June 14, 2017

King Salmon Fishing will OPEN in the Juneau Area on June 15th

King salmon fishing will open 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 on June 15. King salmon retention in District 15 north of the latitude of Sherman Rock is still CLOSED.

Bag, possession and annual limits for the Juneau area will revert to the Southeast Alaska Regional king salmon sport fishing regulations for 2017:

Alaskan Resident

The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. No annual limits

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.

Taku River king salmon, like other Southeast Alaska king salmon stocks, are still experiencing a period of low productivity. The 2017 in-river sampling for Taku River king salmon indicates that marine survivals are still poor and escapement is still low. The projected terminal run abundance is predicted to be 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). However, historic run timing indicates that most of the Taku king salmon have passed upstream into freshwater by this time, thus allowing for easing of sport fishing restrictions in Juneau area marine waters.

Hatchery king salmon sport limits will NOT be increased in the Juneau area within the designated saltwater harvest area in 2017

Daily bag and possession limits will revert to the Southeast Alaska Regional king salmon regulations described above.

Due to concerns about low numbers of king salmon expected to return to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, bag and possession limits for the designated saltwater harvest area will NOT be liberalized. This action is necessary to ensure that sufficient numbers of king salmon can be collected for broodstock needs. Anglers are reminded that they can harvest 4 king salmon daily, 4 in possession, no size limit, for all freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system. Annual limits do not apply in freshwater.

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

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

Marine boat creel survey staff are still 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

By this time in the season, steelhead adults have returned to the ocean after spawning. In Southeast Alaska, most streams that contain steelhead 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 regionwide 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 other streams on the Juneau road system that may contain steelhead. Keep in mind that all fish should be treated with great care regardless of size to ensure the best chances for survival upon release.

Dolly Varden/cutthroat trout fishing

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are being caught in saltwater near the mouths of local creeks such as Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek, and Cowee Creek as they feed on emigrating salmon smolts, sandlance and surf smelt. 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 in area lakes and head for the ocean. While these “resident” 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.