ADFG Announces 2026 Southeast Alaska King Salmon Regulations

The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Southeast Alaska Regional King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations for 2026

(Yakutat) – 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:

• AlaskaResident
  • 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?January 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.

King salmon nonretention areas in the Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan vicinity will be in effect beginning April 1 to protect wild Alaska king salmon stocks. Please see announcements for these areas for additional details.

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

For further information, please contact the Acting Regional Management Coordinator, Troy Tydingco (907) 747-5355 or visit our site.

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Ketchikan Area for 2026

(Ketchikan) – 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 Ketchikan:

North and Northeast Behm Canal (see map) 

Area Description: In Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point to a line from Cactus Point to Point Eva.

• Salmon fishing is closed year-round.

West Behm Canal, Southeast Behm Canal and Southern Revillagigedo Channel (see map) 

Area Description: In West Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point and to the south by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point. In the waters of southern Revillagigedo Channel enclosed from a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen including the waters of Boca de Quadra and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000-foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point and in southeast Behm Canal from Cactus Point to Eva Point.

• April 1 to August 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Remaining waters of District 1 (see map) 

Area Description: In the marine waters of Ketchikan north and east from the International Boundary Line at Dixon Entrance from 54° 42.48’ N. lat., 130° 36.92’ W. long. to 54° 40’ N. lat., 131° 45’ W. long., continuing north to Caamano Point and enclosed to the north by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point and enclosed to the southeast by a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point, and enclosed by a line from Kah Shakes Point to Point Rosen and continuing to the Annette Island 3,000 foot boundary at the latitude of Beaver Point.

• April 1 to June 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.
• June 15 to August 14: 
• The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• 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 the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

District 2 (see map) 

• April 1 to June 14: King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Separate advisory announcements will be issued announcing king salmon regulations for locations where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return. Anglers fishing north of Ketchikan should review the advisory announcements specific to the Petersburg/Wrangell, and Juneau areas.

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

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Ketchikan Assistant Area Management Biologist, Kade Holling at (907) 225-2859.

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Petersburg/Wrangell Area for 2026

(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.

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Haines/Skagway Area for 2026

(Haines) – 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 regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below in the vicinity of Haines and Skagway:

Marine waters near Juneau, Haines, and Skagway, except Seymour Canal: (The waters of District 9 north of a line from Patterson Pt. To Pt. Ellis, District 10, Sections 11-A, 11-B, 11-C, District 12, Portion of Section 13-C southeast of a line between Nismeni Pt. and a point on the Chichagof Island shoreline at 57° 35.59′ N. lat., 135° 22.33′ W. long., District 14, and District 15)

• April 1 through June 14: No retention of king salmon. All king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters adjacent to the King Salmon River: (Section 11-D, Seymour Canal north of 57° 37′ N. latitude, see attached map)

• April 1 through July 31: closed to king salmon fishing; all anglers may not target or retain king salmon.

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

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 Juneau Area Management Biologist, Daniel Teske at (907) 465-8152.