Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 25, 2019

King Salmon

King salmon catch rates are have begun to slow as the summer king salmon fishing season winds down. New management action was announced this week which prohibits the retention of king salmon in marine waters by nonresidents effective Thursday, August 1 through September 15, 2019.

The current king salmon regulations within the marine waters of the Petersburg/Wrangell area:

• Residents: bag and possession limit of 2 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresidents: the retention of king salmon is prohibited August 1 through September 15, 2019. Outside of this time the bag, possession, and annual limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

Within the Wrangell Narrows terminal area, special regulations continue to be in effect until July 31, 2019:

• Bag and possession limit (residents and nonresidents) of two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and two king salmon less than 28 inches in length;
• King salmon caught by nonresidents in this area do not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon catch rates are increasing and anglers can expect catch rates to continue to increase into mid-August. The majority of sport caught coho salmon are currently being intercepted within Sumner Strait.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and trout can be targeted year-round but can provide especially good opportunity as returning salmon begin to spawn and these species often feed on loose salmon eggs.

Try fishing around log jams, cut banks, and eddie lines for these aggressive species. Dolly Varden and coastal cutthroat can also be found in nearshore areas as they cruise marine shorelines. The shoreline at Eagles Roost Park is a great location for shoreline fishing for Dolly Varden.

Halibut

Halibut catch rates are increasing as several anglers report successful fishing trips. Halibut catch rates typically increase as we progress into the summer with peak catch rates in August.

Rockfish

Rockfish are available year-round and fishing is generally good this time of year. Bag and possession limits for the waters in the Petersburg and Wrangell area are:

Pelagic rockfish:

• Bag limit of 5 and possession limit of 10 (residents and nonresidents), no size limits and no annual limit.

Nonpelagic rockfish:

• Bag and possession limit (residents and nonresidents) of one, no size limit.
• Nonresidents have an annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish.

Anglers are encouraged to use a rockfish release device whenever releasing rockfish. Please see the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use. Anglers are reminded that beginning January 1, 2020 all anglers will be required to carry and use a rockfish release device whenever releasing rockfish.

Interactive Fishing Resource

Check out the Petersburg/Wrangell interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips thru the Sport Fish gofishak application.