Contact:
Charles Swanton
SE Regional Management Coordinator
Phone: (907) 465-7225

During their January 22-February 1 meeting, the Alaska Board of Fisheries made the following regulation changes to Southeast Alaska sport fisheries. A detailed summary booklet of all regulations in effect for 2006-2007 will be published and made available by late April. The changes will become effective this spring.

 

1.      The Board modified the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan to allow the sport fishery to fully harvest their allocation during years of high king salmon abundance. Over the past four years, the king salmon abundance index (AI) has been very high and the sport fishery has been unable to harvest their portion of the Southeast Alaska quota. Under the new plan, the sport fishery will continue to be managed to achieve 20 percent of the annual harvest ceiling after subtracting the commercial net allocation, regulations will continue to be established based on the preseason abundance index by May 1 each year, and in season changes to regulations will occur only when necessary for conservation. However, the Board added the following provisions to the plan:

Ø      When the AI is greater than 1.5 the bag limit for resident anglers will be three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. In addition, residents may use two rods per angler October 1 through March 31.

Ø      When the AI is 1.51 to 1.75, the bag limit for nonresident anglers during May will be two fish, and the nonresident annual limit will be four or five king salmon 28 inches or greater in length for the entire season.

Ø      When the AI is 1.76 to 2.0, the bag limit for nonresident anglers during May will be two fish, and the nonresident annual limit will be five or six king salmon 28 inches or greater in length for the entire season.

Ø      When the AI is greater than 2.0, the bag limit for nonresident anglers during May and June will be two fish, and the nonresident annual limit will be six king salmon 28 inches or greater in length for the entire season.

 

In the Yakutat area,

2.      In the Situk River, only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used year round.

3.      In a housekeeping measure, the Board clarified that the salt water bag and possession limits in Yakutat Bay are six coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length.

 

In the Juneau area,

4.      The Board adopted the District 11 (Taku) king salmon management plan. The plan establishes how commercial and sport fisheries will be managed when there is an allowable harvest of king salmon returning to the Taku River. When there is an allowable harvest, the following regulations will apply to the sport fishery in District 11, sections 11-A and 11-B, from April 25 through June 30:

Ø      Anglers fishing for king salmon may use two rods per person.

Ø      The resident bag and possession limits are three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

Ø      The nonresident bag and possession limits are two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

Ø      The nonresident annual limit is five king salmon.

 

In the Sitka area,

5.      Allowed sport fishing for sockeye salmon in the Sitkoh Lake drainage. Anglers may keep six sockeye salmon per day and 12 in possession.

6.      Allowed sport fishing for pink salmon in Starrigaven Creek. Anglers may keep six pink salmon per day and 12 in possession.

7.      Allowed sport fishing for pink salmon within the Indian River upstream of the Sawmill Creek Bridge. Anglers may keep six pink salmon per day and 12 in possession.

8.      Allowed sport fishing for hatchery king salmon in fresh water systems draining into the Sitka Sound Special Use Area. The bag and possession limit for king salmon 28 inches or greater in length is five fish, and for fish less than 28 inches in length is five fish. King salmon caught in these freshwater drainages do not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

 

In the Petersburg/Wrangell area,

9.      The Board adopted the District 8 (Stikine) king salmon management plan. The plan establishes how commercial and sport fisheries will be managed when there is an allowable harvest of king salmon returning to the Stikine River. When there is an allowable harvest, the following regulations will apply to the sport fishery in District 8, May 1 through July 15:

Ø      Sport fishing may be conducted by the use of two rods per angler.

Ø      The resident bag limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and a possession limit of six.

Ø      The nonresident bag and possession limit is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

Ø      The nonresident annual limit is five king salmon.

10.  In Blind Slough, upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point:

Ø      Only unbaited, artificial lures may be used from November 16 through May 31.

Ø      Except during periods established by emergency order, a person may not intentionally snag, attempt to snag, or retain a salmon hooked other than in the mouth.

 

On Prince of Wales Island,

11.  In the Sweetwater Lake drainage, the limits for sockeye salmon are three per day and six in possession. In Hatchery Creek, from June 1 through July 31, sport fishing is closed from 100 feet upstream of the upper falls at the end of the USFS boardwalk, to 100 feet downstream of the lower falls.

12.  Removed special provisions for One Duck Lake. This lake is no longer being stocked with fish and special provisions are not needed.

 

For more information on the Board of Fisheries process, visit their website at: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/ and click on “Board of Fisheries.”

 

For more information about the sport fisheries in Southeast Alaska, contact the nearest Southeast Alaska ADF&G office or visit http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/sportf/region1/r1home.htm.