(Petersburg) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing the 2026 sport fishing regulations for king salmon in marine waters of Southeast Alaska and Yakutat. These regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2027. The regulations are:

• Alaska Resident
  • The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length
  • From October 1 through March 31, a resident sport fish angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon; a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon.

• Nonresident
  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From April 1 through June 30, the nonresident annual harvest limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From July 1 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 June 30 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.

The Southeast Alaska regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below in the vicinity of Petersburg/Wrangell:

In the majority of marine waters within the Petersburg management area:

(District 6, District 10, and portions of District 5, District 7, and District 9; see attached map)

• April 1 to June 14, 2026: The retention of king salmon is prohibited; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters adjacent to the Stikine River:

(District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell; see attached map)

• April 1 to July 14, 2026: The retention of king salmon is prohibited; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

This announcement does not affect the regulations for the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough terminal harvest area. Fishing opportunity for Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon in the Anita Bay and Gunnuk Creek terminal harvest areas will open on June 1, 2026.

Anglers fishing north of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the advisory announcement for regulations in the Juneau and Haines/Skagway areas. Anglers fishing south of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the advisory announcement for regulations in the Ketchikan area.

When fishing in the exclusive economic zone (between 3-200 nautical miles from shore), all anglers must comply with the regulations established for nonresident anglers, including the annual limits for king salmon.

For further information concerning this announcement, please contact Petersburg/Wrangell Area Management Biologist, Jeffrey Rice at (907) 772-5227.

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