The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Sheefish Stenodus leucichthys
Sheefish Size, Range & Diet
| Maximum | in the Selawik-Kobuk area may be over 1 meter (~42 in) and up to 27 kg (~60 lb); the record sport catch is 53 lb, and anything over 30 lb is considered a trophy |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 20–30 years or more; one documented fish was 39 |
| Range | Northwestern Alaska drainages including the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Selawik and Kobuk rivers. Some populations stay in fresh water year-round while others winter in brackish bays. |
| Habitat | Large northern rivers and their associated lakes; migrates through glacial, silt-laden water and spawns over gravel in clear tributaries. |
| Diet | Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish — herring under winter ice, oil-rich smelt in the estuaries after breakup; juveniles take insects and other small prey. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Sheefish
- White to silvery body with no spots or other markings at all
- Very large scales
- Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper jaw
- Mouth full of small, densely packed teeth
Tell it apart: A big unspotted silver fish with very large scales and a lower jaw that juts past the upper — a broad whitefish has the opposite, a small down-turned mouth under a blunt head.
Easily confused with: Broad Whitefish
Side by side: Sheefish vs Broad Whitefish
How to Catch Sheefish
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- Hunts smelt and whitefish in the silty main channels; troll or cast big flashy spoons and large streamers deep along the seam between current and slack water.GearLarge flashy spoonsBig streamersMedium-heavy combo
When & Where Sheefish Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Nearshore |
Sheefish Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.