Red fishing in Seward Alaska - beginners guide

A how-to guide to begin snagging in Seward, Alaska for sockeye salmon. The basics.

[@jessielee3984]

Life is too short, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Just arrived to Alaska. I will be heading to Seward soon. Thanks again for making life a little easier for people around you.

[@AKHuntinFool]

There are several wonderful fisheries in the Seward area. As a newbie don’t be afraid to ask questions. The overwhelming majority of people you see out are happy to share tidbits of knowledge that will save you time and money. Have fun and responsibly enjoy this amazing state!

[@tntandgemma5575]

It was very nice of you to do that tutorial. Thank you.

[@AKHuntinFool]

My pleasure. :)

[@biramm.quinecie7828]

Thank you for sharing! My husband and I trying fishing for the 1st time and hasn't been very successful because we do not know the proper technique. But your video will surely help

[@AKHuntinFool]

Best of luck to you! Have fun and be safe.

[@ako2account574]

I highly recommend packing a flexible cutting board and your fillet knife. We always clean our fish out on the flats. It’s a lot easier to haul out clean fillets than two stringers with 6 fish each.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Excellent advice! I’ve often wondered why some motivated teenagers don’t set up a filleting station out there during the busy times and charge a couple bucks a fish. They’d make a killing!

[@tundetedd1039]

Thank you so much for your willingness to share knowledge and tips! We live here for almost 5 years but coming from big cities from Eastern Europe we don’t really have any clue about fishing spots or fishing and my kids slowly loosing their interest and positivity because we hardly catch anything really:( so thank you, we’ll try it in a few days :)

[@AKHuntinFool]

Excellent. I’m a huge proponent of getting the kids outdoors. I wish you the best of luck!

[@tundetedd1039]

@@AKHuntinFool thank you! I was so surprised when I read a comment here and someone criticized you for sharing information 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. It is so sad that people think there’s not enough fish for all of us. It’s so sad when we stop supporting each other and help each other. Why is it so painful for someone that I’ll take my 13 year old daughter and she’ll catch a few fish? So ridiculous how some people thinking about this subject. Anyway, thank you for being just a great guy!

[@guechhengung6805]

We will be in Seward this coming June 14th to 25th with 2 young kids 8 and 12. We would love to learn from you and your kid. Thank you for sharing.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Excellent. That should be a wonderful time to enjoy the area. There will be a multitude of species that you can target from the shoreline and if you so desire there are numerous charters that can take you out to chase fish as well. Expect rain, and wind, but also a beauty that is unique to Alaska!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Great tips, I’m planning my first trip down to this fishery and I appreciate your information.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Excellent. Best of luck. We were down a week ago and caught them perfectly with sunny weather.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@AKHuntinFool 🤞🏽

[@shemakes2737]

As a beginner with fishing I love this video!! Please make more of other places to catch salmon.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Subscribe for other videos that are soon incoming!

[@stevet8121]

What a great video for us wanting to give it a try. Thanks so much!

[@AKHuntinFool]

Best of luck! Have a great time enjoying the outdoors.

[@Jgk_125]

Very impressive! And very informative 💪

[@AKHuntinFool]

Glad you liked it!

[@randomsht8029]

I was there 2 days ago and the fishing was great

[@AKHuntinFool]

Excellent. I'm glad you had some success!

[@indosent8419]

Keep up the good work!!!

[@AKHuntinFool]

👍👍

[@tonyjenkins272]

Nice

[@jennicalee2873]

thanks for info

[@AKHuntinFool]

Absolutely. Best of luck this summer.

[@scrubs808]

Great Video, Thx

[@AKHuntinFool]

Glad you liked it!

[@Melohhdee]

Very helpful video! How long does the snagging season usually last? Also, if I want an area where I don’t have to walk far and I am willing to park which or where would you recommend?

[@AKHuntinFool]

Snagging season for reds generally runs until the end of June but you’ll usually find the peak of the run from June 7th-20th. If you don’t mind paying for parking most folks just pull into the “McDonald’s” lot (not the restaurant). It’s located down Nash road and the entrance is just before you cross the creek on the right. You’ll see a little shack to pay at. As of June ‘22 it’s $10 a head to anyone 16 or over. Walking distance is considerably shorter from his parking lot.

[@Melohhdee]

@@AKHuntinFool appreciate the reply back! I’ll have to take leave from work soon then to make it out there! Thank you!

[@stevet8121]

Do you have any information as to timing as to when the fish are there? Thanks.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Timing isn’t an exact science but generally they arrive around Memorial, really picks up the first two weeks of June, and then tapers down. As of today, June 25th, they continue to have fantastic tides of fish interspersed with poor so there’s still fish to be caught.

[@stevet8121]

@@AKHuntinFool Thank you, thank you. I'm in California planning for next year and this really helps.

[@TraMa910]

What kind of rod should I use?

[@AKHuntinFool]

Great question Trav and one that you’ll find has more answers than you know what to do with. Everyone has their preferences and what they feel comfortable with. As a general guideline I’d recommend a shorter pole as longer gets to be heavy and tiresome if you are out there awhile. You also want the pole to have some backbone, meaning not incredibly flexible as it will aid you in getting the hook across the fish with some force. And lastly don’t make it a pricey setup. Snagging rods tend to get abused and there’s just no need to break the bank to get out there and enjoy yourself. Best of luck!

[@wakmstakmdan8314]

If you see a guy who owes t know how to use a spin reel, you know he’s a newbie, reels for down,

[@isaiahpatkutaqmckenzie7964]

I must be different but I don’t understand why people want to give out spots and spoon feed people that don’t put much effort into finding spots and tactics. Videos like this one contribute to the growing mass of crowds in Seward. People can find this stuff out on their own. We don’t wanna send everyone and their aunties and uncles to all the spots. Local Alaskans have good reason to feel this way.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Thankfully most Alaskans don't share your point of view or we'd be just like much of the lower 48. This fishery is no secret and enables thousands of families to fill their freezer in a safe and economical manner. I would rather others show up with a sense of what to do then get themselves in trouble or show up unprepared. One of the big takeaways from the video was how family friendly the fishery could be. I would hope that you understand the importance, especially in this day and age, of getting our youth out in the outdoors and relishing in delight at helping to provide for their family. As for me I'll always take the time to answer a question and share in high five's to the absolute joy of the person next to me catching their first salmon. I think if you take the time to adopt that same attitude you'll realize there are still plenty of personal honey holes to keep as your own without the belief that the resources belong to you over others. Best of luck!

[@stevedolan260]

I agree with you 100 percent. People like this blowing up the holes in Seward and ruining true fishing experiences. Now we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with idiots who have no idea how to fish. Insane ignorance.

[@deandredunbar9618]

yep born and raised in alaska and I don't care the more people coming up to fish the better for the state

[@eeeffert6042]

its not fishing. it's snaggin.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Fishing is defined by Webster as “The activity of catching fish, for eating or sport.” For those that watch this video and follow the advice they will no doubt be fishing….while you continue being a keyboard warrior. Best of luck this summer.

[@stevedolan260]

Unfortunate and infuriating to see a video like this posted. The red fishery gets enough pressure and sending more people to these areas leads to more trash, resource damage and combat fishing. Ridiculous.

[@AKHuntinFool]

Sad and unfortunate that you want the resource locked up for only those “in the know.” If you had bothered to watch the entire video you’d see that I stress respecting the fisherman next to you, enjoying the resource responsibly, and to clean up after yourself. This resource is generated via hatchery fish and is literally there to provide for sport and commercial fisherman alike. I’d argue this video does little to send more people there, but far more to educate those that are going to participate in the fishery to do it in a manner that benefits everyone. It’s an incredible fishery for families and kids to build a love for the outdoors and Alaska’s resources. What a blessed life we have that we have the time to make and watch videos and get “infuriated” by a little watched video providing insight into one of Alaska’s hundreds of fisheries. I do appreciate you commenting and pushing the video in KZbin’s algorithm. Best of luck this summer. Since you’re perusing fishing videos I’m sure you are as excited as I to get our lines wet!

[@DJcra]

I'm staying in Seward in July, how would I process the fish if I were to harvest some, is there affordable fish processor friendly to vacationers

[@AKHuntinFool]

There are a number of processors in Seward that will provide any number of services related to your processing from filleting to freezing and shipping. Affordable is a pretty subjective term when it comes to each individual but I can guarantee you it’d be considerably cheaper than the cost of good sockeye filets from the market in the lower 48. As an added bonus don’t freeze it all as there’s nothing better than a fresh caught salmon. Best of luck and enjoy and respect our amazing state!