Salmon

• Salmon fishing is extremely popular in and around Craig. Salmon species that frequent the waters around Craig are the chinook, coho, red sockeye, pink humpback and chum. Chinook salmon are the largest of the fish and can grow to 50 lbs., although an average fish will weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Salmon migrate from the ocean into the inside passages of Prince of Wales Island.
  
  

Halibut

• If salmon is the king of southeast Alaska, then halibut is surely the prince. Anglers from around the world travel to Prince Wales Island for the opportunity to catch a few halibut, which average 15 to 60 lbs. While it is not the norm, it is not entirely uncommon for fishermen to catch Halibut that weigh 200 to 300 lbs. Halibut can be fished by either anchoring a boat or drifting bait near the ocean's floor.
  
  

Freshwater fishing

• While most commercial and sport anglers fish in the ocean, freshwater fishing is also available in the Craig area. Using spinners and fly rods, area anglers fish streams and lakes to catch an assortment of trout, including steelhead, dolly varden, grayling, rainbow and cutthroat. Southeast Alaska is known for being home to some of the biggest trout in the world. The largest trout ever recorded tipped the scales at 42 lbs. and was pulled from Alaskan waters.
  
  

Seasons

• Fishing in Craig is plentiful year round, but many sport fisherman travel to the town in the late spring and summer to take advantage of the mild temperatures and long days. Prince of Wales Island is in a rain forest, so fishermen, especially in the winter months, will get wet. The town gets 120 inches of annual precipitation, and winter temperatures vary from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to zero.
  
  

Getting There

• Getting to Craig, which sits on an island, can be a challenge. In 2002, the community introduced the Inter-Island Ferry Authority, which is a ferry system that shuttles travelers from the island to the mainland. Some tourists travel by float plane from Ketchikan to the island. The flight takes 30 minutes and lands in the nearby town of Hollis. It takes another half hour of driving to reach Craig.