Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg

September 19, 2025

Salmon

The rain has come, and the coho are free to access the streams as far up as they can with the rising waters. The streams should provide fishing opportunities as long as they last, often into late October. If you are seeking the brightest fish, you will need to get to the creeks as soon as the water levels allow for fishing. Over the next month, coho will spawn the next generation and die. If you still wish to catch one, try to get out there as soon as possible.

Regionally, king salmon retention remains open for all anglers with a size limit of 28 inches or greater in length. Residents are allowed a bag and possession limit of one king salmon per day, while nonresidents’ limit is one king salmon per year.

Blind Slough remains closed to king salmon retention. Any king salmon caught must be immediately released.

Please see the Advisory Announcement on our website for maps and detailed information. Remember that a king salmon stamp is required whenever fishing for king salmon (including catch and release).

Halibut

Some halibut may continue to come into shallower water (~100 feet) to feed on salmon carcasses being pushed out of streams as they have been for weeks. They are beginning to drop into deeper water.

Check out some hot spots on our interactive map: gofishak: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f2a04c8fd7c7480ebfd029f47f03d277

The Halibut sport fishery is open February 1 – December 31, 2025. Reminder: Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure craft used for fishing, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish.

Lingcod

Residents are allowed a daily bag limit of 1; 2 in possession. Nonresidents are allowed a daily bag limit of 1; 1 in possession; 30-35 inches or 55 inches and longer. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 of which is 30-35 inches in length, and 1 that is 55 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required.

Rockfish

Remember that August 25^th was the final day for nonresidents to fish for Demersal Shelf Rockfish (species include yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn rockfish). Alaska residents are still allowed 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Slope Rockfish are open to residents and nonresidents with a daily bag limit of 1; 1 in possession. Pelagic Rockfish are open to residents and nonresidents with a daily bag limit of 3; 6 in possession. A helpful species identification guide has been published on the ADFG website. Anglers are reminded that a rockfish release device is now required to be used whenever releasing rockfish, and a rockfish release device must be onboard your vessel whenever sport fishing in marine waters.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Resident cutthroat and Dolly Varden can be found late into the fall in area streams and lakes. They are fat and colorful as they take on their spawning colors. Fall is an excellent time to trout fish.