Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg

July 9, 2026

King Salmon

King salmon fishing in the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA) has gone quite well. If you have not given it a try, you should get out there as the king season is winding down. While we are past the peak fishing time, there are still bright kings moving into the system.

The area open to king salmon retention outside of the THA has also seen decent catches. If looking to target wild king salmon, an angler in the Wrangell could fish Steamer Pt, Earnest Sound, or Bradfield Canal. If starting from Petersburg, head south to Duncan Canal or northeast towards Farragut Bay to target kings. We are past the peak of the run region-wide, so it is best to get out there soon if kings are what you’re after.

District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell will remain closed to king salmon retention until July 15^th.

Bag and possession limits for king salmon are specific to the area being fished and residency. For further information and maps, contact the ADF&G office or visit our website.

Halibut

Catches remain decent. Halibut are coming into shallower water this year. When spawning pink salmon are flushed from streams, halibut are attracted to the easy food source. We are not quite there yet, but in the next few weeks, you might consider dropping a line in a rocky bottomed area off the coast of one of these creeks. Halibut can be caught in shallow water (80-100 ft) this time of year.

The sport fishery is open February 1^st – December 31^st.

Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure craft used for fishing, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish.

Halibut are federally managed. Regulations are available through NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region at (907) 586-7228.

Lingcod

We have seen a few reports of ling cod being caught. Remember, the Northern Southeast Area is closed to nonresidents for lingcod fishing from June 15^th to August 31^st. For further information and maps, contact the ADF&G office or visit our website.

Alaskan residents are allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Nonresidents will be allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, with a size limit of 30-35 inches or 55 inches and longer. For nonresidents, there is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 of which is 30-35 inches in length, and 1 that is 55 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required.

Rockfish

The retention of demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, is open to Alaskan residents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no annual limit. Demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, will be open for nonresidents from July 1 through August 25 with a bag limit of 1 per day, 1 in possession, and an annual limit of 1 fish. Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

Slope Rockfish are open to Alaskan residents and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Pelagic Rockfish are open to residents of Alaska and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. A helpful species identification guide has been published on the ADFG website.

A rockfish release device is now required to be used whenever releasing rockfish, and a rockfish release device must be onboard your vessel whenever sport fishing in marine waters.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout remain available throughout the summer. These are fantastic smaller sport fish that are exciting to catch on lighter gear and quite delicious.

Creel Samplers

Alaska Department of Fish and Game creel samplers are now on the docks and at Blind Slough, approaching anglers to ask about their catch. The biological samples they collect are used to help manage and sustain a healthy stock required for recreational angling. Please be courteous and provide them with the few minutes needed to gather this important information.

If you are looking for places to fish, check out our interactive map at gofishak.