Sunday, August 10, marks the 10th anniversary of Alaska Wild Salmon Day, a holiday established to honor the vital role of wild salmon in Alaska’s culture, economy, and ways of life. This special day is a tribute to one of the state’s most iconic and important natural resources.
Whether you’re interested in fishing, habitat restoration, or simply curious to learn more about salmon, Alaska Wild Salmon Day offers a variety of events popping up all over Alaska. Here’s where you can celebrate the conservation and appreciation of these iconic symbols of Alaskan culture and identity.
Wild Salmon Day Celebration
Date: Thursday, August 7, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Anchorage Museum Lawn, 625 C Street, Anchorage
Description: Hosted by the Alaska Center, Wild Salmon Day Celebration features live music, speeches from salmon advocates, salmon art, and food trucks.
2025 Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby
Date: Friday, August 8 through Saturday, August 9
Location: Chitina Street, Valdez
Description: Spend your weekend out on the water at the 73rd annual Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest salmon, as well as for the best costumes. This year’s theme is Peace, Love, and Fishing. Check out the weekend’s schedule here.
Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) Shareholder Picnic
Date: Saturday, August 9, from noon to 2 p.m.
Location: Arctic Rec Center Ball Fields, 4855 Arctic Boulevard, Anchorage
Description: For the holiday, BBNC is hosting a shareholder picnic to honor salmon as an important cultural staple for Native Alaskans. The event will feature live music, food, and giveaways!
Seward Silver Salmon Derby:
Date: Saturday, August 9 through Saturday, August 17
Location: Resurrection, Seward
Description: Join for the 70th annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby. In addition to great fishing and over $30,000 worth of prizes, the derby implements a Buy Back program, where anglers can “buy back” their fish for $5. All proceeds will go to the Fish Restoration Fund, which supports Resurrection Bay Fish Enhancement efforts and other approved salmon conservation programs.
Douglas Island Pink and Chum Facility Tour
Date: Sunday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: DIPAC, 2697 Channel Drive, Juneau
Description: DIPAC is a salmon hatchery focused on the sustainable harvest of salmon. On Wild Salmon Day, DIPAC will be offering free admission for Alaskan residents and a facility tour at the Ladd Macaulay Visitor Center. Tours will run every hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and salmon-themed gift shop items will be 10% off.
Annual Ship Creek Fall Cleanup
Date: Saturday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: The Bait Shack, 212 W Whitney Road, Anchorage
Description: Join the Bait Shack to help clean up Ship Creek, an essential salmon breeding ground and popular salmon-fishing location. In addition to improving the creek’s ecosystem health, there will be giveaways for event participants!
Need a fish refresher?
Many Alaska communities host up to five species of salmon: Chinook/King, Coho/Silver, Dog/Chum, Pink/Humpy, and Sockeye. On Alaska Wild Salmon Day, expect runs of Coho, Chinook, and Pink salmon. Although all five of these species belong to the same family, each has distinct features that help differentiate it from the others. If you’re heading out to fish, knowing how to identify different salmon species is essential for following catch-and-release regulations, a key aspect of protecting salmon populations. Let’s dive into some tips on how to tell Alaska’s salmon species apart!
Chinook (King) Salmon: This species is the largest and typically the most coveted type of salmon in Anchorage. To fish for King Salmon, a special stamp is required. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game offers information on stamp requirements and costs. Distinguishing characteristics include a black mouth with black gums, as well as black spots on the fish’s back and tail lobes. These spots cover both the upper and lower tail lobes, unlike the Coho Salmon, which has spots on just the upper lobe.
Coho (Silver) Salmon: During its ocean months, this species remains a bright silver, true to its name. While spawning, however, Silver Salmon turn a maroon color, with a distinctly dark back and head. Similarly to the Chinook Salmon, Silver Salmon sport a black mouth and gums. Black spots cover the fish’s back and upper tail lobe.
Dog Salmon: When spawning, this species becomes easily distinguishable due to the green, purple, and yellow calico bands on its body. Dog Salmon have a white mouth and gum line, a white tip on the anal fin, and a deeply forked tail, features that can help distinguish non-spawning individuals.
Pink (Humpy) Salmon: The smallest of the five species, Pink Salmon are also known as “humpies” due to the large humps that form on spawning males. This species has large black oval spots on its back and tail, and has a white mouth with a black gum line. Spawning males obtain a dark coloration on their backs.
Sockeye Salmon: A distinct coloration appears on this species when spawning; both males and females turn bright red with a green head. Spawning males develop a hump, though less pronounced than the Pink Salmon’s, and have a large kype (jaw overhang). Sockeyes have a white mouth with a white gumline.
--Grace Miller is Audubon Alaska's Outreach and Communications Advocate
