Area Sport Fishing Reports
Petersburg

June 4, 2024

King Salmon

Last weekend represented the start of three hatchery produced king salmon angling opportunities in the area.

The Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area (THA) near Petersburg offers the chance to catch king salmon returning to Crystal Lake Hatchery. Since these are hatchery produced king salmon, not wild stock, opportunity exist for both resident and nonresident anglers to harvest bag limits of 2 kings 28 inches or greater in length and 2 kings under 28 inches in the specific area of the saltwater portion of the THA. For a nonresident, this does not apply to your annual king salmon limit. The freshwater portion of the THA, Blind Slough, is closed June 1^st through July 31^st this summer. The reason behind the closure is a small amount of forecasted adult returns to the THA and following the management plan that protects the freshwater kings first as they are most vulnerable to stress in the final stretch leading back to the hatchery.

Anita Bay opened near Wrangell on June 1^st. Resident anglers are allowed a bag limit of 2 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and nonresident anglers are allowed a bag limit of 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. For a nonresident, this does apply to your annual king salmon limit.

Gunnuk Creek opened near Kake on June 1^st. Resident anglers are allowed a bag limit of 2 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and nonresident anglers are allowed a bag limit of 1 king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. For a nonresident, this does apply to your annual king salmon limit.

The following king salmon angling areas open soon:

On June 15^th City Creek near Petersburg will open. Bag and possession limit (all anglers) is one king salmon any size. For a nonresident, this does apply to your annual king salmon limit.

On June 15^th, with the exception of District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell, all remaining areas are open to king salmon fishing. Resident anglers are allowed two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresidents are allowed one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. For a nonresident, this does apply to your annual king salmon limit.

On July 15^th the remaining areas around Petersburg and Wrangell open for king salmon. Resident anglers are allowed two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresidents are allowed one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length. For a nonresident, this does apply to your annual king salmon limit.

Nonresidents are reminded:

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From January 1 through June 30, the nonresident annual harvest limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From July 1 through July 15, the nonresident annual harvest limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply towards the two fish annual harvest limit;
• From July 16 through December 31, the nonresident annual harvest limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; any king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 15 will apply towards the one fish annual harvest limit;
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record;

Advisory Announcements with additional details and specific maps are available on our website. Remember that a king salmon stamp is required whenever fishing for king salmon (including catch and release).

Halibut

This is a good time to target halibut. Reminder: 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.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and trout are now abundant throughout the creeks. With lighter tackle, the late spring and early summer offer a good time to seek these fish without having to deal with pink salmon in the streams. Reports are that there are plenty of trout and Dolly Varden to be caught in the streams. Remember to check the bag and size limits of trout in our Sport Fishing Regulations Summary as they do change depending on which stream you are fishing.

Lingcod

Limits: 1 per day, 1 in possession; 30-35 inches or 55 inches and longer. 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, harvest record is required. Alaskan Resident bag and possession remain – 1 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Rockfish

Rockfish regulations have remained in place since the last fishing season. Pelagic rockfish regulations remain the same with a daily bag limit of 5 and possession limit of 10 in the Petersburg, Wrangell, and Kake area. Slope and demersal shelf rockfish species both have a daily bag limit of one fish and possession limit of 2 for Alaska residents. Demersal shelf rockfish are closed to retention for nonresidents anglers and yelloweye are closed to retention for all anglers. A helpful species identification guide has been published on the ADFG website. Anglers are reminded that 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.