Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg

August 27, 2026

Coho

Coho salmon fishing has been slow. The lack of significant rainfall in the first three weeks of August certainly did not help. Now that the rain is finally falling, the coho are pushing up into the streams. This should be a good time to be out in the marine waters trolling or on foot up a creek. These are considered peak weeks for coho salmon.

King

King salmon are few and far between at this time of summer, but can be caught while trolling for coho. Should you catch one around the area, it is almost certainly a feeder king. These kings pass through our area during their ocean phase and are not this season's spawner kings, which have already headed upriver. Should you be fortunate enough to catch one, it is a beautiful, bright fish that is excellent to eat.

Regional regulations were changed by emergency order on July 31^st to increase the resident bag and possession limit to 3 king salmon per day with no annual limit and the nonresident bag and possession limit to 2 king salmon per day, with a nonresident annual limit of 4 king salmon. All kings must be 28 inches or greater in length. A king salmon stamp is required to harvest; otherwise anglers must immediately release the fish.

Halibut

Halibut catches have been good, but many anglers hope for larger fish. Larger fish usually come into shallower (~100 feet) water this time of year. With a smaller, later pink run not providing as much of a food attraction this year, an angler might try fishing a bit deeper if they are looking for larger.

The sport fishery is open February 1^st – December 31^st.

Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure craft used for fishing, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish.

Halibut are federally managed. Regulations are available through NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region at (907) 586-7228.

Lingcod

We have seen a few reports of ling cod being caught. Remember, the Northern Southeast Area is closed to nonresidents for lingcod fishing from June 15^th to August 31^st. For further information and maps, contact the ADF&G office or visit our website.

Alaskan residents are allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Nonresidents will be allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, with a size limit of 30-35 inches or 55 inches and longer. For nonresidents, there is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 of which is 30-35 inches in length, and 1 that is 55 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required.

Rockfish

Demersal shelf rockfish is now CLOSED TO NONRESIDENT anglers.

The retention of demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, is open to Alaskan residents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no annual limit.

Slope Rockfish are open to Alaskan residents and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Pelagic Rockfish are open to residents of Alaska and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. A helpful species identification guide has been published on the ADFG website.

A rockfish release device is now required to be used whenever releasing rockfish, and a rockfish release device must be onboard your vessel whenever sport fishing in marine waters.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are great fish still around this time of year. These are fantastic smaller sport fish that are exciting to catch on lighter gear and quite delicious.

Creel Samplers

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game creel sampling program is wrapping up for the season this week. The biological samples they collected help manage and sustain a healthy stock required for recreational angling. Thanks to all anglers who were interviewed this summer.

If you are looking for places to fish, check out our interactive map at gofishak.