from zero feet deep to over 1800 feet deep. Most rockfish are in 20-400 feet of water along rocky bottom structures. They are often found in large schools suspended in the water as well. Pacific rockfish are found from northern Alaska all the way to southern California.

Fishing Methods for Rockfish


Mooching Method

herring for rockfish bait

A mooching rig is typically baited with herring. This is a common technique used for salmon fishing but also works the best for rockfish when fishing in under 200 feet of water. Rockfish can be caught on almost any structure you find in the water. Typically I look for a shallow peak in about 60 feet of water with deeper water around the peak. While drifting over the peak I look for rockfish on the fish finder on the bottom or suspended above the bottom. This tells me what depth to target the rockfish when mooching. Typically the schools of rockfish are suspended 10 to 40 feet off the bottom. The large non-pelagic rockfish are usually right on the bottom in water deeper than 100 feet.  In the video below I show how to hook up the bait and how to mooch.

Mooching Leader

mooching herring leader for rockfish fishing

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This is a pre-made 40-pound leader with a 4/0 and a 5/0 hook. The length is about 6-feet. Each hook is tied to the leader with snell knots. The herring is hooked on using the front hook. The hook is placed through the membrane on the bottom jaw of the fish. It then comes around to the other side of the fish and is placed through the center of the head securing it in some meat. The back hook can hang free or be placed in the top of the back behind the dorsal fin. Having the trailing hooks helps with the bite to catch ratio. When you get a bite while mooching you need to reel up any slack quickly.

Mooching Slider

mooching slider for rockfish rig

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This red 1-1/2 inch slider is where the lead weight is attached. This slider is placed above the bead swivel on the mainline. Sometimes this slider is black but red is the most common color. A gum pucky can be placed in front of the slider but this is optional. The long side of the slider goes toward the bead swivel on the rig. The swivel makes it so mooching weights can be quickly put on and off the rig. When traveling from location to location the weight usually stays on the rig and is wrapped around the reel of the fishing pole.

Six Bead Swivel

six bead chain swivel for rockfish mooching rig

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A six-bead swivel is the most common type of swivel used on a mooching rig. Any quality swivel could be used. I have used a ball-bearing barrel swivel and it works great as well. The swivel helps minimize the line from getting twisted as the bait spins. The mainline is tied to one end of the swivel and the leader is tied to the other end of the swivel.

Round Ball Sinker Weight

lead weights for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A lead weight of 6 or 8 ounces is used when mooching for rockfish. Banana weights were common for years but most people are using round weights these days.  The swivel on the slider rig is placed through the metal ring on the weight. This is a quick way to add and change weights throughout the day. In a current, the 6-ounce weight is best as it is easier to reel up. In a strong current 8-ounces is often needed to reach the bottom.


Circle Hook Bottom Rockfish Rig

the best bait on a circle hook

The best bait to catch large pelagic rockfish is lots of fresh bait on a circle hook. This is how we fish for halibut but sometimes we have to move and do not fish certain areas because we would catch too many rockfish. This rig also lets you fish deep and in strong currents. In the video below I show exactly how to make this rig. Typical bait includes herring, pollock, pink salmon, squid, and octopus. When targeting rockfish you want the bait to be very close to the bottom. If you are targeting halibut and lingcod the bait should be about 15-feet off the bottom which should reduce the number of non-pelagic rockfish that will be caught.  Rockfish show up good on the fish finder right on the bottom. If the bottom is varying in-depth and not flat chances are there will be rockfish in that spot.

Circle Hook

rockfish circle hook size 14

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A size 14 hook is perfect for rockfish. Typically I use a size 16 hook because I am mostly halibut fishing and then also catch rockfish. I tie a perfection loop and put the loop through the eye of the hook. This makes the hook tip role into the fish’s lip. I explain and show how to make the rig in the video below. These hooks do not rust and stay pretty sharp. If you use the same hook for a month straight I would recommend sharpening the hook. This rig is fished best fished with a 30-50 class conventional fishing reels.

Round Lead Cannonball Weight

lead weights for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This weight comes in sizes from 1 ounce to 4 pounds. These round weights work perfectly for bottom fishing. I typically use a two-pound weight. A one-pound weight typically works in under 200 feet of water. If there is a really strong current a three-pound weight is needed to keep the rig on the bottom. If anglers have a hard time reeling up heavy lead weights an electric fishing reel can be used.

Green Braided Twine Leader

braided nylon twine for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Size 36 braided nylon twine works great for making leaders. This is often referred to as ganyen line. This spool comes with 541 feet of rope. In the video below, I show how to tie the knots with this twine. The exact line I was using was in the video was Ashaway tuna leader, green in color. This tuna line had a solid braided nylon core with a strength of 150 pounds. It comes in 1 pound spools for around $50.

Barrel Swivels

barrel swivels for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A size 2/0 barrel swivel works for two of the swivels of the custom bottom rig. Any large barrel swivel would work. One of these swivels is tied between the mainline and the twine. The other swivel is tied to the monofilament line and is attached to the snap swivel on the end of the twine. This makes it so the bait can be quickly changed out. Typically I have several of the bottom leader hooks baited up and ready to replace the old bait when a fish is caught or the bait is checked.

Snap Swivels

snap swivels for rockfish rig

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Size 6/0 snap swivels are used to attach the lead weights and to attach the bottom leader to the twine. Any large snap swivels would work for this. Always make sure the swivels are closed before dropping the bait.

Heavy Monofilament Leader Line

rockfish leader line for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A clear 100-pound leader line is used for the bottom leader. Rockfish and halibut are not leader shy and many people including commercial fishermen just tie the hook directly to ganyen or twine. I like to have a clear leader. I have had the 100-pound line break a few times when leadering large halibut that I was trying to release.

In the video above I show how to tie the best bottom rigs for big rockfish and halibut.

Catching rockfish salmon and halibut in Alaska


Chicken Rig Method

chicken rig for bottom fishing

The most common way to bottom fish all over the world is to use a chicken rig. This rig has a weight on the bottom and two hooks that are tied about two feet apart using dropper loop knots. The mainline is attached to the rig with a barrel swivel. The weight on the bottom can be tied to or wrapped around a perfection loot knot.

Rockfish typically eat herring, sand lace, other rockfish, and crustaceans. Cut herring is a great bait to use for all types of rockfish. If the baitfish in the area are sardines, anchovy, or smelt that would be a good option as well. Cut the bait into one or two-inch pieces and put a chunk on each hook. When targeting bigger fish put the whole baitfish on the hook. Rockfish typically bite as soon as the bait is on the bottom. So be ready to set the hook and check the bait after getting a bite, especially if you do not get a bite for a while.

Circle Hook for Bottom Rig

octopus circle hook for rockfish bottom rig

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A circle hook works well because it is hard to feel the bite of small rockfish to properly set the hook because of the large weights typically needed. With circle hooks, the fisherman does not need to set the hook. Size 5/0 is good for small rockfish and 8/0 is good for large rockfish.

Seguar Fluorocarbon Leader Line

seagur leader line for rockfish rig

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

50-pound Seaguar leader line for the leader material. In reality, expensive fluorocarbon is not needed for rockfish. Any 50-pound fishing line that is available will work. If you are just going to catch rockfish even a 20-pound line would work. Eventually, a big fish will bite though so I like using a 50-pound line for bottom rigs.

Crane Swivels

afw crane swivels for rockfish chicken rig

Buy from Amazon

Thes AFW mighty crane swivels in 310-pound strength are good for making chicken rigs. One of these swivels is used to tie the main line to the leader line.

Bottom Rig Weight

lead weights for rockfish rigs

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

For chicken rigs, one ounce to one pound weights are typically used. It depends on the depth of water and the strength of the current. If the current is really strong a 2-pound weight might be needed. If the rockfish are small it might be hard to feel a bite with a two-pound weight on the line.

In the video above I show how to tie the best dropper loop for chicken rigs.

rockfish caught on a double bottom fishing rig in Alaska


Jigging Techniques for Rockfish

Jigs are good to have in the water because the jigging motion attracts fish and keeps them hanging around the other lines as well. If you do not need large weights to fight the current, a jig with a teaser would be my number one rockfish rig.

Swim Jig With a Teaser

lighhouse lures mega bite rockfish jig

Buy from Amazon

The mega bite jig is 9-inches in length and weighs 14-ounces. This large jig is good for big non-pelagic rockfish. I would recommend placing a teaser hook about 18 inches above the jig. This is done by tying a dropper loop in the line and sliding the loop through the eye of the hook. I show how to do this in the video below. A piece of cut bait should be added to the teaser hook. This adds scent and will probably catch more fish than the jig itself.

I would recommend placing a teaser hook about 18 inches above the jig. This is done by tying a dropper loop in the line and sliding the loop through the eye of the hook. A piece of cut bait should be added to the teaser hook. This adds scent and will probably catch more fish than the jig itself.

dusky rockfish and quillback rockfish


Swim Jigs

mega bite max purple morris 6 ounce jig

These swim jigs are 8 inches in length and weigh 6 ounces. There are 9 different color patterns. Four of the color patterns are glow in the dark which helps attract fish in deep water.  The two hooks on the bait help the bite to catch ratio. These jigs are perfect for catching rockfish in under 100 feet of water.

These jigs look similar to herring a common fish for rockfish to eat. A teaser hook can also be tied above these jigs. Pieces of cut bait such as squid can be placed on the hooks to add scent to the jig. Also, pro-cure herring scent gel can be applied to the outside of the jig to add scent.

Yelloweye rockfish and halibut caught in alaska


Curly tail Jig

squirrely shirley 8 ounce rockfish jig

Buy from Amazon

Gibbs Delta 8 ounce jig with a white lead head and a white tail. This is a very popular jig for bottom fishing. This works well to catch rockfish, halibut, and lingcod. Again I would recommend placing a teaser hook with bait about 18-inches above the jig. This jig has a sleek profile and sinks quickly.

Cody Wabiszewski with black rockfish and yelloweye rockfish caight in Sitka Alaska


Tsunami Holographic Rockfish Jig

tsunami holographic sand eel sand lance halibut jig

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The Tsunami holographic sand eel jigs are good to use for rockfish around sand flats and gravel flats. Sand lance live in these areas and look very similar to this jig.

It comes in sizes of 6-inch 3/4 ounce, 7-inch 1 ounce, 8-inch 1-1/5 ounce, and 9-inch 2-1/2 ounce. Color options are black-back and olive-back both of which have a reflective green holographic appearance.  These jigs can also catch halibut and salmon.


Bucktail Rockfish Jig

spro bucktail jig for halibut fishing

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Bucktail Jigs are a widely used jig to catch many types of fish including rockfish. These jigs come in 8 size options ranging from 1/2 ounce to 5.5 ounces. Good color options for rockfish include spearing blue, red-white, chartreuse, blue shad, and sand eel green. The best way to add scent to this jig is with a Gulp curly tail grub.

Rockfish Jig Point Wilson Dart

halibut jig candlefish point wilson dart

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The Point Wilson Dart candlefish jig is a popular verticle jig in the north pacific to catch rockfish, salmon, and halibut.  It comes in sizes ranging from 2-1/4 ounces to 6 ounces. Good color options for rockfish include blue-gold, green nickel, and green-yellow. This dart jig sinks fast and the 6-ounce version can fish up to 250 feet deep in most currents. The treble hook works well at hooking rockfish.


Using Hoochies and Squid Skirts

gold star mother of pearl twinkle skirt for hoochie rig

Buy from Amazon

This gold star Mother of Pearl Twinkle Skirt is a must-have beneath all hoochies. Alone is looks like a fly or a sand lace. When added to a hoochie it gives thickness and flash to the bait. The plastic dome at the front also spaces the hoochie further forward on the hook. Otherwise, beads are needed for spacing.  I put this on a mooching leader with two snelled hooks. This could also be placed on a single open eye hook using a barrel swivel and bead for spacing.

Goldstar Hoochie For Rockfish

gold star ultra violet green hoochie squid bait

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Goldstar green glow hoochie skirts. These 4 1/4 inch squid baits work great to catch both rockfish and salmon. These can be placed on a mooching rig or on the dropper loops on the chicken rig. Rockfish are pretty aggressive and will bait most baits. The advantage of a hoochie over cut bait is that it will not come off the hook. When using live bait after 10 seconds on the bottom you normally catch a fish or have the bait stolen. Having bait and hoochie makes it so you still have bait in the water.


Rockfish Ball Jig with a Hoochie

ball jigs with hoochie stinger for halibut fishing

Buy from Amazon

Flue ball jigs are a good way to fish for rockfish. These can be fishing on salmon mooching rod and reels. The jig consists of a chrome weighted head connected to a hoochie with two hooks. Bait can be added to the hooks.

Size options for these jigs are 1-ounce, 2-ounce, 3-ounce, 4-ounce, 5-ounce, and 6-ounce. Each set comes with six jigs in colors of gold-orange, root beer, orange, black-purple, and bright pink. Placing a teaser bait above the jigs is a great way to fish for rockfish and can allow more than one fish to be caught at a time.


Proper Handling and Release of Rockfish

Rockfish have a swim bladder that does not vent. When reeling fish up from deep depths rockfish suffer from barotrauma. This is when the swim bladder expands and even the eyes of the fish can pop out of their sockets due to the pressure change. The fish is going to die unless it is brought back to depth with a fish descender. There are many fish descender devices.

The state of Alaska requires that all rockfish caught at depth are released with a rockfish release device. People are also encouraged to practice fishing techniques to reduce the number of unwanted rockfish to be caught. This can be done by fishing for other species first. Also when fishing for halibut and lingcod the bait should be kept 10-15 feet off the bottom. It has been shown that less rockfish will be caught and will not affect the catch rates of halibut or lingcod.

Rockfish Release Devices

Seaqualizer Fish Descender

 

seaqualizer rockfish release device

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The Seaqualizer works by attaching the fish to the clip, adding weight, and tying the other end to a fishing pole. The fish is sent back to depth and when the fish reaches 100 feet, 200 feet or 300 feet the gripper opens and the fish is released. The depth it opens at varies depending on the selected setting. This is the best way to release fish that are caught in deep water. If the rockfish is large the seaqualizer will need to be clipped to a downrigger weight and descended using the downrigger.

In the video above I show the many different types of rockfish release devices.

Simple Fish Descender

fish decender

Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This simple fish descender works well for releasing small rockfish with a one-pound weight. If the rockfish are two large even a three-pound weight will not get them to sink. This is when the Seaqualizer needs to be hooked to the downrigger to descend the rockfish.

Fish Vent Tool

fish venting tool

Fish vent tool or needle. Do not use a fish vent tool. It is illegal in the state of Alaska. This works by placing the needle under a scale of the fish to release or vent the air from the swim bladder. The fish should then be able to swim back to depth. Studies have shown that the survival rate is much higher if a fish descender is used to bring the fish back to depth without puncturing the fish with a needle. The main problem with venting a fish is the injury might not heal and the fish will die. Often times the puncture area becomes infected.


Types of Rockfish and Their Characteristics

Yelloweye Rockfish

Yelloweye rockfish are a common type of rockfish to catch and get up to 3 feet long which would be about a 40-pound fish. Female yelloweye rockfish have over two million eggs and give live birth. This fish is sometimes called a Pacific red snapper but is not the same species of red snapper commonly caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Alaska is the best location to catch Yelloweye rockfish.

Captain Cody with a huge yelloweye rockfish caught in Alaska

Quillback Rockfish

Quillback rockfish are common non-pelagic rockfish to catch and get up to 2 feet long. It has sharp venomous quills on its dorsal fin and also gives live birth.

Dusky Rockfish

Dusky rockfish are a very common fish to catch and get up to 20 inches long which would be about a 10-pound fish. Female dusky rockfish have over 100,000 eggs and give live birth.

Rockfish as Food

Rockfish is one of the best-eating fish in the north pacific. Similar to grouper it is often sold in restaurants. Rockfish do not have a high fillet weight to total fish weight. For comparison halibut get a 65 percent yield, salmon get a 76 percent yield and rockfish get a 49 percent yield. This is comparing the weight of the fish gutted to the filet weight with the skin on. These rates do vary based on the size of the fish.

Black rockfish get the highest yield percentage at 56 percent. Recreational anglers can keep three of these per day in Alaska and black rockfish are often targeted when salmon or halibut fishing is slow. Non-pelagic rockfish have a much lower quota, for example, only one yelloweye rockfish can be caught per angler per year. This is because these fish have a slow growth rate and long life.


Frequently asked Questions
Is rockfish the same as red snapper?

Yelloweye rockfish are sometimes called the pacific red snapper. In my option, they look more like a bright orange grouper than red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico. Red Snapper and yellow rockfish are two different species and are not the same fish. Another common name mistake is that people on the east coast call striped bass, rockfish. Striped bass look completely different from rockfish.

Is rockfish a healthy fish to eat?

Yes, rockfish is a healthy fish to eat as it is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Rockfish should be consumed in moderation though as it contains moderate levels of mercury. Black rockfish or seabass is the best type of rockfish to eat in my opinion. Rockfish are commonly served in restaurants and are a popular fish to eat.

How much weight is needed when fishing for rockfish? 

The amount of weight needed to catch rockfish varies depending on the water depth. In less than 100 feet of water, a 4-6 ounce weight can be typically be used. In strong currents and deep water, 1-2 pounds of weight is needed to get the bait near the bottom where the fish are typically located.

Using heavy weights can make feeling the bite and setting the hook difficult. Using small circle hooks and less weight when possible makes fishing for rockfish easier and more fun, especially when fishing with kids! There are specific limits for each type of rockfish so be prepared to use a fish descender or fish shallower water once a limit is reached to ensure that the released fish survive.

How do you catch vermilion rockfish?

A vermillion rockfish looks very similar to yelloweye rockfish. These are caught with the same baits and jigs as other rockfish. To target this specific type of rockfish anglers will have to find areas with a high population of vermilion rockfish. It is hard to know where this will be though unless you fish lots of different spots and notice a spot that frequently catches this type of rockfish. In Sitka Alaska, I know a good spot with lots of vermillion rockfish in about 100 feet of water.

How old do yelloweye rockfish get? 

Different types of rockfish have different lifespans. The types of rockfish that live the longest are the shortraker rockfish which live about 120 years and the rougheye which live around 140 years.  The oldest rockfish ever caught was a shortraker that was about 200 years old.  Yelloweye rockfish have lifespans up to 121 years old.

How big do rockfish get? 

The world record shortraker rockfish was 44 pounds 1-ounce pounds caught in Cross Sound Alaska in 2017. For yelloweye rockfish, the world record is 39 pounds 4 ounces caught in Whalers Cove Alaska.

How to Use a Fish Descender: Rockfish Release Device for Fish Caught in Deep-Water

As a charter captain who has worked in the Florida Keys, Virgin Islands, and Alaska, I have learned that properly releasing fish caught in deep water is essential for conservation. When fish are brought up from depths over 50 feet, they often suffer from barotrauma which is a condition caused by the rapid expansion of gases in their swim bladder. In this article, I will discuss how to properly use fish descenders to safely release these fish back to their depths.

Types of fish descenders and rockfish release devices

Understanding Barotrauma in Fish

When a fish is reeled up from deep water, the decreased pressure causes the gases in its swim bladder to expand dramatically. This can result in:

  • Bulging eyes
  • Stomach protruding from the mouth
  • Inflated swim bladder
  • Inability to swim back down

Without proper intervention, these fish will float on the surface and eventually die. The good news is that with the right technique and tools, many of these fish can survive if properly released.

Why Use a Fish Descender?

Fish descenders are specialized tools designed to return fish to deeper depths where the increased pressure will recompress the expanded gases in their bodies. This gives the fish a much better chance of survival compared to other methods.

In my experience guiding fishing trips, I’ve found that even fish with severe signs of barotrauma can recover when properly returned to depth. deepwater release studies have shown that fish released with descenders have over a 98 percent survival rate in water depths up to 236 feet.

In some regions, using fish descenders isn’t just good practice – it’s the law. In Alaska, for example, it’s illegal to use a vent tool on rockfish, and every boat must have a rockfish release device (fish descender) on board. Similarly, federal waters from North Carolina to Florida require anglers to have a fish descender available.

Fish Descenders and Rockfish Release Devices


Seaqualizer Fish Descender

seaqualizer deep water release device for rockfish grouper and snapper

The Seaqualizer is becoming the most popular rockfish release device used in Alaska. It works by clamping the top or bottom lip of the fish with the lip grippers. The other side is connected to a weight or downrigger ball. Each device can be released at three different depths, 30, 50, and 70 feet for the shallow device, 50, 100, 150 feet for the standard model, and 100, 200, 300 feet for the deep model. There are three groves in the back that adjust the release depth. All the way out is the shallower setting and pushed in is the deepest setting.

A small rockfish in 100 feet of water or less will probably only need a 1 pound weight sink. Large yelloweye rockfish and snowy grouper caught in 200 feet or more will likely take 3-5 pounds of lead weight to sink. If the depth setting is not deep enough the fish will rise back to the surface and die. It is hard to recover the fish again when on anchor. The fish should be sent down as close as possible to the original depth. Here is a chart showing some of the types of rockfish.

The video above shows how to use a Seaqualizer deep water fish descender. It has an underwater video of the rockfish being brought back to depth. This helps demonstrate that fish with serous barotrauma such as an inverted stomach, bulging eyes, and an inflated swim bladder can survive if properly released. This has been done in many videos showing that when the expanded air is compressed back to its original size the fish can survive. Venting a fish brought up from deep depths would not be enough to allow the fish to swim back down. That is one reason why a fish descender must be used.


Sheldon Fish Descender

shelton fish descender

The Sheldon release device is another popular type of fish descender, especially for fish under 5 pounds. It works by adding a 1-3 pound lead weight to one end. The fish lip is placed on the hook and the weight brings the fish deep. After a long count depending on the depth, the rig then starts to be brought back up, and the fish slides off the hook. At this point, the air within the fish will be back to a small volume, and the fish should be fine.

2 pound weight with sheldon fish descender style rockfish release device

The picture above shows a fish descended with a lead ball weight attached. On the other end is a swivel which has the line coming from the fishing rod.

The video below shows a fish with barotrauma being released with a deepwater release device. This is a large yelloweye rockfish and three pounds of weight is needed to sink the fish.


Crate Box Fish Descender

Modified egg crate as a fish descender or rockfish release device

This is a unique way to build a custom fish descended. It is a milk crate with a clear plastic top. On the bottom, the rebar is attached to add weight. A rope is used to lower and raise the crate. This is nice as it is a dedicated system to release rockfish. Disadvantages are that it takes up room in the boat and can be lots of work to hand pull this every time a rockfish is caught especially at deep depths.

In the video above I show many different types of rockfish release devices. This was filmed at a rockfish release device seminar in Sitka Alaska. This was a Alaska Department of Fishing and Game event to educate fisherman on the proper way to release rockfish.


Rock Lee’s Fish Descender

Rock Lee spring loaded fish descender release device

Rock Lee’s Fish descended is a great way to release rockfish. The only problem is they can be difficult to find for sale. It works by attaching the fish to the front grippers, a weight to the bottom clip, and a fishing line to the top clip. Once the fish has reached the desired depth pulling up sharply on the line opens the front gripper so the fish comes off.

The video below is a great example of how many types of fish descenders work. A GoPro underwater camera is used by the anglers to show the fish recovering as they are brought back to depth. It also shows them swimming away safely.  In the video, the homemade inverted jig, milkcrate, Rock Lee’s device, Seaqualizer, and Sheldon fish descender are all shown.


Fish Saver Pro

fish descender descedning device for deep water release

Fishsaverpro is a simple rockfish release device. The weight is attached to the bottom loop and the line is tied to the top ball bearing swivel. The hook itself does not have a barb which allows the rockfish to easily slide off once the fish descender reaches the desired depth. This is a simple device but works well. It is a similar design to just using a hook or inverted jig. However, having a swivel to attach the top line is nice. The rig without weight is about 6 inches in length so this is a larger setup than just using an inverted hook with a snap swivel. A snap swivel can be added to the bottom loop to make adding and removing weight be an easier process.


Homemade Inverted Jig Fish Descender

rebar with hook for custom unverted jig style rockfish release device

This is a homemade inverted jig made with rebar, a hook, and stainless steel cable. The large piece of rebar is the weight that makes it sink. Anglers can also use a large jig and tie the line to the u-shape in the hook. The barb should be removed from the hook so the fish will slide off easily. Rebar is not stainless steel so it can leave rust marks on the boat and should be rinsed with fresh water. This jig is sealed in plastic to help prevent this. Having an actual fish descender is better but if it gets lost using a jig is a quick way to improvise and safely release fish that are caught in deep water.


Fish Lip Gripper Custom Fish Descender

fish lip gripper for custom deep water release device

A fish lip gripper can be used to make a nice custom fish descended release device. This is done by attaching the line to the top handle, weight to the bottom handle, and rubber bands around the handle if the gripper opens too easily. It works by securing the fish in the lip gripper and sending it down near the depth the fish was caught at. Then the angler pulls up on the rod and the grippers are forced opened and the fish is safely released. It takes a little work to modify the lip gripper but this is a quick and easy way to release rockfish, grouper, and snapper.

The video below shows the custom fish descender in action. It is made by Oregon Fish and Wildlife. Several different types of rockfish are released using the device. An underwater camera is used to show the fish recovering from the barotrauma as it is brought back to depth. In some cases, the eyes are popping out of the head, and as the fish is brought back to depth the eyes and inverted stomach go back into the fish’s body and it swims off.


Effective Descending Techniques for Different Fish Species

Different species respond differently to barotrauma and may require specific handling:

Rockfish

Rockfish are particularly susceptible to barotrauma and should always be carefully descended. In Alaska waters, I’ve found that:

  • Smaller rockfish (under 5 pounds) in waters under 100 feet typically descend well with 1 pound of weight
  • Larger yelloweye rockfish often require 3+ pounds of weight

Grouper and Snapper

These species commonly suffer barotrauma in deep reef environments:

  • Use heavier weights (2-5 pounds) for larger fish
  • Lip grippers like the Seaqualizer work particularly well for these species

Walleye and Freshwater Species

Yes, even freshwater fish can experience barotrauma when caught from deep water:

  • Typically require less weight (0.5-1 pound)
  • Can often be successfully released with simple hook-style descenders

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In my years guiding fishing trips, I’ve seen people make these common mistakes when using descenders:

  1. Insufficient Weight: Using too little weight is probably the most common error. If the fish doesn’t sink, add more weight.
  2. Improper Depth: Not returning the fish deep enough. If a fish resurfaces after release, it wasn’t taken deep enough.
  3. Too Much Delay: Waiting too long before descending the fish. Act quickly once the fish is brought aboard.
  4. Poor Attachment: Not securing the fish properly to the descender, causing premature release or injury.

Fish Vent Tool

A fish vent tool may seem like a good tool to use to release fish. These devices use a hollow needle to puncture the fish in the swim bladder to release expanded air within the fish. If only the swim bladder is inflated and not other organs such as the eyes, this method can allow the fish to swim back to depth and some anglers think the fish is going to be ok. However, studies have shown this is often not the case. Even a small puncture can cause an infection resulting in the fish dying.

Alaska Fish and Game made it illegal to vent rockfish when fishing in Alaska. It is required that a fish descender is on the boat and used when fish are caught in deep water. In federal water from North Carolina to Florida anglers are required to have a fish descended on the boat as well and are not to use a vent tool. The fish descender must be readily available and have at least 16 ounces of weight to meet the Federal requirements. However, more weight is often needed.

Anglers Choice Vent Tool

fish vent tool with needle

Fish vent tools are one-way that anglers can remove excess air from a fish that is brought up from a deep depth. The hollow needle is inserted into the swim bladder by lifting a scale and then puncturing the fish. Studies that were done in the gulf showed that vent tools were somewhat helpful with survival rates. However, most people now agree that using a fish descender rather than a vent toll leads to much higher survival rates of fish. I would strongly discourage anglers from using vent tools when releasing fish. It is the lazy way to do it and leads to a high mortality rate of the fish. It is much better to use a fish descender and bring the fish back close to its original depth for a proper release.

Yandia Fish Venting Tool

fish vent tool for fish swim bladder

This vent tool has a handle the looks like a screwdriver. The needles are between 5 and 6-inches in length and are made of stainless steel. Each needle is hollow in order to vent the air from the fish. To properly vent a fish the swim bladder needs to be punctured with the needle. Never puncture the stomach, intestines, or eyes that might also be bulging from the fish. The needed should be worked under the scales and into the swim bladder. It should remain in the fish until all the air is released.

That is the proper way to use a vent tool. However, the fish survival rates are not good when a vent tool is used. It is much better to use a fish descender to bring the fish back to depth. This takes a little more time but is much better for the conservation of gamefish.


Common Questions about Fish Descenders

What is a fish descender? 

A fish descender is a weighted device that is used to bring a fish back to depth. Some fish will have expanded air inside them when reeled in from a depth greater than 50 feet. Using a fish descender gives the fish the best chance of survival. Small fish under 5 pounds caught in under 100 feet of water depth can typically be sent back down with a 1-pound weight. Larger fish caught deeper can require significantly more weight to sink. Sometimes sending the fish down using a Seaqualizer on a downrigger ball is the best option.

What is a fish vent tool? 

A fish vent tool is a hollow needle that can puncture the swim bladder of the fish releasing most of the air inside the fish. This is done so the air inside the fish that expands when brought up from deep water can be released. This has limited effectiveness though and a fish descender is a better device to use. Some studies show that venting the fish and then using a fish descender is best. In my opinion, it is best to not puncture the fish with a vent tool and release it close to the depth it was caught at using a fish descender.

Do fish Descenders actually safely release fish? 

Yes, deepwater release studies have shown that fish have over a 98 percent survival rate when a fish descended is used in water depths up to 236 feet deep. Some people claim they do not work cause fish re-surface after using the device. The device did not work properly if the fish surfaces again, this is true. However, this is likely due to the fish not being brought back deep enough so it was still too positively buoyant and could not swim back to the bottom.

What is better to use a fish descender or vent tool?

Based on the research studies I reviewed it is much safer for the fish if a fish descended is used. A venting tool can have higher survival rates than not using a vent tool. However, for fish caught at deep depths over 100 feet with significant signs of barotrauma, a fish descender is needed. In Alaska and in federal waters in the South Atlantic ocean, it is required to use a fish descender and not a vent tool.

Do all types of fish need to be sent back with a fish descender?

All types of fish do not need to be vented or released with a fish descender. Halibut and flounder have a swimbladder but it does not typically have enough air in it to prevent the fish from returning to the bottom. Some types of fish such as sharks and rays do not have swim bladders. If you catch a fish and it is floating at the surface after release chances are that it has air built up within it that is not allowing the fish to swim down. Most fish that are caught deeper than 60 feet will need to be released with a fish descender. Common species that suffer from barotrauma include walleye, tilefish, snapper, grouper, and rockfish.


References

1) Wilde, Gene. (2009). Does Venting Promote Survival of Released Fish?. Fisheries. 34. 20-28. 10.1577/1548-8446-34.1.20.

2) Hochhalter, Samuel & Reed, Daniel. (2011). The Effectiveness of Deepwater Release at Improving the Survival of Discarded Yelloweye Rockfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 31. 852-860. 10.1080/02755947.2011.629718.

3) Fisheries, NOAA. “NOAA Fisheries Announces Gear Modifications for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery.” NOAA, 12 June 2020, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-gear-modifications-snapper-grouper-fishery.

4) Possessing Venting Tools and Descending Devices When Fishing for Reef Fish, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 25 May 2017, gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/E-5-Options-Paper-for-Venting-Tools-and-Descending-Devices-1.pdf.

How to Catch Pacific Salmon – Trolling, Mooching, and River Fishing

There are five different types of Pacific salmon which can all be caught from a boat or from shore. The techniques and gear to use vary depending on the location and type of salmon being targeted. In this guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about trolling for salmon, mooching for salmon, and fishing for salmon in rivers and streams based on my years of experience.

Catching salmon is very fun because they fight hard and are great fish to keep and eat. The west coast of the United States is full of wild salmon that run from the San Joaquin river system in California near San Francisco up to the northernmost regions of Alaska.

There are five types of salmon and each type has two names. The salmon types are king or chinook, sockeye or red, coho or silver, chum or dog salmon, and pink or humpy.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski with two king salmon caught trolling in Alaska

In Sitak Alaska and Juneau Alaska, I ran salmon fishing charters where trolling and mooching techniques were used to catch salmon from a boat. I also have fished for salmon in streams in Sitka, Juneau, and the Kenia Peninsula south of Anchorage. This article will focus on catching the five species of pacific salmon. If you are fishing for freshwater salmon check out the article I wrote on catching salmon in the great lakes. The fishing techniques are very similar regardless of where salmon are being caught.


Effective Salmon Fishing Methods

Trolling for Salmon

The most consistent way to catch salmon is to troll offshore. Trolling covers the most water and the lines can be set at different depths to help cover the entire water column. Most commercially caught king and coho salmon are caught with salmon troller boats. Commercial trollers use the same lures and baits but set out about 100 lures rather than one per angler on a recreational fishing boat.

When trolling, it’s important to:

  • Use downriggers to get your bait to the proper depth
  • Set up multiple lines at different depths to locate fish
  • Employ flashers to attract salmon from a distance
  • Vary your trolling speed between 1.5-3 knots depending on the species

Trolling Rig: Flasher with a Hoochie

First, we are going to go over the best trolling lures which are used when fishing for salmon from a boat. The most widely used lure when trolling for salmon is a flasher with a hoochie. This works well even without a baitfish added to the hoochie. Baitfish like herring can be added for scent but does not need to be rigged to spin. The motion of the bait on the flasher is plenty of action. When bait ran without a flasher it should be rigged to spin.

When salmon feed they roll from side to side. The flashers rolling motion looks very similar to the salmon feeding motion and attracts fish. When salmon see this flashing motion they think that a fish is feeding and come investigate. The hoochies should be placed on a 40-60 pound leader. I set the leader length to 30 inches for both king salmon and coho salmon. This leader length is from the back swivel on the flasher to the start of the hoochie. A 30-inch leader would be considered short for king salmon. Most people say to use a leader of 36-46 inches for king salmon and 24-34 inches for coho salmon. Some people talk in overall leader lengths that go to the end of the hoochie. Add 4 inches to the lengths I provided to get overall leader lengths.

Hotspot Flasher Purple Haze UV

hotspot flasher uv purple haze
Buy from Amazon

Hotspot flashers are my favorite salmon flashers. This is an 11-inch flasher with ball-bearing swivels. Purple haze works great for king salmon and chum salmon. On bright sunny days, these have a fantastic reflection in the water. King salmon often have a purple shimmer on their upper backs. Match a purple flasher with a purple and pink hoochie and you have one of the best flasher hoochie color combos. This color works best in water depths less than 100 feet. Salmon can actually see further on the UV light spectrum than humans. This UV color that humans can not see would be another shade of purple. This may be why purple works so well at catching salmon. The ability to see light further on the UV spectrum is said to help salmon feed in dark and murky conditions.

I know commercial trollers like using this purple flasher with pink and purple 2.25-inch mini hoochies also called mini sardines for chum salmon fishing. When fishing for chum salmon the trolling speed should be slow so the flasher drifts side to side not actually making full rolling motions. A good speed is usually around 1.5 knots. The more flashers the better for chum salmon as they travel in large schools and you are trying to get the school to follow the boat.

Boone UV Salmon Hoochie

Boone pink and purple hoochie salmon lure
Buy from Amazon

This pink and purple Boone hoochie squid bait is 4 3/4 inches long and comes with a double hooked snell-tied leader. This is a great hoochie that looks like squid or sand lance baitfish. It comes pre-rigged with a double hook leader which is nice for people unsure how to make salmon leaders. Double hooks help the bite-to-catch ratio. When using downriggers the line releases from the clip and there is slack in the line. Having two hooks helps the bait stay in the fished mouth until the tension is brought back on the line.

The other way to rig a hoochie is with a barrel swivel, beads for spacing, and an open eye hook that attaches to the swivel. This single hooks leader works but having two hooks is better than having one hook.

Black Flash Flasher

lighthouse lures black salmon flasher for king salmon
Buy from Amazon

This is an 11-inch flasher with a glow black jelly color pattern. Both sides have shimmer tape. The overall flasher is black. This is my favorite king salmon flasher color patterns to run on cloudy or rainy days. I also run this flasher as the deep flasher when stacking. Typically it is set anywhere from 80-240 feet in depth. For deep flashers over 80 feet deep I typically run this color or all chrome.

Behind this flasher, I like to run a green haze hoochie or the Ultra-Violet Ace High Fly.

Boone UV Green Haze Hoochie Rig

green salmon hoochie lure for trolling
Buy from Amazon

The Green Haze UV hoochie is 4 3/4 inches in length. It comes with double snell tied hooks that come set up and ready to go fishing. The double hooks make it so the salmon is much more likely to get hooked on a short strike.

Blue and Chrome Salmon Flasher

gibbs delta blue and chrome flasher for salmon trolling
Buy from Amazon

This salmon flasher is 11 inches in length. The blue and chrome flasher is what I use for depths of 100 feet and higher. The color blue shows up deep in the water. For flasher and lures colors it is important to realize that colors disappear when traveling deeper in the water column.  Colors disappear in this order, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and then purple. All colors disappear after 100 feet so you are better off using black, chrome, or glow flasher and lure color patterns.

Goldstar Twinkle Skirt

glitter skirt for salmon mooching rig
Buy from Amazon

This twinkle skirt is 4.25 inches long. The best color is Mother-of-Pearl. A twinkle skirt serves two purposes. First, it adds thickness and flash to the hoochie. Second, the plastic head spaces the hoochie rig further up on the hooks. With this added spacing the second hook hangs just outside of the skirt. This makes it so that if a salmon short strikes that back of the bait it will still get hooked. These come in packs of ten and there are multiple color options. This twinkle skirt by itself looks like a fly and would likely catch fish but hoochies are typically placed overtop.

Silver Horde Goldstar Hoochie Squid Salmon Bait

hoochie the best salmon fishing lures for trolling
Buy from Amazon

The Goldstar hoochie comes in a 5-pack and is 4.25 inches in length. The best color is the green glow. These hoochies look awesome when placed over the Mother-of-Pearl twinkle skirt. This color works great behind any color flasher and at any depth of water. Typically I use this hoochie behind the blue and silver flashers.

The video below shows how to troll for salmon using downriggers. It may seem like basic information but little tricks can get bait and the right depth with the best presentation. These tips can help put more salmon in the boat.  Check out the best downrigger page for more information about salmon fishing with downriggers.


Trolling Rig: Flasher with Herring

The how to use downriggers video above shows the best way to run herring baits with a flasher. The flasher is attached about two feet behind the downrigger ball. The bait is placed on a release clip about two feet above the ball. The line is set about 6 feet back so it sits about three feet behind the flasher. This makes it so the flasher can attract fish and the bait has the best action. When a fish bites the line releases from the clip and fish can be reeled in without having to reel in the flasher.

herring for salmon trilling and salmon mooching

The picture shows three green-labeled herring flats. Each flat has about 12 herring. Each morning these are set out and salt is poured over the herring. This was extra -fine brine salt but any salt will work. Then spray saltwater over the flats and give them a few minutes to soak. Then place the bait in a small cooler. Some people add saltwater to the cooler but I do not. The salt helps to brine the bait which keeps it firm. Without salt, the bait turns soft and will not last as long on a hook. If the bait says cold salt is not really even needed. It does not take much effort to brine the baits so it is good to do when possible. Do not use fresh water on the bait as it might have chlorine and minerals that make the bait smell unnatural to the fish.

Herring Salmon Bait

how to hook herring for salmon fishing

The best bait for salmon is definitely herring. All-day every day herring will catch salmon. People hook up herring as plug-cut herring or whole herring. As long as the bait is spinning it will catch fish. Using the whole herring is faster and easier. In the downriggers video and the how-to mooch for salmon video, I show the best and fastest way to rig herring baits. When fishing blue water for pelagic fish like mahi-mahi and tuna if a bait spins you will not catch fish. With salmon, it is the opposite and if the bait does not spin it will not catch as many fish.

Herring is rigged the same way whether it is being used for trolling or mooching. The front hook is placed through the membrane under the mouth and then through the middle of the head on the other side. The trailing hook can hang free or be placed through the back just behind the dorsal fin.  When running bait connected to a flasher with a hoochie place the front hook in the lower jaw and out the nose then weave the trailing hook in the back and then let it come out and sit free. This makes the bait not spin as much because the flasher will be rolling and creating plenty of action.

Solid Tie Mooching Rig

salmon mooching rig leader
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A 40-pound solid tied mooching rig is perfect for herring and hoochie rigs. The hooks size will be 5/0 and 6/0. I like using both hooks in the 5/0 size but that is not how these rigs come. Do not get slip tie rigs. The bait is pulled from the front and the front hook will slide to the back before a fish bites. Maybe slip tie rigs work better for plug cut herring I am not sure but do not get slip tie rigs when using a whole herring.

Chrome Mylar Pro-Troll Flasher

hotspot chrome mylar flasher
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This is an 11-inch chrome mylar Pro-Troll flasher. When setting the deepest line, solid chrome is my go-to flasher color. This is the flasher that is attached to the downrigger ball that I try and get as close to the bottom as possible without getting snagged on the bottom. Sometimes the flasher comes back scraped up from hitting on rocks and gravel on the bottom. The Silver Horde gold star piscator metal chrome flasher is the one I was using in the downrigger video. This flasher is sometimes used by commercial fishermen.

Any large silver-colored flasher will work. Note that to get to the bottom the downrigger usually needs to be set about 10 percent further down compared to the fish finder depth. At 100 feet the downrigger line counter can typically be set to about 110 feet without touching the bottom. Only get close to the bottom when it is flat and not rocky. Otherwise, it will be difficult to track and gear might get lost.

When using bait above and independent of the flasher it can be smart to drop the bait back when a fish bites but does not get hooked. If the line comes out of the release clip and you know the fish is not then put the reel in free spool. Sometimes the salmon comes back and takes the bait. Most people are better off reeling as fast as possible though because when salmon bite they swim up toward the surface. Not reeling will lose more fish than will be caught dropping the line back. If you do it enough times and get on the reel right away you know if the salmon is there and dropping back can give a second opportunity at the fish.

Captain Cody running a salmon fishing charter in Alaksa

In the picture are silver salmon caught on a half-day charter in Sitka Alaska in early August. These were caught both trolling and mooching but mostly mooching.


Trolling Spoon: Silver Horde Coho Killer

coho killer salmon fishing spoon for silver salmon
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Coho killer spoons work great when trolling. This spoon works with a short leader. The leader should be about 30 inches from the back of a flasher to the start of the spoon. With heavier spoons running a 4-5 foot leaders behind the flasher works great because the spoon will have great independent action. Smaller flashers can be used when coho fishing which makes it faster and easier to reel fish in.

I am fishing with kids from a Disney Cruise Ship in Alaska


Trolling Spoon: Blue Coyote Salmon Lure

blue coyote spoon salmon fishing lure
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The blue Coyote spoon comes in 3.5 and 4-inch models. The 3.5-inch is similar to a coho killer size spoon and goes good on a 30-inch leader behind a blue and chrome flasher. The 4-inch model can be placed behind a flasher with a slightly longer leader around 36 inches. This spoon can also run behind the downrigger ball on a release clip.  The spoon would be about 10 feet behind the ball. Running the spoon about 10 feet past a stacker clip-on at mid-depths on the downrigger line works great as well.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski cathes a huge king salmon while running an Alaskan fishing charter

This was the biggest salmon caught on my boat last season in Sitka Alaska in late June. It was 40-inches long and likely weighed over 30 pounds. The king salmon hit while trolling near the bottom in 120 feet of water and we did not get the line tight with the fish until it was near the boat. It then took several very fast runs around the boat. The first time I netted it there was a hook in the net and the salmon rolled off the net and we almost lost the fish. Luckily the line did not break and we caught the fish on round two of netting.


Trooling Spoon: Dream Weaver Salmon Spoon

dream weaver spoon silver and black
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This silver alewife spoon is 3-3/4 inches long. Dream weaver spoons outfish all other spoons on the great lakes and work great in the ocean as well. The large honeycomb stamped steel looks fantastic. This black and silver is a great color option as it looks like herring. These spoons are set about 10 feet behind the downrigger ball without a flasher. These work good for coho but great on king salmon.

Cody Wabiszewski with two large king salmon in Sitka Alaska

These are two nice kings salmon caught last season in Sitka Alaska in mid-July. One was caught while dropping the downrigger in the middle of the water column. The other was caught near the bottom in about 150 feet of water on herring. There was a school of these jumbo kings that stuck around this area for a few days.


Trolling Upper Water Coulum:  Jointed Rapala Bright Orange

rapala orange j-9 jointed rapala silver salmon lure
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

An orange J-9 or J-11 jointed Rapala works great for trolling on a flat line without weight 200 or more feet behind the boat. This lure swims about 12 feet below the surface and works great at catching coho salmon that are swimming near the surface. The trolling speed has to be over 2.4 knots for this lure to work well. When trolling with spoons for coho salmon at a higher troll speed this lure stays straight out the back and tangle-free of all the other lines and catches fish near the surface. When fishing flat lines it is nice having a line counter reel to know the distance the line is set behind the boat.

Captain Cody with a king Salmon that was eaten by a sea lion

Sea lions only took salmon from our lines a few times last year. This was one of those times and it happed when reeling in a nice king salmon. All that was left was the head. The fish was fighting hard and then starting pulling even harder. We knew it was a shark or a sea lion but saw the sea lion after. The lady reeling in the salmon was not happy with the sea lion.


Trolling Fly: Ace Hi Fly

silver horde ace hi fly for salmon trolling
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The Ace High Fly is 4-1/2 inches long and has a double glow head. The best colors are ultra-violet and cop-car. These baits look very similar to the sand lance shown below. When the salmon I am cleaning are filled with sand lance I use a flasher with a fly. The best way to rig them is to slide the fly on a sold tie mooching leader. Cut the leader 31 inches long to the front hook and tie the leader to the flasher.

sand lance bait a popular bait fish salmon eat

The sand lance baitfish above were taken from the stomach of a king salmon. Sand lance can swim in large schools and is typically found near the bottom of sand flats and gravel flats. Finding gravel flats is key to catching king salmon. In the first two months of the season, there were very few herring around and king salmon were mostly feeding on sand lance.

Captain Cody salmon catch in Alaska

This was a day of fishing in mid-July in Sitak Alaska. There were lots of pink and silver salmon around. The orange fish are yelloweye rockfish. The salmon was caught while mooching on anchor and mooching while drifting.


Trolling Hoochie: Mini Hoochie

purple and pink hoochie squid bait for king salmon silver salmon and chum salmon
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

These purple and pink squid baits are 2.3 inches long. These are similar to gold star mini sardine baits that are 2.25 inches in length.  These baits go amazing with the hotspot purple haze UV flasher. These baits work well for king and silver salmon but are typically used for targeting chum salmon. As I mentioned above when fishing for chum salmon these are trolled slowly with as many flashers as possible.

Ace High Fly junior

silver horde junior ace hi fly lures purple
Buy from Amazon

This Ace High Fly Junior is 2.25 inches long and has a double glow head. Salmon often feed on small shrimp and squid. Sometimes matching the hatch is needed and small lures will catch more salmon. This is especially true for sockeye salmon that only feed on smaller baits. Occasionally sockeye salmon are caught on full-size hoochies but if you know sockeye are around try a junior fly.

Gold Star Tailwagger

gold star tailwagger kit hoochie hook for salmon lures
Buy from Amazon

The gold star hoochie squid is a 1-3/4 inch micro squid. These come with split rings and can be placed on the back of spoons. The micro squid also works well by themselves behind a flasher for coho, chum, and sockeye salmon.

The salmon and halibut were caught in early August in Sitka Alaska. The king salmon were caught and released only for a few weeks in August due to limit closure but we caught plenty of silver salmon and halibut. We caught some oversized halibut on this trip as well.


How to Mooch for Salmon

My favorite way to catch salmon is by mooching. When mooching for salmon a herring bait is sent down 100 to 200 feet with a 6-ounce weight. The line is then reeled back up. This is similar to vertical jigging and salmon bite on the way down or on the way up. When mooching for salmon it is also common to catch halibut and rockfish.

The video below shows how to mooch for salmon. If there is no current the fishing line needs to be pitched out so that when the rig sinks the leader does not wrap around the mainline. A small amount of tension needs to be kept on the spool when the line is sinking or the salmon fishing reel will get bird nested. The line is set down from 100 to 200 feet typically 150 feet and is then brought back to the surface. The saying goes ” the more you turn, the more you earn”. This points out that more fish are caught when reeling up continuously. On some trips, one person has there a limit of six silvers and a king and other people only catch one fish. It comes down to getting the bait deep and continuously reeling it back up.

If there is a strong current keeping the line at an angle it will not tangle the bait does not always have to be brought the entire way up. If all the fish are being hooked between 80 feet and 120 feet the line can be reeled up to 60 feet and then back to 150 feet. This keeps the bait where the fish are being caught. Every few drops the bait should be checked to see if it has been chewed up or stolen. When the salmon are biting the bait is usually torn up or stolen every drop.

If anything unusual is felt during the drop it is likely a bite and the slack in the line needs to be reeled in as quick as possible. Even when fish bite when retrieving line the reel speed needs to be increased. Setting the hook by lifting the rod does not work. This is because when salmon feed they swim up. A fish that bites at 100 feet may be at 60 feet in a few seconds. Lifting the rod is not going to get the slack out of the line. The reel needs to be turned as quickly as possible.

Large kings salmon swim toward the surface the fastest after biting. For most of the biggest fish of the year people felt a small bite and did not get the line tight until it was super close to the boat. Once the king salmon sees the boat and realizes it is hooked it takes off like a rocket though.

When netting the fish reel the tip of the pole all the way to the slider and lift the rod back. Once the fish is netted be careful with the swinging weight. Grab the weight with your had or reel the slider back to the tip of the pole so it is not swinging. People are always excited about the caught fish and overlook the swinging weight.

Salmon Mooching Rig

Mooching for salmon is my favorite way to catch salmon. It is also the best way to catch the most fish when there are schools of salmon in the area. Mooching is not something most people do on a half-day fishing chatter because it takes a full day with fish biting to really get the hang of it. This can be overcome by helping people cast, having clients reel continuously, and being good at untangling lines. It is worth the extra work though because most people love mooching for salmon!

This mooching rig can also be used when trolling. The line is set out 50-200 feet behind the boat. This puts the bait about 10-30 feet below the surface. One trick is that when a fish bites on the downrigger line the flatline reel can be put in the free spool mode to drop the bait deep. About 1 in 5 times this leads to another salmon being hooked.

red mooching slider for salmon mooching
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The red slider is 1-1/2 inches long and is placed before the swivel on the mainline. A 6 or 8-ounce round weight is placed on the slider clip. This slider comes in black or red and either color works well.

Six Bead Swivel

bead chain swivel for salmon mooching rig
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The six-bead swivel connects the mainline and the leader. A barrel or crane swivel would work here also but most people use a six-bead swivel.

Salmon Mooching Weight

salmon mooching weight 6 ounce or 8 ounce
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A 6-8 ounce weight is best for mooching. A 6-ounce weight is typically used because it is easier to reel in. An 8-ounce weight is needed when the current is very strong. The old-style mooching weights were banana weights with the six bead swivel on one end and a snap swivel on the other. This setup was not as easy to set up and put away each day because the leader stays with the weight.

Salmon Mooching Rig

salmon mooching rig leader
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The mooching leader comes with 5/0 and 6/0 hooks that are tied with two solid tie snell knots. These same rigs come with a sliding top hook but that is not what you want to get. Make sure the solid tie option is selected.

how to hook herring for salmon fishing

The herring bait is rigged so that it spins. The front hook is placed below the mouth and then through the side of the head on the other side. The trailing hook can hang free or be placed in the back of the herring behind the dorsal fin.


Salmon Jig: Point Wilson Dart

salmon jig candlefish point wilson dart
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

The Point Wilson Dart candlefish salmon jig comes in sizes from 1 ounce to 6 ounces. The Point Wilson Dart company makes some of the most versatile salmon jigs. The candlefish jigs look very similar to a sand lace baitfish which is a favorite food of king salmon. Lifting this jig 5-feet of the bottom and back down is a great way to target king salmon. There is also a Point Wilson’s Dart anchovy that is thicker that works well when jigging in more than 100 feet.

Salmon jigs are also going to catch rockfish, halibut, and lingcod. Jigging is a very popular fishing style in the pacific northwest. Two other popular jigs are buzz bombs and crippled herring jigs. I was not a big believer in salmon jigs until I saw a boat next to me catch their limit of king salmon in about 10 minutes and were gone. Trolling along for two hours in the same area we only caught a few. That is how it goes though, somedays people jigging and mooching catch more fish than the trollers other days the trollers catch more fish.


River and Stream Fishing for Salmon

In streams, the techniques vary widely from flies to spoons and large spinners. Stream and river fishing for salmon is awesome because it is a peaceful environment with a high concentration of fish. Hiking and exploring remote areas can be as much fun as catching fish.

When fishing rivers, consider these approaches:

  • Use single-hook spinners in areas where regulations require them
  • Try trout beads placed 2 inches above the hook (secured with a toothpick)
  • Employ drift boats to access remote fishing spots
  • Select files that mimic local baitfish or salmon eggs

It is important to note there are lots of different rules and regulations about when, where, and how you are allowed to fish for salmon so make sure to read the local regulation books and notices before going fishing.

Spinners with Single Hooks: Mepps Number 5

Next, let look at the best salmon lures for rivers and streams. Spinners, spoons, and trout beads all work great at catching salmon from the shore. Getting to good fishing spots can be the most difficult part of fishing for salmon along streams and rivers. Getting a good pair of fishing waders is definitely a good idea. Hiking to remote areas is often an advantage because there will be fewer people fishing in the area. Some people use drift boats to get to good fishing spots along the river.

mepps alaska salmon spinners for rivers and streams
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Orange and pink Mepps #5 single hook spinners work amazing for catching salmon. Spinners work great at catching salmon near the mouths of streams or in deep rivers. Mepps spinners are typically had to find with single hooks which are required for most salmon streams.


Spinner: Blue Fox Nimber 5 Spinner

blue fox spinner best salmon lure for rivers
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Blue fox spinners are also known for catching salmon from the shore. Personally, I have more luck with Mepps spinners. These spinners typically come rigged with treble hooks but also come with an open-eye single hook. The treble hook can be cut off and the single hook can be put on with a pair of pliers.


Wicked Lures Blade with Hooching

wicked lures pink pink for salmon river fishing
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Wicked lures are rigged on 20-pound leaders 6 feet in length with 1/0 Gamakatsue red hooks. These are similar to spinnerbaits and are meant to be fished in rivers and streams. Weight is typically added to the end of the leader and these baits are slowly retrieved upstream. Wicked lures are new baits that have only been on the market for a few years.


Casting Spoon: Blue Fox Pixee

blue fox pink salmon lure for salmon fishing from shore
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

A pink Blue Fox Pixee spoon is a great spoon for casting from the shore near the mouth of a river or into the open ocean. This is a heavy 7/8 ounce spoon and can cast further than spinners which is a huge advantage. Sometimes fish are breaking the surface just out of reach of spinnerbaits and this heavier lure can get the bait further out where the fish swim.


Salmon Fly: Dolly Llama

dolly llama fly salmon fishing in rivers

A Black and white dolly llama fly works well for coho salmon. The pink, purple, and green dolly llamas are also popular color options. Make sure that weighted flies are allowed in the area that is being fished.

alaska salmon streamer fly collection for river fishing
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This fly collection comes with 12 large flies made for catching salmon and trout in Alaska. The flies include Mr. Hankey, Morrish Mouse, Black and White Dolly Llama, Bunny Leech, Hopscotch Sculpin, Leech, Black Fish Skull Sculpin, Black S’s, Sculpin Leech, Sculpzilla, Moal Rhoid Flesh Leech, Flesh Fly, and Thundercreek. Bass Pros Shops has a similar 6-pack of salmon flies.

Salmon Fly: Russian or Coho Fly

fly for fising for silver and sockeye salmon in rivers and streams

The fly above is a Russian fly also called a coho fly. Someone I met fishing the Kenia peninsula gave me this fly and said it works great for catching sockeye salmon and silver salmon.

feeder creek fly best salmon fly for sockeye salon in rivers and streams
Buy from Amazon

The feeder creek salmon fly is similar in appearance to the coho fly. It comes in three sizes 8, 10, and 12. Four of each fly are in the set for a total of 12 flies. These flies are going to be smaller than the coho fly I showed above but should still work for catching sockeye salmon.

drift boat for salmon fishing on a river

The drift boat is fishing for salmon in the Kenia Penisula in early October. The anglers fish while drifting and stop along the way and fish from the shore. Before floating down the river a car needs to be placed downstream or a ride needs to be arranged to get back to the starting point. Luckily many rivers follow along the roadways. It was late in the season but there were still bright silver salmon around not very many people.


Trout Beads for Salmon

hold trout bead in place above the hook with toothpick for salmon fishing

The picture above shows how to set up a trout bead rig. Regulations in Alaska say that the bead must be 2 inches above the hook. The bead is held in place with a toothpick that is then broken off. This is way easier than trying to use rubber bands to hold the bead in place.  Real salmon eggs are illegal so these beads are the best option. One great thing about trout beads is they can be fished in fly-only streams, even when a spinning reel is being used. A small foam float can be used to suspend the trout bead just off the bottom.

trout beads for salmon and trout fishing in rivers
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Trout beads work great to catch rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and salmon. Salmon eggs take from 6 to 20 weeks to hatch depending on the salmon species. The eggs are changing color and size throughout this process. It is good to have several color and size options to match the egg development present in the stream or river.  Eventually, the eggs turn into an alevin, fry, smolt, and then become an ocean swimming salmon.

Gamakatsu Octopus Salmon Hooks

gamakatsu octopus salmon hooks
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

Size 6 hooks are a good hook size for salmon and trout. Hook color options include black, nickel, blue, bronze, green, red, and chartreuse. Nickel seems like a good color option. The hooks are small but very strong.

Toothpicks

toothpicks for salmon beads
Buy from Amazon

Toothpicks work to hold the trout bead in place. Rubber bands can also be used as well but toothpicks are the easier method. Each container holds 500 toothpicks for a total of 1000 toothpicks.


River Mouth Tactics

The mouths of rivers concentrate salmon as they prepare to spawn:

  • Cast heavy spoons that can reach fish-holding outside the current
  • Focus on incoming tide conditions when fish are staging
  • Watch for “rolling” salmon that indicate where schools are holding
  • Consider using snagging hooks in saltwater areas where legal

Snagging Salmon

Snagging salmon is illegal in streams. However near the mouth of small streams where hatchery salmon come back snagging is a legal and effective way to catch salmon. These salmon were released by the hatchery as fry with the intention of being caught and consumed as food. Some are used again in the hatchery to release more fry during the spring. If these hatchery fish are not caught they will die anyway and go to waste. That is why snagging these fish is legal.

Trebble Hook Snagging Rig

snagging hooks for salmon in saltwater
Buy from Amazon

Shop Bass Pro Shops

This pack comes with two size 10/0 snagging treble hooks. Bass Pro Shops also sells similar weighted treble hooks. Snagging treble hooks are only legal in saltwater, not freshwater rivers and streams.

Snagging hooks are typically used near the mouth of small streams where hatchery salmon swim back and forth. The salmon around the hatchery do not have a large stream to swim up and spawn. The fish swim back in forth near the stream entrance where they are released as fry. The fish are ready to spawn and are not aggressive feeders on normal lures and baits. People use snagging hooks to catch 6 or more salmon per day to stock up on fresh fish for the winter. If the fish are not caught they are going to die anyway within a few weeks. Using a snagging hook can be a productive way to catch fish that you intend to keep and eat.


Salmon Handling and Processing

When you catch a salmon you intend to keep:

  • Dispatch it humanely with a quick blow to the head
  • Bleed the fish immediately by cutting the gills
  • Shorty after bleeding the salmon remove the guts, gills, and bloodline
  • Keep the fish cool, preferably on ice
  • Process it as soon as possible for the best quality

Fish Bat

Aftco fish bat for salmon fishing
Buy from Amazon

Black AFTCO fish bat. This is a 19-inch 1.3-pound club. When a salmon is caught it is hit on the head with a club. This may seem to be mean or cruel but it is in the best interest of the fish to be knocked out. It is also safer for the angler when removing the hooks and cleaning the salmon. There are also commercial fish gaffs that have a PVC end that works as a club. This allows the fish to be hit in the water and then gaffed.


Salmon Fishing Season

The best time of year to salmon fish varies from early spring to late fall depending on the fishing location and type of salmon being targeted. King salmon season starts first and last year we were catching limits of king salmon in Sitka Alaska in late April. This is before the season technically starts. King salmon are caught in Sitka from late April until early September with the peak season being May and June.

Silver salmon, chum salmon, and pink salmon season start in early July and go until early September, and peaks in early August. Sockeye season is in July and August as well. Each year the fish show up at different times based on water temperatures and the amount of rain. Alaska fish and game has guide charts to show typical salmon season times based on species and geographic location.  If you plan to fish in streams, show up in mid-July through August and there will be tons for fish to catch. I personally like fishing earlier when the fish are still bright silver. From a boat, we definitely caught the most salmon in late July through August. It is fishing so catches vary from day to day.

Catching kings in the spring is my favorite time to fish for salmon but most people do not realize is that on a four-hour charter the average number of king salmon caught is typically one or two per boat. On an all-day trip, the limit of one fish per person can usually be caught. During July and August, each person can catch one king salmon and six silver salmon each. However, there are typically fewer king salmon around, and some years it is caught and released only for kings later in the Summer, which varies based on catch rates. Halibut fishing is good all spring and summer.

Salmon Fishing Destinations

The best salmon fishing in Alaska. It may seem far away but it is less than a four-hour flight from Seattle to Anchorage. From Anchorage, it is about a three-hour drive to some of the world’s best salmon fishing in the Kenai River, Russian River, Kasilof River, and Copper River systems on the Kenai Penisula. Literally millions of salmon run up these rivers in July and August. There are not many places on the Alaska coast that is not loaded with salmon. Many people prefer going to small towns or fishing lodges where there are fewer people to deal with and can fish in the most scenic parts of the United States.

Other popular places to salmon fish in Alaska include Ship Creek in Anchorage, Kodiak Island, Homer, Seward, Cordova, Elfin Cove, Juneau, Sitka, Haines, and Ketchikan. Some of these locations have great rivers to fish. Other areas mostly fish in the open ocean. For example, Sitka only has a few streams that mostly have pink salmon. However, the open ocean outside of Sitka is where all the salmon traveling to streams south of Sitka in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California feed before going upstream.

Some fish stay in Sitka and feed for a day and some stay for a year. Salmon are the second fastest growing fish in the world, second only the mahi-mahi. That means when the salmon are feeding the bite can be very good. Once salmon enter the stream they do not feed much. There are just too many fish and not enough food.  That is why trolling for salmon in boats can be so effective. Also, the fish caught from boats are bright silver and are the best to eat.

When salmon first enter the stream they are bright silver and great to eat as well. After a few weeks, they start to turn as they spawn and the flesh eventually starts to rot. If it is just a little turned it is still great to eat. If it is bright red, black, or white it is no longer good to eat.

Eating Quality of Different Salmon Species

King salmon are the best-tasting salmon to eat. White king salmon are especially good because of the high oil content. Many people think that all salmon is the same but that is far from the truth. Most salmon that people buy at the store is Atlantic farm-raised salmon. For many reasons, this is the worst salmon to eat. Many bumper stickers in Alaska say”Friends don’t let friends eat farmed-raised fish”.

For Pacific wild-caught salmon king salmon is generally recognized as the best salmon and costs about $40 a pound to purchase at the store. The next best is sockeye salmon also called red salmon which costs about $30 a pound at the store. Silver salmon which is coho salmon is the third-best eating salmon. This is still a great tasking fish and cost about $20 a pound. The bigger the silver salmon the better it usually tastes as well.

The fourth best is chum or dog salmon. This is not a common fish sold commercially but if you catch one it is worth keeping to eat. The fifth and worst-eating salmon is a pink salmon also called a humpy salmon. These fish sell commercially for about 50 cents per fish. This is the salmon that is used in cat and dog food. They do sell cans and pouches of pink salmon for humans to eat. It has so much salt it tastes alright. Pink salmon actually tastes good if they are eaten the same day they are caught. There is an enzyme in the meat that releases and turns the meat to mush and does not taste good after a few days.

The video below shows the best way to fillet salmon. In the video, several monster 30+ pound king salmon are filleted.  Filleting techniques for Coho salmon and pink salmon are also shown. The process of cleaning salmon is also discussed.

1 thought on “How to Catch Rockfish – Fun and Easy Fish to Catch”

Leave a Comment