Area Sport Fishing Reports
Sitka

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 12, 2014

The Sitka marine creel sampling program has begun for the season.

Sport Fisheries in the Sitka Area

 

Steelhead

The Steelhead are running in Sitka area streams. Generally associated with stream systems with lakes, the Sitka Area has several locations with steelhead. Steelhead should continue to enter freshwater streams to spawn through May. Steelhead regulations are as follows:

• 36” minimum size – 1 daily, 2 in possession, 2 fish annual limit, harvest record required.
• Port Banks Creek – outlet of Plotnikof Lake: Bait is prohibited year round and steelhead fishing is catch and release only.
• See the 2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulatory summary for additional information on fishing for steelhead in freshwaters.

King Salmon

King salmon fishing season is upon us in Sitka. Catch rates continue to climb as we approach the peak of the season in June.  Strong catch rates for this time of year are being observered in the sport fishery.  King salmon regulations for 2014 marine waters have been announced and are as follows:

• Alaskan Resident
  • The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
  • There is no annual limit for Alaska resident anglers.
• Nonresident
  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, except during May and June the bag and possession limit is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
  • The nonresident annual limit is six king salmon 28 inches or greater in length

From October 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015; sport anglers may use two rods when fishing for king salmon.

 

Coho Salmon

Coho Salmon have not yet begun to return to the Sitka Area. As coho salmon continue growing and moving toward nearshore areas anglers can expect marine catch rates to increase but not until July. While run timing can vary between individual drainages coho salmon can generally be found in freshwaters between mid-August and November. Freshwater coho salmon fishing can be an exciting fall activity.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Fishing for Dolly Varden and trout can be excellent in the spring especially near stream outlets as these species take advantage of the avaliablity of salmon fry emigrating from freshwater. When fishing for trout be sure to check the "2014 Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary" to understand regulations for the waterbody you intend to fish. Regulations regarding size limits, bag limits and the use of bait can vary by waterbody. Dolly Varden and trout can be targeted year round but become more active in the spring months.

Halibut

Season: February 1- December 31
Charter operators and crew members may not retain halibut while clients are on board the vessel.
The Sitka sound special use area is closed to the retention of halibut by chartered anglers between June 1 and August 31.

Lingcod

Size limits vary between Yakutat, Northern Southeast and Southern Southeast areas. For a description of these boundaries, please follow the link to emergency orders located at the bottom of this page.

Northern Southeast area (including the Sitka area)

• Season: May 16 –November 30
• Limits:
  • Resident – one daily two in possession, no size limit.
  • Nonresident – one daily, one in possession, size limit: 30 inches or greater in length and less than 35 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. Annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30 to 35 inches in length, one of which is 55 inches or greater in length, nonresident anglers shall immediately record, in ink, all lingcod harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
• Charter operators and crew members may not retain lingcod while clients are on board the vessel.

 

Rockfish

• Season: year round
• All non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until the daily bag limit is reached. Daily bag and possession limits vary between southeast outside waters and southeast inside waters. For a description of these boundaries, please follow the link to emergency orders located at the bottom of this page. Persons sport fishing from a charter vessel when releasing non-pelagic rockfish, (e.g. after an angler reaches their bag limit), must be in possession of, and utilize a deep water release mechanism to return the fish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Charter operators and crew members may not retain non-pelagic rockfish while clients are on board the vessel.
• Southeast Outside Waters:
  • Resident – two non-pelagic rockfish daily, only one of which may be a yelloweye; possession limit of four fish, two of which may be yelloweye.
  • Nonresident – daily bag limit is two non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye; possession limit of four fish, one of which may be yelloweye; with an annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish. Nonresident anglers must immediately record all yelloweye rockfish harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record.
• Southeast Inside Waters:
  • Resident – daily bag limit is three non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye, possession limit of six fish, two of which may be yelloweye.
  • Nonresident – daily bag limit is two non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye, possession limit of four fish, two of which may be yelloweye, with an annual limit of two yelloweye rockfish. Nonresident anglers must immediately record all yelloweye rockfish harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record.

All anglers are responsible for knowing the current regulations for the area that they will be fishing. Regulation summaries and copies of the most recent regulatory changes are available at the Sitka ADF&G office and online.
For further information, please feel free to contact the Sitka area management biologist: Troy Tydingco (907) 747-5379, or assistant Sitka area management biologist: Patrick Fowler (907) 747-5380.