(Anchorage) – In order to reduce the harvest of pelagic rockfish and prevent the harvest of yelloweye rockfish from increasing in North Gulf Coast and Cook Inlet waters, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reducing the pelagic rockfish bag and possession limits from May 27 through September 15, 2025 and prohibiting the retention of yelloweye rockfish from May 27 – June 30, 2025. This includes the marine waters of North Gulf Coast and Cook Inlet north of Cape Douglas (58° 51.10’) and west of Cape Fairfield (148° 50.25’) and includes Resurrection and Kachemak Bays (see map below). These emergency order regulations maintain a total bag limit of 3 rockfish per day and 6 in possession with limits by rockfish assemblage as outlined below:

Pelagic rockfish:

2 per day and 4 in possession.

Nonpelagic rockfish:

1 per day and 2 in possession
No retention of yelloweye rockfish from May 27 – June 30

Increases in harvest on black rockfish by the sport fishery (see figure below) is due, in part, to restrictions on charter (guided) halibut anglers and king and coho salmon restrictions for all anglers. Effort towards rockfish has continued to increase in the North Gulf Coast and Cook Inlet despite recent management actions reducing bag limits. From 2023 to 2024, the harvest of black rockfish increased 17% in Cook Inlet and yelloweye harvest increased 40% in North Gulf Coast and 35% in Cook Inlet. In addition, a large proportion of the rockfish harvest is immature fish based on biological composition data. Rockfish are slow growing, late to mature, and easy to catch which makes them susceptible to overharvest and requires a precautionary management approach, especially given the limited stock assessment.

“Anglers will still be able to keep three rockfish; however, they are limited to only two pelagic species instead of the option to keep three as in previous years. In addition, yelloweye rockfish may not be retained until after June 30, following the same regulations in place in nearby Prince William Sound to protect them during the reproductive cycle,” stated Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth. “While not a regulation, we recommend that anglers release smaller sized rockfish to allow for these fish to reproduce at least once prior to being harvested.”

A helpful guide to identify rockfish can be found on the ADF&G website and in the Southcentral Regulation Summary Booklet. Pelagic rockfish species include black, dark, dusky, deacon, yellowtail, and widow rockfish. Anglers are reminded to utilize a deepwater release device when releasing rockfish. Informative videos can be found on the ADF&G YouTube page.

Map of Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast salt waters.

For additional information, please contact the North Gulf Coast Area Manager, Brittany Blain-Roth at 907-267-2218 or Lower Cook Inlet Area Manager, Mike Booz at 907-235-8191.

Black rockfish harvest by fleet (charter sport anglers, private sport anglers, commercial fisheries).

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