May 12, 2017

King Salmon Fishing is CLOSED in the Juneau Area through June 14th

King salmon fishing is closed in the waters of District 11, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock, and District 12 north of the latitude of Point Couverden

• From April 15, 2017 through June 14, 2017,

• King salmon fishing is closed, retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Taku River king salmon, like other Southeast Alaska king salmon stocks, are experiencing a period of low productivity. The 2017 preseason forecast for Taku River king salmon terminal run is 13,300 large fish. This level of abundance is below spawning escapement goal range (19,000–36,000 large fish) and below the management target of 27,500 Taku River king salmon (the midpoint of the spawning escapement goal range). Given the projected low abundance of Taku River king salmon, this action is being taken to conserve Taku River king salmon by restricting sport fisheries in the Juneau area.

Sport Fishing Emergency Orders and News Releases with relevant maps and bag and possession limits can be found at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm

King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations (saltwater) Outside of the Juneau Closed Area

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

• The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident anglers shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

From October 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018; resident sport anglers may use two rods when fishing for king salmon.

 Conservative king salmon regulations for the Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan areas, announced on March 6, 2017, are still in effect in order to protect wild Alaska king salmon stocks.

Starting Monday May 8th creel survey staff will begin sampling and conducting interviews at Juneau’s ports. This sport fishing information is being collected to help manage fishery stocks and to gain a better understanding of genetic makeup of fish being caught in the area. As always your cooperation in this matter is very much appreciated.

Other Spring Fishing Opportunities

Steelhead Trout fishing

Typically steelhead anglers aim to intercept the fish as they enter into streams from the saltwater in late April through May. Often, entire days can be spent searching for a few quality “looks” at a fish, so don’t be discouraged if it takes time, because the fight of a fresh steelhead will make it all worthwhile. Most streams that contain steelhead in southeast have small annual returns (in the hundreds) and thus can be vulnerable to over-fishing. Retention of steelhead in the Juneau area is prohibited. Any steelhead caught in a drainage crossed by the Juneau road system must be released immediately. Current region wide regulations elsewhere prohibit any steelhead under 36” from being harvested and require that a harvest record be completed in ink immediately upon landing a steelhead that is to be harvested. There are a number of streams on the Juneau road system that contain small runs of steelhead that are easily fishable. Keep in mind that all fish should be treated with great care regardless of size to ensure the best chances for survival upon release.

Peterson Creek and Cowee Creek are the two most popular spots to try to catch a steelhead on the Juneau road system. Steelhead prefer deeper water associated with cover, often becoming more active at dawn and dusk. Go mid-week, take your time and enjoy the solitude. You may be rewarded by a hook-up and explosive fight of a fresh steelie. Streamer flies made of Marabou with a touch of bright color can be effective. Attractor beads when used with a fly, lure, or bare hook must be either fixed within 2 inches of the fly, lure or hook, or be free sliding on the line or leader, by regulation.

Dolly Varden/cutthroat trout fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are beginning to move into saltwater and will congregate at the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek to feed on these emigrating salmon smolts. Using small smolt imitation fly patterns or small spinners and spoons is the best way to catch these fish. There will also be some fish that do not leave their “over wintering” sites and head for the ocean. Known as “residents”, these fish stay in their home lake, pond, or stream the entire year. While these fish may move around in the system to take advantage of food or environmental conditions, they will be present for your fishing pleasure all year. In all drainages crossed by the Juneau road system, as well as the saltwater adjacent to the Juneau road system to a line ¼ mile offshore, cutthroat and rainbow trout bag limits (in combination) are 2 daily, 2 in possession with a 14 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum size limit. Dolly Varden limits are 2 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit. Anglers should check the 2017 Southeast Alaska Sportfish Regulation Summary for special regulations specific to the stream or lake they intend to fish.