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

Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced that anglers would be able to retain king salmon hooked other than in the mouth in portions of Blind Slough, from June 24 through July 14.  The open area will only include waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, and downstream of a line between department markers located approximately 100 yards upstream from the end of the access trail to Blind River rapids.   This area is part of the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area, and all other regulations will remain in effect.  This includes the sport fishing bag and possession limits, currently three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and three king salmon less than 28 inches in length, as well as other posted regulations such as allowable gear.  King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area during this period will not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

In 2006, the Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted a regulation whereby a period of retaining king salmon hooked other than in the mouth (snagged) would be permitted only by emergency order to better assure broodstock needs are met.  This emergency order is being issued now as the 2006 projected run is 5,200 king salmon to the Terminal Harvest Area, and monitoring within both the commercial fishery and Blind Slough via aerial survey affirm that the run is strong. After July 14, all fish hooked other than in the mouth must be released.