Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg/Wrangell
August 2, 2021
King Salmon
Catch rates are now slowing as we approach the end of the summer season.
Residents: Throughout most of the management area, where the retention of king salmon was prohibited to conserve Alaska wild stock king salmon in the spring, the resident bag and possession limit is now two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. South and West of Point Baker the bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Maps of this boundary are provided in the most recent king salmon advisory announcement (link to advisory announcement at the bottom of this page)
Nonresidents: From August 1 through August 31, 2021 nonresidents may not retain or possess king salmon; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;
Hatchery Areas
Special regulations for the marine waters in the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area and the City Creek Release Site have now expired, the regional regulations listed above apply in all marine waters in the area. The freshwaters of Blind Slough remain open to fishing with a bag and possession limit of 2 king salmon over 28 inches in length and 2 king salmon under 28 inches in length for all anglers.
Coho Salmon
Coho salmon are now being intercepted in local marine waters. Anglers can expect marine catch rates to increase in the next few weeks as coho continues to migrate into the area.
Rockfish
Rockfish can be found year-round in marine waters and can be a great addition to your catch this time of year. Rockfish are managed by species groups with different bag and possession limits depending on the species. A helpful species identification guide is available on the ADFG website. Please see current emergency orders for a full description of these management actions. Anglers are reminded that a rockfish release device is now required to be used whenever releasing rockfish and the release device must be on board your vessel whenever sport fishing in marine waters.
Demersal shelf rockfish (including yelloweye): closed to retention.
Pelagic rockfish: a daily bag limit of 5 and possession limit of 10 in the Petersburg/Wrangell/Kake area.
Slope rockfish: daily bag and possession limit of 1.
Halibut
Anglers have been reporting good success rates when fishing for halibut. Typically, halibut catch rates increase as we progress through the summer and peak in the early fall.
Lingcod
The sport fishery for lingcod is now open. Nonresident anglers are reminded that size limits are different between northern and southern Southeast Alaska. Please refer to the advisory announcement addressing lingcod to review the regulations for the area you intend to fish. For residents, lingcod regulations are the same across Southeast Alaska with a bag limit of 1 daily and 2 in possession with no size limit.
Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect.
