Contact:
Charlie Swanton
Southeast Regional Management Coordinator
Phone: 907-459-7225

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced today that sport fishing regulations for king salmon will be liberalized in the marine waters of District 8 near Petersburg and Wrangell from May 1 through July 15, 2006.

In January the Alaska Board of Fisheries (Board) approved a Stikine River king salmon management plan for commercial and sport fisheries in District 8. For sport anglers, this management plan includes provisions to liberalize the sport fishery in years when an allowable catch exists for Stikine River king salmon. The liberalized sport fishing regulations will be in effect in the salt waters of Sections 8-A and 8-B (see attached map).

Sport fishing regulations during this time will be:
• Sport fishing for king salmon may be conducted with the use of 2 lines (rods) per angler. No more than six lines may be fished from a vessel.
• Resident anglers will have a daily limit of three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and a possession limit of six king salmon.
• Nonresident anglers will have a daily and possession limit of two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length, and an annual limit of five king salmon.
• 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 triburaries, upstream of a line between Pt. Rothsay on the Stikine Flats, and Indian Pt. in LeConte Bay.

These sport fishing regulations are intended to provide additional opportunity to harvest Stikine River king salmon that are surplus to escapement needs and are expected to remain in effect through July 15, 2006. The ADF&G will monitor the harvest and run strength, and modify the regulations if needed. Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement should contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231.