Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince of Wales Island
June 18, 2018
Prince of Wales Sport Fishing
The sport fishing opportunities are numerous on Prince of Wales (POW) during the summer with productive marine waters surrounding the island and a vast road system to access a large number of rivers, creeks and lakes, which provide opportunities for trout, Dolly Varden and steelhead. During June fishing in marine waters can be productive for king salmon and bottom fish.
King Salmon
King salmon catch rates have been fair on the west side of POW.
- Sport fishing for king salmon around POW is currently open with a bag limit of 1 king salmon per day, 28 inches or greater. The nonresident annual limit is 3, 28 inches or greater through June 30. The nonresident annual limit will be 1 king salmon after July 1. Nonresidents shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record. Fishing is currently poor to fair.
Trout and Dolly Varden
Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of Prince of Wales Island. Fishing can be very good during June. Productive drainages include: Klawock, Luck and Sarkar lakes, the Thorne River and Ratz Creek. Regulations regarding size limits, bag limits and the use of bait can vary by waterbody, so please check the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary.
Halibut
Halibut provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales during June.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing can be good in areas with rocky structure.
- Resident bag limits are 1 fish per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.
- Nonresident bag limits are 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit 30 inches or greater in length and less than 45 inches, or greater than 55 inches. Annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30 to 45 inches and one of which is 55 inches or greater in length.
Rockfish
Pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales year round. For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management please refer to rockfish conservation on the ADF&G Sport Fish website.
All Prince of Wales Waters
Pelagic Rockfish
- Season: year round
- Five per day; ten in possession
Non-pelagic Rockfish
- Resident - One non-pelagic rockfish daily; possession limit of one fish.
- Nonresident - One non-pelagic rockfish daily; possession limit of one fish; with an annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish.
- Nonresident anglers must immediately record yelloweye rockfish harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record.
- 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.
- Retention of nonpelagic rockfish will be prohibited on the west side of Prince of Wales from August 1 to August 31.
Regulation summaries and copies of the news releases are available at the Craig ADF&G office.
For further information, please feel free to contact the Prince of Wales Area Management Biologist: Craig Schwanke (907) 826-2498.
