Sitka- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing a reduction in the pelagic rockfish limits for 2024 in the Sitka Area (CSEO). The affected area includes the marine waters west of Baranof and Chichagof Islands between 57˚ 30′ N. Latitude and South of the Latitude of Cape Ommaney (56˚ N.). These regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 1 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The regulations are:

• Residents
  • The resident daily bag limit is four pelagic rockfish, eight in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents
  • The nonresident daily bag limit is two pelagic rockfish, four in possession, no size limit.

An increase in pelagic rockfish harvest by sport anglers since 2009 has led to substantially higher harvest levels than previously seen. This harvest may be unsustainably high and in the interest of conservative management, bag limits will be reduced from five daily and 10 in possession to four daily and eight in possession for residents and from three daily and six in possession to two daily and four in possession for nonresidents. The department is actively working to collect information to better inform the stock status of pelagic rockfish and sustainable harvest levels.

For further information, contact the Sitka ADF&G office at 907-747-5355 or visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.eonr

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