The Fishing
Halibut • King Salmon • Silver Salmon • Rockfish • Lingcod • Blackcod • Sharks
Elfin Cove is located on the northwest corner of Chichagof Island, across from Glacier Bay National Park. This boardwalk community is only accessible by float plane or boat. Elfin Cove is surrounded by rugged mountains and glaciers, pristine waters, and some of the richest fishing grounds in the world.
The nutrient-rich waters of the Inside Passage support an incredible abundance of marine life, creating unique and exceptional opportunities for angling and wildlife viewing. From the breathtaking scenery to the abundant waters, every day in Elfin Cove offers a chance to experience the wild beauty of Southeast Alaska.
Halibut, rockfish, and blackcod are available throughout the season, while salmon opportunities change as summer progresses. The first half of the season is prime for king salmon, while silver salmon peak during the second half. Our location provides access to both open ocean and protected waters, giving anglers the opportunity to target a wide variety of fish species in a single day.
Peak Seasons
Halibut
We have great halibut fishing all season long. The first few weeks of July are known for being the best times to catch really big halibut but it is normal to catch large halibut the rest of the season as well.
Salmon
King salmon run throughout the summer as well but the peak time to catch these is during the last few weeks of May and the month of June. While it is normal to catch king salmon after July 1st, the run is less predictable than in May and June. The silver salmon typically begin running in early - mid-July and continue to grow and peak through late July - September.
Rockfish
Lingcod Blackcod
We have great rockfish, blackcod and lingcod fishing all season. Blackcod are fun to catch and amazing to eat. We fish for blackcod at depths of 800+ feet deep! We have a variety of rockfish to target. Favorites include Black Rockfish for quick fun action and make amazing table fare. Shortraker rockfish resemble giant goldfish and are caught in the very deep waters like blackcod. Yelloweye rockfish and other dermesal shelf rockfish have been available for retention in July and August. Our lingcod season often closes for a duration in the middle of the summer.
The Fishing Regulations
Our fishing regulations can be a bit complicated to understand because we have many regulating bodies including some fisheries that are managed by the state and some that are federally managed. The fishing regulations for the upcoming season are finalized in the spring leading up to that season.
Published Regulations:
ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for Southeast Alaska
ADF&G King Salmon Emergency Order for Southeast Alaska
2026 Summary of Regulations
Halibut
In Area 2C
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1 Fish per day that is 34" or less OR 80" or greater (reverse slot limit)
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Thursdays closed to retention with the exception of GAF.
In Area 3A
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1 Fish of any size & 1 fish that is 27" or less
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Tuesdays & Wednesdays closed to retention
Salmon
King Salmon
Nonresident Anglers
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2 per day
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4 per year
Silver Salmon
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6 per day
Sockeye, Pink & Chum Salmon
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6 per day (each)
Rockfish
Pelagic Rockfish
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Black, Dark, Dusky, Widow, Deacon & Yellowtail Rockfish
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3 per day
Non-Pelagic Slope Rockfish
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Such as Shortraker, Bocaccio, Vermillian, etc.
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1 per day
Rockfish
Demersal Shelf Rockfish
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Yelloweye, China, Quillback, Tiger, etc.
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Open July 1 - August 25 (nonresidents)
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1 per day
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Annual limit of 1 fish
Lingcod
Northern Southeast Area
Nonresident Limits
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Open May 16 - June 14 & September 1 - November 30
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1 fish per day
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2 annual limit - 1 that is 30 - 35" in length and 1 that is 55" or greater
Sablefish (Blackcod)
Nonresident Anglers
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4 per day
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8 fish annual limit
Sharks
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1 per day
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2 annual limit
How Are The Regulations Made?
King Salmon
To establish the king salmon regulations - The Southeast Alaska all-gear catch limit of king salmon is determined under the United States - Canadian Pacific Salmon Treaty which uses data, abundance numbers and statistical equations to determine how many king salmon can be caught in Southeast Alaska that year. The Alaska Board of Fish implements management plans to allocate that all-gear catch limit to the different fisheries. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game determines how to achieve and manage the plans established by the Board of Fish based on abundance levels, escapement goals and harvest measures. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game determines the catch regulations they determine will best achieve the catch limits but they have the ability to adjust the catch regulations by emergency order during the season if absolutely necessary.
Halibut
The halibut fishery is federally managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), versus through state regulations. The Halibut Catch Sharing Plan defines an annual process for allocating halibut between charter and commercial halibut fisheries in the IPHC areas Area 2C and Area 3A (the areas around Elfin Cove). The process allows allocations to vary (year to year) in proportion with changing levels of halibut abundance. The Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) allocates halibut poundage annually between commercial and charter fisheries in 2C and 3A, adjusting with abundance and enabling GAF conversion from commercial quotas. The size of halibut a guided/charter angler is able to keep (reserve slot limit) is determined through data and statistical equations to find the keepable sized fish to achieve the poundage allocated to the charter harvest.
GAF Permits
What is a GAF Permit?
A GAF permit is an option we have available for our customers to enhance their halibut fishing experience.
A Guided Angler Fish (GAF) permit allows a guided angler to retain a halibut that would otherwise not be legal to keep under standard regulations.
GAF permits may be used in several ways, including:
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Keeping a halibut that falls within the reverse slot limit and would normally have to be released
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Retaining a second halibut after already keeping one fish that meets the reverse slot limit
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Retaining a halibut on days when retention would otherwise be closed
An angler may use up to two GAF permits in one day, allowing them to keep two halibut of any size. However, a third halibut may not be retained, even if it meets the standard slot limits if the angler has already kept two halibut.
The GAF program is possible by conversion of commercial halibut quota to GAF permits. So Eagle Charters purchases GAF Permits in the way of fish and halibut poundage from the commercial IFQ holder. Eagle Charters determines the price of the GAF permits based on the cost of purchasing the permit from the commercial IFQ holder. This price is determined by the dock price of halibut per pound at the time the permit is purchased. Historically, the price of a GAF permit has been $500.
