Sakhalin Island is one of Russia's richest fishing destinations — the Sea of Okhotsk on one coast, the Sea of Japan on the other, dozens of salmon rivers in between. Here is a full year's calendar.

What you can catch

  • Pink salmon (gorbusha): the mass run, mid-July to mid-August
  • Chum salmon (keta): late August to October
  • Sockeye (nerka): June to July, the prize catch
  • Coho (kizhuch): September to November
  • Taimen: the Far East's giant trout, river fishing May to October
  • Arctic char (golets): year-round in cold rivers
  • Smelt (koryushka): March ice-fishing, a Sakhalin tradition
  • Crab: Kamchatka and snow crab in coastal waters, licensed harvest

Season by season

Spring (April — May)

Rivers clear of ice. First taimen casts. Smelt still biting on late ice in sheltered bays.

Summer (June — August)

Peak season. Salmon runs begin with sockeye in June, pink salmon take over in July-August. Sea fishing along both coasts — halibut, cod, flounder. Night fishing under the midnight twilight.

Autumn (September — October)

Chum and coho runs. Taimen still active. The weather turns — pack layers.

Winter (December — March)

Ice fishing on Aniva Bay and inland lakes. Smelt in March, mainly from sheltered bays. Requires cold-weather gear and a guide — the ice changes daily.

Best fishing spots

  • Tym River: the most famous taimen water, northern Sakhalin
  • Naiba River: all five salmon species, accessible from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
  • Aniva Bay: sea fishing for halibut, year-round
  • Busse Lagoon: oysters, scallops, small fish — gastronomic combo
  • Lake Tunaycha: pike and perch, easy day fishing

Licences and regulations

Amateur licences are required for most salmon rivers during the run. AMIST arranges licences and liaises with regional fisheries management. Commercial-grade tackle is available at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk shops (Rybolov, Klev); premium gear is limited — bring your favourite rods.

What AMIST offers

3-day to 10-day fishing expeditions. Our fishing programmes include licences, transport to remote rivers, an experienced local guide, gear hire on request and cooking facilities for your daily catch. Russia's premier salmon fishing — at the far end of a 9-hour flight from Moscow.