Area Sport Fishing Reports
Prince of Wales Island

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 26, 2021

Sport fishing opportunities on Prince of Wales (POW) during late July are highlighted by king, silver and pink salmon and bottomfish in marine waters and sockeye, chum, pink and summer run coho salmon, Dolly Varden, and trout in freshwaters. Water conditions have been low and warm for a few weeks now which can make freshwater fishing for salmon difficult.

NEW! Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips! The previous interactive map for Prince of Wales is still available but will be retired after September 1, 2021. For the most up-to-date information, please use the new app linked above.

* Please do your part to slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible.

Chinook Salmon

See below for new king salmon regulations that will go into effect August 1, 2021. King salmon fishing on the western side of POW remains good. The best catches are reported from outside waters around Noyes, Baker, and Suemez islands. King salmon fishing on the east side of POW is fair.

August 1 Revised Chinook Salmon regulations for 2021 are:

  • Through July 31 the daily bag limit for resident anglers is two fish over 28 inches. On August 1 the resident daily bag limit changes to one fish over 28 inches.
  • The daily bag limit for nonresident anglers through July 31 is one fish with a harvest limit of 1 fish over 28 inches, from August 1 through August 31 nonresidents may not retain king salmon.
  • Any king salmon harvested prior to changes in harvest limits applies to the current harvest limit.
  • Immediately upon landing and retaining a chinook salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record.

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon are currently present in a number of drainages including Hatchery, Eagle, Ratz creeks and Thorne, Sarkar, and Karta rivers.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon fishing in marine waters is very good with many anglers catching their bag limit. Summer run coho salmon are present in some freshwater drainages during July. The most popular drainage is the hatchery return at Neck Creek in Whale Pass. Wild returns occur in the Thorne and Karta rivers and Hatchery and Logjam creeks. Water levels are very low which may deter coho salmon from entering freshwater drainages and makes them difficult to catch when in freshwater.

Pink and Chum Salmon

Pink and chum salmon are present in marine waters and have started entering freshwater drainages. Most freshwater drainages of Prince of Wales have pink and chum salmon, however, Staney Creek and Thorne and Harris rivers are good locations to fish. A new hatchery return of chum salmon are present in good numbers at Port Asumcion of Baker Island.

Trout and Dolly Varden

Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of POW. Fishing can be very good in lakes and creeks during the summer as fish feed on aquatic insects, salmon fry, and sculpin. Productive drainages for trout include Klawock, Luck, and Sarkar lakes; the Thorne River, and Ratz Creek. Regulations regarding size limits, bag limits, and the use of bait can vary by waterbody, so please check the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary.

Halibut

Halibut fishing is very good throughout the summer.

Lingcod

Lingcod fishing can be very good in areas with rocky bottoms and structures.

Rockfish

Rockfish can be caught year-round. A helpful flyer is available on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish of POW.

All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deepwater release device (regardless of species targeted) and anglers will be REQUIRED to use a deepwater release device to release rockfish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. 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.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish

The retention of demersal shelf rockfish is prohibited during 2021.

  • No retention of demersal shelf rockfish which are the following species: yelloweye, quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger, and rosethorn rockfish.

Slope Rockfish

Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding POW. The most common species are silvergrey, rougheye, shortraker, and vermilion rockfish.

  • One per day; one in possession

Pelagic Rockfish

Pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding POW.

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

For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management please refer to the rockfish conservation page on the ADF&G Sport Fish website.

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

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

Helpful links