(Juneau) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today the sport fishing regulations for hatchery-produced king salmon in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest areas near Juneau. The following regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 1 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024:

Lena Cove, Auke Bay, and Fritz Cove

Within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area consisting of the contiguous waters of Stephens Passage, Auke Bay, Fritz Cove and Gastineau Channel, enclosed on the west by a line running from the tip of Point Louisa to the navigational aid at the northern tip of Portland Island (58 ^o 21.13’N., 134 ^o 45.52’W) then along the eastern shore of Portland Island to its most southern point and ending on Douglas Island at the northern tip of Outer Point, and enclosed on the east by a line extending from the Salmon Creek Bridge to a regulatory marker on the Douglas shore and all salt waters of Lena Cove south of a line from Pt. Lena to a regulatory marker on the mainland shore located at 58^o24.20’N. lat.,134^o 45.64’W. long. (see attached map):

• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in this area do not count toward their annual limit.

Macaulay Hatchery

The salt waters of Gastineau Channel within a 300-yard radius of the Wayside Park Fishing Dock (Channel Wayside fishing dock – see attached map insert).

• Closed to king salmon fishing and snagging for all species.

Gastineau Channel

The salt waters of Gastineau Channel south of a line extending from Salmon Creek Bridge to a regulatory marker on Douglas Island and north of a line located approximately ¼ mile south of the Dupont dock and extending across Gastineau Channel between department markers (see attached map).

• Closed to king salmon fishing, king salmon may not be targeted or retained.

These regulations are intended to provide opportunity to harvest surplus Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon returning to the Juneau area, while still protecting broodstock.

King salmon returns to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) Inc. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery are projected to be low and are not expected to meet broodstock needs. The closure of Gastineau Channel is necessary to protect king salmon needed for broodstock and ensure future production. If broodstock goals are achieved, this area may open to harvest opportunity. Anglers should note that it may be necessary to close Fish Creek Pond on Douglas Island so additional broodstock can be collected and brought back to the hatchery. If this action is necessary, a separate announcement will be made in June or July.

The bag, possession, and size limits for king salmon in the salt waters outside of the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area are more restrictive. Regulations prohibit anglers from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing. Therefore, anglers who catch king salmon within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area may not continue to fish outside of that area if they possess king salmon that do not comply with the regional king salmon bag, possession, and size limits.

For additional information contact the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Douglas at (907) 465-4270 or visit our website.

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