Disenchantment Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Disenchantment Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Sq. miles: 21
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 6

Disenchantment Bay is a breathtaking, deep-water fjord located at the northern end of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve near Yakutat, Alaska. As a major tidewater glacier terminus for the Hubbard Glacier, the bay is characterized by its dramatic, ice-chilled waters, stunning mountain scenery, and significant glacial sedimentation. The waters are deep, with a basin exceeding 220 meters, and are often filled with icebergs calved from the glacier face. This remote and powerful marine environment supports a rich ecosystem, making it a destination for both adventurous anglers and wildlife enthusiasts seeking a truly Alaskan experience.

Alaska licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Disenchantment Bay and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

Pacific Halibut

Hippoglossus stenolepis

Pink Salmon

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Red Snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Disenchantment Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

The most significant fishing structure is the 18-mile-wide reef moraine across the mouth of Yakutat Bay, which creates some of the best natural fishing structure on the coast. This reef system, with its varied bottom composition, holds halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. The fishing grounds are typically fished in the 80 to 180-foot depth range, often on the outside coastal waters near the bay's entrance. The area around Haenke Island and the ice-chilled waters near the Hubbard Glacier terminus in Disenchantment Bay itself are also notable, though access is more challenging.

Know where you can legally fish on Disenchantment Bay

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Alaska licenses and regulations

Alaska Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Alaska Coastal & Inland Waters

A single Alaska sport fishing licence covers both freshwater and marine coastal waters under state jurisdiction, so no separate saltwater licence is needed. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages state waters and publishes region-specific regulations for areas including Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest, and Northern Alaska. When fishing in waters that fall under federal jurisdiction beyond the state boundary, federal rules apply instead.

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Alaska Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Once you fish beyond state waters, NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council set the rules. Federal regulations govern species such as tuna, sharks, swordfish, and billfish in those offshore waters. Check NOAA Fisheries for any federal permits or reporting requirements that apply to the species and gear you plan to use.

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Alaska Saltwater Fishing License

Alaska residents 18 and older and nonresidents 16 and older must have a sport fishing licence to fish in both fresh and marine waters. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issues licences, and resident seniors 60 and older plus qualifying disabled veterans use a free ADF&G Identification Card instead. Resident anglers under 18 and nonresidents under 16 are exempt from the licence requirement, and a separate king salmon stamp is required for anyone targeting king salmon.

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Alaska Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size and bag limits apply per species and can shift throughout the year, and emergency orders can change them at any time. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets these rules for species including king salmon, silver salmon, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. Check the current regulations for the region where you plan to fish before heading out, and always look for active emergency orders.

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Alaska Shellfish Closures & Advisories

Recreational shellfish harvesting in Alaska is subject to closures that can be issued at any time due to biotoxins, paralytic shellfish poisoning, or other public health concerns. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation monitors biotoxin levels and posts current closure and advisory information. Check those advisories before harvesting clams, oysters, crab, or other shellfish, as affected areas can change quickly and contaminated shellfish show no visible signs of toxicity.

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Take Disenchantment Bay with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Disenchantment Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Disenchantment Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Disenchantment Bay and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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