Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince of Wales Island

Archived Sport Fishing Report

November 29, 2018

Prince of Wales Sport Fishing

The sport fishing opportunities are numerous on Prince of Wales (POW) with productive marine waters surrounding the island and a vast road system to access a large number of rivers, creeks and lakes, which provide opportunities for trout, Dolly Varden, steelhead and four species of salmon. During the winter, fishing in marine waters can be productive for bottom fish while salmon fishing is poor.

King Salmon

There are some king salmon in the marine waters of POW, but fishing is poor.

• Sport fishing for king salmon around POW is currently open with a bag limit of 1 king salmon per day, 28 inches or greater. Alaska residents may use 2 rods to target king salmon from October 1 through March 31. The nonresident annual limit is 1 king salmon after July 1. Nonresidents shall immediately record, in ink, all king salmon harvested either on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record card.

Trout and Dolly Varden

Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of Prince of Wales Island. Productive drainages include Klawock, Luck and Sarkar lakes, Thorne River, and Ratz Creek. Regulations regarding size limits and bag limits can vary by waterbody, please review the 2018 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

Steelhead

Small numbers of fall or winter run steelhead begin entering some drainages in late October and continue through the winter. They are generally found in drainages with a lake system such as the Thorne, Klawock and Karta rivers, as well as Eagle and Ratz creeks.

Halibut

Halibut are available in the marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales year-round, however there is a closure to sport fishing during the month of January.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing is closed from December 1 to May 15.

Rockfish

Pelagic and non-pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales year-round. For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management, please visit the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation webpage.

All Prince of Wales Waters

Pelagic Rockfish

• Season: year-round
• Five per day; ten in possession

Non-pelagic Rockfish

• Season: All waters of POW are currently open.
• 1 per day, 1 in possesion.
• Nonresidents 1 yelloweye rockfish per year.

Shrimp and King Crab

Anglers are required to obtain a free permit for sport, personal use, and subsistence shrimp harvest. King crab fishing is open only to Alaska residents. A sport fishing license and Southeast Alaska King Crab Personal Use Permit are required. Permits are available online at the ADF&G store or at your local ADF&G office.

Regulation summaries and copies of the news releases are available at the Craig ADF&G office.

A new resource, the GoFishAK app ( www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm) provides an interactive map and information for anglers planning trips to POW.

For further information, please feel free to contact the Prince of Wales Area Management Biologist Craig Schwanke (907) 826-2498.