(Released: January 05, 2023)

CONTACT: Patrick Fowler
Southeast Alaska Management Coordinator
(907) 772-5231


Reminder of Changes to Sport Fishing for Nonpelagic Rockfish in Southeast Alaska during 2023

(Petersburg) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, is reminding anglers of changes made by the Board of Fisheries to regulations for nonpelagic (slope and demersal shelf) rockfish in Southeast Alaska for 2023 and beyond. In March 2022, the Board of Fisheries supported a change in regulations that provided opportunity for Alaskan residents to harvest demersal shelf rockfish (except yelloweye). The retention of demersal shelf species remains prohibited by nonresident anglers. These regulations are summarized below:

Slope Rockfish

Resident and nonresident anglers:

  • bag limit of one fish; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish (except yelloweye)

Resident anglers:

  • bag limit of one fish; possession limit of two fish; no annual limit.

Nonresident anglers:

  • Closed; retention is prohibited.

Yelloweye Rockfish: Closed; retention is prohibited by all anglers

Slope rockfish are defined as all rockfish which are not included in either the pelagic (black, dusky, yellowtail, widow, dark, and blue rockfish) or the demersal shelf rockfish species group (yelloweye, quillback, copper, China, canary, tiger and rosethorn rockfish). The most common slope species encountered in the sport fishery in Southeast Alaska include: redbanded, rougheye, shortraker, silvergray, and vermilion rockfish. A helpful identification flyer is available on the Fish and Game website.

When releasing any rockfish, anglers must use a deepwater release mechanism to return the fish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. All vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release mechanism on board and readily available for use when saltwater sport fishing activities are taking place.

For more information, please contact Patrick Fowler via email.

#23-3442