Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince of Wales Island

September 04, 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, steelhead and four species of salmon. During September, fishing in marine waters can be productive for salmon and bottom fish. Freshwater fishing for salmon has been improving with the arrival of fresh from the ocean fall run coho salmon.

King Salmon

There are still some king salmon in the marine waters of POW, but fishing should decline as summer progresses into fall.

• 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 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 card.

Coho Salmon

Coho (silver) salmon fishing has been fair this season but has recently improved and is good in the marine waters of POW. Fishing should remain fair through September..

Fall run coho salmon are entering many drainages and fishing will continue to improve through September. Most creeks and rivers have returns of coho salmon. Popular drainages include the hatchery return to the Klawock River and wild returns to Staney Creek, and the Harris and Thorne rivers.

Sockeye Salmon

Most sockeye salmon have entered freshwater, have darkened and are geting close to spawning.

Pink and Chum Salmon

Pink and chum salmon have started to spawn in many of the freshwater drainages.

Trout and Dolly Varden

Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of Prince of Wales Island. As salmon start to spawn these fish will begin to feed on salmon eggs. Productive drainages include Klawock, Luck and Sarkar lakes, Thorne River, and Ratz Creek. Regulations regarding size limits and bag limits can vary by waterbody, please review the 2018 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

Halibut

Halibut provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales during the summer and fall.

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 visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage.

All Prince of Wales Waters

Pelagic Rockfish

• Season: year round
• Five per day; ten in possession

Non-pelagic Rockfish

• Season: All waters of POW are currently open.
• 1 per day, 1 in possesion.
• Nonresidents 1 yelloweye rockfish per year.

Shrimp

Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use, and subsistence shrimp harvest. Permits are available online at the ADF&G store or at your local ADF&G office.

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.