Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 07, 2021
Steelhead, Cutthroat, and Dolly Varden
The time is here for steelhead! If you haven't yet been out searching for the elusive steelhead there are still a few weeks left while these spring spawning fish are present in freshwaters. Water temperatures are warming and anglers will find increasing opportunities for Dolly Varden and Cutthroat trout. Try fishing around log jams, cutbanks, deep pools, and eddy lines where these species seek calm water to efficiently wait and watch for tasty morsels to drift by with the current.
When planning your next trip, check out our online interactive map at WefishAK for the Petersburg and Wrangell area to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access locations.
Rockfish
Rockfish can be found year-round in marine waters and can be a great way to start your fishing season. 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.
King Salmon
King salmon is currently closed to retention for most of the Petersburg/Wrangell management area (see emergency order issued March 2, 2021). Beginning June 1, the opportunity for king salmon will be available in selected areas where Alaska hatchery king salmon will be returning including the Wrangell Narrows and Anita Bay. Please see the advisory announcement issued May 3, 2021, for a description of special regulations for hatchery-produced king salmon with a map of the open areas. The majority of the management area will open to king salmon harvest on June 15, 2021.
If fishing in waters where king salmon retention is currently allowed (the outer coast of Prince of Wales). The following king salmon regulations are now in effect unless superseded by subsequent emergency order:
Alaska resident:
- Daily bag and possession limit of 3 king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. No annual limit.
Nonresident:
- Daily bag and possession limit of 1 king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
- The nonresident annual limit is 4 king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
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. This includes practicing social distancing and wearing a face covering as indicated in Health Alert 012.