Area Sport Fishing Reports
Ketchikan
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 27, 2020
King Salmon
Opportunity to harvest king salmon will be available in terminal harvest areas beginning in June (see news releases and map dated May 26, 2020).
On June 15th, the majority of the Ketchikan area (District 1) and east Prince of Wales area (District 2) will open with regional king salmon limits, with a few exceptions (see news release and map dated February 10, 2020).
Terminal Harvest Areas
Mountain Point
June 1 – June 14 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. For nonresidents, the annual limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Herring Bay
June 1- July 31 the bag and possession limit for all anglers is three king salmon, no size limit, king salmon harvested in the Herring Bay terminal area will not count toward the nonresident annual limit.
Neets Bay
June 15 – August 14 the bag and possession limit is one king salmon for all anglers, 28 inches or greater in length.
Anglers are reminded that bag, possession and size limits for the salt waters outside of the designated terminal harvest areas are more restrictive than the limits inside the Mountain Point, Herring Bay and Neets Bay terminal areas and anglers are prohibited from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers fishing in multiple areas must be diligent to ensure they do not exceed the bag, possession, or size limit for the area they are currently fishing.
Regionwide Regulations
Alaska Resident
- The resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon for all anglers, 28 inches or greater in length.
Nonresident
- The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
- From January 1 through June 30, the nonresident annual limit is three king salmon.
- From July 1 through July 7, the nonresident annual limit is two king salmon, any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the two fish annual limit.
- From July 8 through December 31, the nonresident annual limit is one king salmon, any king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 7 will apply toward the one fish annual limit.
- Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.
The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as outlined below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Ketchikan:
North and Northeast Behm Canal
- Salmon fishing is closed year-round.
West Behm Canal and East Behm Canal and Southern Revilla Channel
- April 1- August 14: king salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
- August 15 – December 31: Alaska resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Remaining waters of District 1:
- April 1 - June 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
- June 15 - August 14: The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
- August 15 - December 31: The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing is open.
Halibut
Halibut provide good fishing throughout the summer months.
Rockfish
A new handout is available on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish.
As of January 1, 2020 all sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deep water release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers will be required to use a deep water release device to release rockfish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Please see the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.
Demersal Shelf Rockfish
The retention of demersal shelf rockfish is prohibited during 2020.
No retention of demersal shelf rockfish which are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger and rosethorn rockfish.
Slope Rockfish
Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding Ketchikan. The most common species are: silvergrey, rougheye, shortraker and vermillion rockfish.
One per day; one in possession.
Pelagic Rockfish
Season: year round.
Five per day; ten in possession.
For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management please refer to the rockfish conservation page on the ADF&G Sport Fish website.
Shrimp
Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use and subsistence shrimp harvest for each calendar year. 2020 Southeast Shrimp Permits are available online at the ADF&G store or at your local ADF&G office. The shrimp harvest, location, and number of pots pulled must be recorded each day, and the permit must be returned to ADF&G or reported online at the end of the year.
Steelhead
Steelhead fishing is open, however most fish are spawning and many have migrated back to the ocean.
Trout and Dolly Varden
Anglers targeting trout may want to try Ward Lake, Talbot Lake and Harriet Hunt Lake on the Ketchikan road system or the various small lakes on Gravina Island which can be accessed from the road system from the airport.
Be sure to check the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary. The Ketchikan Area Freshwater Special Regulations can be found on pages 30-32. Regulations vary depending on the waters you plan to fish.
For further information, please call the Ketchikan Area Management Biologist: Kelly Reppert (907) 225-2859.