Salmon is one of Alaska's most sought-after fishes. The main species in Alaskan waters are the chinook, coho, chum, pink and sockeye. Many fishermen travel to Alaska to fish for salmon.
Almost 95 percent of salmon caught commercially in the U.S. is from Alaska, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The state also accounts for about 80 percent of the global supply of king, sockeye and coho salmon.
The salmon are caught by trolling gillnetting, or purse seining, which at 71 percent accounts for most of the total catch. Purse seiners use large nets to surround up to 1,500 salmon at a time. Commercial fishing boats in Alaska are usually less than 58 feet in length.
Salmon in Alaska can be caught in both salt water and fresh water, according to AlaskaSalmon.com. Sport fishermen catch the fish in areas like the Cook Inlet, the Kenai, Yukon, Russian, and Kasilof Rivers, Bristol Bay and Point Hope.
