Fishing Whittier

I've lived on the Kenai all my life. I've never been to Whittier I'd like to go over sometime this summer and spend a couple days (I have camp trailer). Of course, I want to take my kayak and do some fishing.

I appreciate any tips/tricks/locations to look for over there. Better yet, if someone wants to, or is planning to, go fishing in Whittier I'd love to fish with someone else.

I don't have any dates planned yet. I'm fortunate enough to have a pretty flexible schedule from now till the end of the July. After that I'm limited to weekends.

Thanks for any advice.

I'm really hoping someone responds to this, we'd like to know the where/how for Whittier since it is so much closer. 

Whittier is a scenic place...last on my list for "fish catching" which I am told does npot always have too be the priority for kayaking though I don't quite understand that line of thought....lol.

Fish and Game has been bugging me to go try Whittier for Kings.  They have been penning the smolts at the first creek to the east of Smitty's cove.  They should be there.

Rockfish and flounder can be had right at Smitty's cove.  I used to go there to jig up herring but that might not happen this year with the fish processing plant going bankrupt and I haven't heard that it is operating this year,  The herring feed on the ground up fish waste.

I'd consider heading to the North side of the Bay.  There you will a large colony of Kittiwakes and the sharp drop offs there produce smaller rockfish fairly consistently. 

If you are a person with tons of patience, I know of at least 2 halibut over 50 pounds that have been caught right off town.

I'm really hoping someone responds to this, we'd like to know the where/how for Whittier since it is so much closer.

Silvers should be showing up soon I'd think.

To be honest, Seward is a MUCH better fishing location.  When you factor in the tunnel and sometimes lack of \parking in Whittier, from home to fishing, the time is the same as Seward. I can say with 100% certainty the fishing is ALWAYS better in Seward.

Underwater pollock in Whittier


Shrimping in Whittier...off a kayak.  This is probably the most productive thing you can there.


A few small fish in MArch:

I'd agree with Kardinal_84. I've never done super right in passage canal.  Closest I've caught decent halibut was 18 miles out or so. 

Seward would be my 'short drive' spot I think.  After tunnel and what have you it's about the same amount of time iirc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 When is the shrimping good there? I'd been thinking about picking up a few collapsible pots


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in to this post as well. After July 30th there's a good chance I'll put in 2 days at Whittier to try shrimp pots. That's a long time to go without fishing so any reports I'll gladly trial.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

When is the shrimping good there? I'd been thinking about picking up a few collapsible pots


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All season.,  April 15th to Sept 15th.  I think there is an EO for 4 pots instead of 5 not that it matters for kayaks unless you really want to go for it.

I've fished Whittier some over the last couple of years. I've had some success on silvers late July and August and can usually manage a limit of rock fish, though they are typically small.  I've caught a few decent yellow eye just past the rookery.  On a side note,  start working out your forearms now deep water releasing small rock fish is painful at the end of the day.  Most of the fish I catch are in 200-325 feet of water.  Current shrimp report is 400 for smaller shrimp,  600 yielding larger catches.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I set 2 pots a few years ago in passage canal.  Wasn't great.  I've got a spot I'd like to hit but it's about 16 miles out so i would want to camp a few days to make it worth while.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My goal is around Perry island. 25 nautical miles out. Probably mother ship out there, fish for a few days, and come back.  If anybody wants to join me, let me know and we can figure out a date.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

My goal is around Perry island. 25 nautical miles out. Probably mother ship out there, fish for a few days, and come back.  If anybody wants to join me, let me know and we can figure out a date.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

That sounds like a good time. I'd be interested.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm down for water taxi/kayak fishing/camping experience.  In fact I was on planning stage for seldovia excursion...trying to get Intel on where to camp and fish for 3 days.

I have a collapsible shrimp pot that I want to try.
So let me know when and where...me and my friend will be there.

I was considering camping out at decision point a few days and spring boarding from there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm also planning to head to Seward a couple times and would be glad to meet up with anyone wanting to go fishing there. I love fishing out of Seward, but have never done it in my kayak. I used to take my powerboat there for end of season vacations.

I'm using the fishing in Whittier as more a an excuse to go there and spend a day or two. I'm one of those guys who has lived here (on the Kenai Peninsula) all his life (born and raised) and can name a long list of places in Alaska I've never been. Whittier, Valdez, Denali, just to name a few. With the new camp trailer I plan to shorten that list. (I used to coach and have made it to some interesting places like Bethel, Barrow, and Cordova.)

I might wait a little longer for Whittier, just to give a little more time for Silvers to show. I'm planning to hit Seward a few times for Silvers in later July and August.