Best black rockfish lakes in Alaska
8 Alaska waters list black rockfish (official records or labelled estimates), 8 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A schooling Pacific Coast pelagic rockfish often suspended over underwater rock, kelp edges and current-washed hard bottom.
- Silver Bay — 400 ft · Survey depth data · 81% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Ketchikan Harbor Anchorage Area — 162 ft · Survey depth data · 99% measured · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hoonah Harbor — 275 ft · Survey depth data · 82% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Ryus Bay — 92 ft · Survey depth data · 70% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Wrangell Harbor — 43 ft · Survey depth data · 97% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Bald Headed Cove — 44 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Clam Cove — 38 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Seal Cove — 51 ft · Survey depth data · 54% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Alaska waters with public access data
When to fish black rockfish in Alaska
- Spring 10–80 ft — Search above charted rock rather than dragging through it; watch sonar and birds for suspended schools.
- Summer 8–100 ft — Use small jigs or baitfish profiles over measured underwater rock and kelp-adjacent relief; avoid unnecessary deep releases.
- Fall 15–120 ft — Follow forage and current along hard-bottom edges as schools shift deeper.
- Winter 25–140 ft — Use slower vertical presentations over deep rock, check current limits, and release rockfish with appropriate descending gear when required.
Also in Alaska: best northern pike lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best lake trout lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best burbot lakes · best arctic grayling lakes · best arctic char lakes · best pink salmon lakes · best chum salmon lakes · best pacific halibut lakes · best lingcod lakes
Black Rockfish elsewhere: California