Juneau Gastineau Channel fishing forecast
Juneau Gastineau Channel is a saltwater fishing spot in Southeast Alaska, United States. Anglers here target Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pacific Halibut. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #218 of 419 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 4 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 10.5 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 9 km/h from NW, gusting 19 km/h |
| Current | 0.08 m/s toward N |
| Pressure | 1015 hPa |
| Depth | 22 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 7.07 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 26.9 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.0 m |
| Ground swell | 0.0 m at 0 s |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.08 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 0.8 °C cooler than the September average of 11.3 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 39.4 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Juneau Gastineau Channel
Juneau Gastineau Channel currently scores 72 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 10.5 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Current +8.4
- moving water concentrates bait
- Wind +8.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Chlorophyll +5.4
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Chlorophyll front +4.2
- a plankton edge — classic feeding line
Bite windows
Best months for Juneau Gastineau Channel:
Score history at this spot
11 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-09-11, 75/100
4 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+9 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 22 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
-
Oncorhynchus kisutch
-
Hippoglossus stenolepis
Best months by species at Juneau Gastineau Channel
| Chinook SalmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coho SalmonOncorhynchus kisutch | ||||||||||||
| Pacific HalibutHippoglossus stenolepis |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook SalmonADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations — regional booklets and in-season Emergency Orders | — | — | — |
| LIMIT SET BY AREA AND BY EMERGENCY ORDER — FishRadar does not publish a number for Alaskan king salmon. ADF&G sets king limits separately in each regional sport fishing regulation booklet and changes them in-season by emergency order; some fisheries close entirely. A king salmon stamp is required in addition to a sport fishing licence, and an annual harvest record must be carried and filled in immediately on retaining a king. Read the current regulations for the specific area and check the emergency orders page before you fish. | |||
| Coho SalmonADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations — regional booklets and in-season Emergency Orders | — | — | — |
| LIMIT SET BY AREA AND BY EMERGENCY ORDER. Coho limits differ between the Southeast, Southcentral and Southwest regulation booklets and are adjusted in-season. Read the booklet for the area you are fishing. | |||
| Pacific HalibutIPHC / U.S. federal fisheries authority Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (Areas 2C and 3A) | — | — | — |
| NOT SET BY ALASKA. Pacific halibut is managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission and U.S. federal fisheries authority, not by ADF&G, and the rules differ between guided charter anglers and unguided anglers in the same water — Area 2C (Southeast) and Area 3A (Southcentral, including Homer and Kodiak) each have their own charter limits and size restrictions under the Catch Sharing Plan, set annually. Check the IPHC and U.S. federal fisheries authority rules for your regulatory area and whether your trip is guided. | |||
Licensing:
- combined — residents Resident annual sport fishing licence $20.00. Resident annual king salmon stamp $10.00. Low-income combined sport fishing, hunting and trapping licence $5.00., non-residents Non-resident sport fishing licence: 1 day $15.00, 3 days $30.00, 7 days $45.00, 14 days $75.00, annual $100.00. A king salmon stamp is priced to match the licence: 1 day $15.00, 3 days $30.00, 7 days $45.00, 14 days $75.00, annual $100.00.
FishRadar publishes NO bag or size limits for Alaska, on purpose. Alaska does not set statewide sport limits: ADF&G issues separate regulation booklets for the Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest and Northern regions, and then amends them during the season by emergency order, which is how king salmon fisheries open and close. Pacific halibut is not managed by Alaska at all but by the International Pacific Halibut Commission and U.S. federal fisheries authority, with different rules for guided and unguided anglers. Read the ADF&G booklet for your specific area, and check the emergency orders page on the day you fish.
Check Juneau Gastineau Channel before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 2135 km of Juneau Gastineau Channel.
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Sitka
Ketchikan Southeast Alaska
Kenai River AK
Kenai Peninsula
Homer Kachemak Bay
Kodiak Island
Lake Iliamna AK
Dutch Harbor Unalaska
Eureka Humboldt Bay
Shasta Lake California
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Juneau Gastineau Channel?
Anglers at Juneau Gastineau Channel target Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon and Pacific Halibut.
When is the best time to fish Juneau Gastineau Channel?
The most productive months at Juneau Gastineau Channel are typically May, June, July, August, September.
What is the fishing forecast for Juneau Gastineau Channel right now?
Juneau Gastineau Channel currently scores 72 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Juneau Gastineau Channel from shore?
Yes — Juneau Gastineau Channel is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Juneau Gastineau Channel right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Juneau Gastineau Channel?
The scored point sits over roughly 22 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Salmon: Kings, Coho, and SockeyeHow to Catch Pacific Halibut: The Barn Door of the North PacificHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.