State Updates Southeast Alaska King Salmon Fishing Regulations (Updated)

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

This action does not change king salmon regulations in hatchery areas. (see attached map).

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the sport harvest of king salmon will continue to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska sport fishery king salmon allocation unless harvest opportunity is increased. This action liberalizes king salmon daily bag limits and the nonresident annual limit while keeping the sport fishery within its allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020 as follows:

Alaska Resident

From July 11 — August 15, 2020;

• The resident bag and possession limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length,
  no annual limit;

From August 16 — September 30, 2020;

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length,
  no annual limit.

Nonresident

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;

From July 11 — August 15, 2020;

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The nonresident annual limit is six king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;

From August 16 — September 30, 2020;

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

The Southeast Alaska regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply in all areas except as modified in designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest areas.

Hatchery Area Regulations

The king salmon regulations in the Juneau designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (see attached map) remain unchanged and remain effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2020 as follows:

• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

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

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Region 1 office in Douglas at (907 465-4270.

Updated 2020 King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations In Southeast Alaska, Outside The Haines/Skagway Area

This action does not change king salmon regulations in the Haines/Skagway Area, where special action has been taken to protect the Chilkat River wild stock king salmon (see attached map) through December 31.

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the sport harvest of king salmon will continue to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska sport fishery king salmon allocation unless harvest opportunity is increased. This action liberalizes king salmon daily bag limits and the nonresident annual limit while keeping the sport fishery within its allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020 as follows:

Alaska Resident

From July 11 — August 15, 2020;

• The resident bag and possession limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length,
  no annual limit;

From August 16 — September 30, 2020;

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length,
  no annual limit.

Nonresident

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;

From July 11 — August 15, 2020;

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The nonresident annual limit is six king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;

From August 16 — September 30, 2020;

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply outside the Haines/Skagway Area, where the retention of king salmon will continue to be prohibited, through December 31, 2020:

In the waters of Lynn Canal north of the latitude of Sherman Rock (Section 15-A):

• April 1 to December 31, 2020: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters of Chilkat Inlet, north of the ADF&G regulatory marker at Seduction Point:

• April 1 to July 15, 2020: Closed to king salmon sport fishing.
• July 16 to December 31, 2020: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Haines/Skagway Area Management Biologist, Richard Chapell at (907) 766-3638.