Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 22, 2021
The long summer days are here, and with it the summer fishing season is in full swing.
King Salmon
Regional Regulations
The regional bag, possession, and nonresident annual limits have been changed, effective 6/21/21. The new regional bag and possession limits are listed below.
Residents: the bag and possession limit is 2 king salmon greater than 28” in length, with no annual limit.
Nonresidents: the bag and possession limit is 1 king salmon greater than 28’ in length. The nonresident total harvest limit is:
- From January 1 through June 30: 3 king salmon;
- From July 1 through July 7: 2 king salmon;
- From July 8 through December 31: 1 king salmon;
- Any king salmon harvested after January 1 will count toward the nonresident total harvest limit.
The majority of the management area is now open to the harvest of king salmon with the exception of the waters surrounding the mouth of the Stikine River (District 8 and a small portion of District 7 near Wrangell). This area will open to the harvest of king salmon on July 15, 2021. The advisory announcements describing these regulations and maps of the area can be found by following the links on the right-hand side of this webpage for advisory announcements.
Hatchery Areas
Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows
Catch rates for Alaska hatchery king salmon within the Blind Slough Wrangell/Narrows terminal harvest area have been strong. We are now at the peak of this fishery with anglers reporting good success both in the saltwater portion of the Wrangell Narrows and within the freshwater of Blind Slough. Anglers can expect king salmon to continue to accumulate in the area with a growing portion moving into the freshwater of Blind Slough over the coming weeks.
King salmon sport fishing regulations in the Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area:
- Residents: Bag and possession limit: 3 king salmon over 28 inches and 2 king salmon under 28 inches.
- Nonresidents: Bag and possession limit: 2 king salmon over 28 inches and 2 king salmon under 28 inches.The nonresident annual limit does not apply in this area.
City Creek Release Site
At the City Creek Release Site, catch rates have been slower but are expected to pick up as returning king salmon congregate in this area.
King salmon sport fishing regulations in the City Creek Release Site:
- Bag and possession limit (all anglers): 1 king salmon of any size.
- The nonresident annual limit continues to apply in this area.
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.
Halibut
Anglers have been reporting good success rates when fishing for halibut. Typically, halibut catch rates increase as we progress into 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.