About Sitka
Tucked at the foot of soaring, glacial-carved mountains on the west side of Baranof Island, the town is surrounded by nearly incomprehensible amounts of natural beauty. Set in the heart of the world’s largest temperate rainforest and encircled by the Pacific Ocean, islands, bays, and inlets, this is a magical place.
And, as you might have guessed, it boasts the best fishing and highest catch rate within thousands of miles.
Sitka was originally named Shee-Atika by Tlingit (pronounced ‘Klink-et’) natives, who called the area home for over 10,000 years. Russians arrived in 1799 and forcibly repelled the native population from the area by 1804, renaming the settlement New Archangel. By 1840, Bishop Innocent (Ivan Veniaminon) had St. Michael's Cathedral built in downtown Sitka, and named the city the capital of the area during Russia's reign. Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, just pennies per acre. Today, you'll find plenty of reminders of the Tlingit and Russian histories throughout the community.
Why Sitka?
- One of the highest catch rates in Alaska:
What can we say? Here, you will catch more fish.
- No downtime:
Because the area boasts continuous migration from May to September, you won’t be waiting for bites.
- Fish that are fun to catch:
The area has plenty of ocean bright feeding salmon that bite all day long. These are better fighting fish and the best table fare.
- Multiple species every single day:
Catch salmon, halibut, and bottom fish in the same day.
- Multiple hook ups:
Schools feed closely here, so multiple hook ups are common.
- Calmer waters:
As we don’t have strong tidal currents, you can fish halibut anytime of the day.
- Great weather:
We fish inside and outside waters, so you’ll never lose a day's fishing to weather.
While in Sitka...
Alaska Raptor Center
Alaska's foremost bald eagle hospital and educational center is located on a 17-acre campus bordering the Tongass National Forest and provides medical treatment to hundreds of injured birds each year.
Sheldon Jackson Museum
As the oldest museum in Alaska, it strives to collect, preserve and exhibit objects from across the territory. The museum is now on the National Register of Historical Places, and every native group in Alaska has artifacts on exhibit.
Russian Bishop’s House
One of four surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America, you can step back into history to imagine what life was like in Sitka during the Russian-American period.
Sheet'Ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Tribal Community House and Dancers
The Naa Kahídi Dancers share their oral history through songs, stories and dances that have been passed down, generation to generation, for thousands of years.
Southeast Alaska Indian Culture Center
Housed in the Sitka National Park, this visitor center lets you learn about Northwest Coast native art. Check out Sitka Tlingit community artists working and talk to them about their craft and culture.
New Archangel Dancers
The New Archangel Dancers are a group of women who perform authentic Russian and Ukrainian dances in full costume.
Isabel Miller Museum
Learn more about Sitka's past in this museum, operated by the Sitka Historical Society—which has amassed one of the largest and most diverse collections in the area.