(Southeast Alaska) - Marine boat anglers returning to ports where and when on-site ADF&G creel surveys are conducted will be prohibited from filleting, mutilating, and de-heading sport caught lingcod, nonpelagic rockfish, and king and coho salmon at-sea. Marine boat anglers returning to any port on the road system of the communities listed below, during the times designated, may not fillet, mutilate, or de-head these fish until their vessel is tied up at a docking facility where the fish will be offloaded, unless the fish have been consumed or preserved on board:

• Juneau: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 22 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 8, 2024.
• Sitka: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 22 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 8, 2024.
• Yakutat: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 22 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Elfin Cove: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 6 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Gustavus: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 6 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Craig: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 6 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Klawock: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 6 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Ketchikan: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 20 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 8, 2024.
• Petersburg: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 20 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024.
• Wrangell: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 20 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2024

The purpose of this restriction is to maximize information obtained through ADF&G angler interview and dockside sampling programs. Southeast Alaska management plans adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries require length and sex information for lingcod, length information for nonpelagic rockfish, and identification of tagged king and coho salmon, which can only be obtained when fish are intact. On-site sampling is conducted during the fishing season at many harbors to estimate sport fishing effort and harvest, and contribution of hatchery and wild stocks of king and coho salmon to regional sport fisheries.

This action does not prohibit gutting and gilling fish before returning to port. Anglers may fillet and head king and coho salmon, lingcod, and nonpelagic rockfish on board a vessel once it is tied up at a docking facility where the fish will be offloaded.

Nonpelagic rockfish are defined as all rockfish which are not included in the pelagic (black, dusky, yellowtail, widow, dark and blue rockfish) rockfish species group. A helpful flyer is available on the ADF&G website, to assist anglers with identification. For further information, contact the nearest ADF&G office or visit here.

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