Area Sport Fishing Reports
Sitka

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 24, 2016

King Salmon

King salmon fishing in the Sitka area has slowed now that peak season is passed. Areas around Cape Edgecumbe and outer Kruzof Island still offer the best opportunity to catch a king salmon.
 

The 2016 King salmon regulations 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.
  • Nonresident anglers shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sportfishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
     

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon fishing in the Sitka area marine waters has slowed and catch rates are below average. Coho are begining to show up in streams both on and off the road system, and will provide good freshwater fishing opportunities throughout the fall.

Sockeye Salmon

Sitka area sockeye returns have slowed now that peak season is passed.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon are returning in mass to Sitka area streams and nearshore waters, providing good freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunties. Starrigavan Creek, Indian River (above the Sawmill Creek Rd. bridge) and Sawmill Creek are good freshwater pink salmon fishing spots.

Steelhead

The spring steelhead season is finished. Steelhead in the Sitka area generally enter freshwater streams to spawn during May. See the Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulatory summary for addition information on fishing for steelhead in freshwaters.

Dolly Varden and Trout

There are several great locations for trout and Dolly Varden fishing in the Sitka Area. Dolly Varden and trout can be targeted year round but are most active in the spring months. Sawmill Creek has offered particularly good Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden fishing opportunities this summer.

When fishing for trout be sure to check the "2016 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.

Halibut

Season: February 1- December 31

• Charter vessel anglers may catch and retain one halibut per day, which must be less than or equal to 43 inches or greater than or equal to 80 inches in total length. Unguided anglers may retain two halibut of any size.
• 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.
• 2016 Change: the daily bag limit for pelagic rockfish in the Sitka vicinity is 3 fish per day and 6 in possession. See 2016 News Release for more info and a detailed map of affected area.

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 ONE non-pelagic rockfish; possession limit of TWO 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 at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1
For further information, please feel free to contact the Sitka area management biologist: Troy Tydingco (907) 747-5379.