(Petersburg) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, is opening the entirety of Blind Slough to king salmon retention and increasing harvest opportunity.

The following regulations will be in effect for the Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 18, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2026:

• Resident Anglers: 3 king salmon per day, 3 in possession, any size, no annual limit.
• Nonresident Anglers: 2 king salmon per day, 2 in possession, any size, no annual limit.
• The area upstream of a line at Blind River Rapids is open to sport fishing.
• Bait is allowed.
• Snagging or attempting to snag is prohibited.

Anglers are reminded that they may not possess more than the possession limit nor a smaller size than what is allowed within the area in which they are fishing. For example, if retaining a king salmon less than 28 inches in length within the terminal area, that angler may not then fish outside the terminal area where a king salmon minimum size limit of 28 inches is in effect.

The 2026 return of hatchery king salmon is stronger than anticipated and well over the preseason projection of 2,300 large king salmon to Crystal Lake Hatchery and the Blind Slough terminal area. Crystal Lake Hatchery staff have conducted three separate broodstock collections, alleviating broodstock concerns and allowing for additional hatchery king salmon harvest opportunity.

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