Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced the bag and possession limit of king salmon in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area, effective Thursday, June 1 through Monday, July 31, 2017.

• King salmon bag and possession limits for residents and nonresidents:

  • 28 inches or greater in length - 2 fish

  • Less than 28 inches in length - 2 fish

• Nonresident annual limits:

  • King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area do not count toward the 2017 nonresident annual limit.

The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest area is described as: that portion of Wrangell Narrows south of 56? 46’ N. latitude (Martinsen’s dock) and north and east of the northern tip of Woewodski Island (inlet point) and includes the fresh waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point (see attached map).

In 2017, 2,500 Crystal Lake hatchery king salmon are expected to return to the terminal harvest area. Returns of this size are expected to provide for hatchery broodstock needs while allowing sport fishing opportunity. In accordance with the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.381), the department is directed to establish the above bag and possession limits when the projected return of king salmon to the terminal harvest area is at least 2,000 fish but less than 4,000 fish.

Anglers are reminded that snagging is not legal in the fresh waters of Blind Slough. When fishing upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point any fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth must be released immediately. Bait may be used from June 1 through November 15 in the freshwaters of Blind Slough.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Petersburg/Wrangell Area Management Biologist, Patrick Fowler at (907) 772-5231.

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