Contact:
Doug Fleming
Petersburg-Wrangell Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 772-5231

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced today that sport fishing regulations for king salmon will be liberalized in marine waters of District 8 near Petersburg and Wrangell (see map).

The following sport fishing regulations for the marine waters District 8 will be in effect as of 12:01 A.M. Tuesday, May 1, 2012 through July 15, 2012:

• Sport fishing for king salmon may be conducted with the use of 2 lines (rods) per angler with no more than six lines fished from a vessel.
• Resident anglers will have a daily bag limit of three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and a possession limit of six king salmon.
• Nonresident anglers will have a bag and possession limit of two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and an annual limit of six king salmon. Nonresident anglers must record all king salmon harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record immediately.
• Charter operators and crew members may not retain king salmon when clients are onboard.
• King salmon fishing will remain closed in fresh waters of the Stikine River and its tributaries, upstream of a line between Pt. Rothsay on the Stikine Flats, and Indian Pt. in LeConte Bay.

In 2006, the Alaska Board of Fisheries approved a Stikine River king salmon management plan that includes provisions to liberalize sport fishing in years when an allowable harvest exists for Stikine River king salmon. These sport fishing regulations are intended to provide additional opportunity to harvest Stikine River king salmon that are surplus to escapement needs. Anglers that fish in waters outside of District 8, hatchery terminal harvest areas, or after July 15th in District 8 are reminded that other regulations apply (see current news release on 2012 Southeast Alaska King Salmon sport fishing regulations, and check in-season news releases posted on the Fish and Game website and at local boat harbors).

For further information, contact the nearest ADF&G office or visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.eonr
 

KING SALMON SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS LIBERALIZED IN MARINE WATERS NEAR PETERSBURG AND WRANGELL