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

Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced regulation changes for king salmon in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA) from June 1 through July 31. The bag and possession limits for all anglers fishing in the THA is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and two king salmon less than 28 inches in length. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest area near Petersburg is described as that portion of Wrangell Narrows north and east of the northern tip of Woewodski Island (56? 36’ N and 132? 59’ W) and south of 56? 46’ N. latitude, and; the waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point. King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the THA during this period do not count toward the 2012 nonresident annual limit.

The sport fishery for hatchery-produced king salmon in the terminal waters of the Wrangell Narrows and Blind Slough is managed under the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area Management Plan (5 AAC 33.381). This plan distributes harvest of the Crystal Lake Hatchery king salmon run among sport and commercial troll fisheries while preserving a portion of the run for hatchery broodstock needed to sustain king salmon hatchery releases in Petersburg and Wrangell.

In 2012, the projected terminal area return is 2,900 king salmon. As prescribed in the plan, if the projected king salmon return to the terminal harvest area is between 2,000 and 4,000 fish, the department is to set these bag and possession limits from June 1 through July 31 in the terminal harvest area. The nonresident annual limit is repealed in the terminal harvest area based on provisions in the Southeast King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 47.055).

Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement should contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231.

END