Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince of Wales Island

September 11, 2025

September is primetime for river coho fishing and silver numbers appear good in most drainages. After a dry start to September rain is now increasing water levels which will improve river coho fishing. King and coho salmon are present in saltwater but fishing success will decline into September as fish migrate through to spawning destinations. Bottomfish such as halibut, lingcod and rockfish is very good in marine waters surrounding the island.

Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the gofishak interactive map to discover fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

Chinook (King) Salmon

King fishing is slowing down around Prince of Wales as the majority of fish have migrated past the island heading to spawning destinations in Canada and the lower 48.

Chinook Salmon Regulations for 2025

• The resident daily bag limit is one fish over 28 inches.
• Nonresident annual harvest is one fish over 28". Any king salmon harvested previously count toward the 1 fish limit.
• Fish such as king salmon, lingcod and demersal shelf rockfish must be recorded on a nonresident anglers license or harvest card immediately upon landing a fish intended for harvest.

Coho (silver) Salmon

Fall run coho are entering freshwater systems and numbers will build through September. Bait (salmon eggs) will be legal on a variety of drainages on September 15. Please check the regulation book to make sure the drainage you fish does not have a special regulation prohibiting bait. Most drainages have coho runs but good options are Staney Creek, Harris River and the hatchery return at Klawock River.

Pink, sockeye and Chum Salmon

Pink, sockeye and chum salmon are spawning in many freshwater drainages.

Trout and Dolly Varden

Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of POW. Trout and Dolly Varden are feeding opportunistically on salmon eggs, sculpins and aquatic insects. Productive drainages for trout include Luck, Klawock, 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 fishing will remain good into the fall.

Lingcod

Lingcod are especially abundant on the west coast of Prince of Wales but can be caught on inside waters as well.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. There is a section on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish of POW.

All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deepwater release device (regardless of species targeted), and anglers will be REQUIRED to use a deepwater 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, including yelloweye is open for residents of Alaska with a daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two.

Demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, closed August 25.

Demersal shelf rockfish are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger, and rosethorn rockfish.

Slope Rockfish

Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding POW. The most common species are silvergrey and vermilion rockfish.

• Resident and nonresidents daily bag limit of one per day; one in possession

Pelagic Rockfish

Pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding POW.

• Season: year-round
• Three per day; six in possession

For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management, please refer to the rockfish conservation page.

Regulation summaries and copies of the news releases are available at the Craig ADF&G office.

For further information, please contact the Prince of Wales Area Management Biologist: Craig Schwanke (907) 826-2498.