ADFG Announces Southeast Alaska King Salmon Fishing Regulations

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

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Ketchikan Area for 2023

(Ketchikan) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the 2023 regionwide sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and the modifications for the Ketchikan Area. The following region wide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2023 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From March 10 through March 31, 2023 and October 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024, 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 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;

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters 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. The regional nonresident annual limit described above applies.
  • 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.

The Pacific Salmon Commission has adopted a new method for setting the annual king salmon catch limit for Southeast Alaska. The catch limit is allocated among gear types in accordance with Board of Fisheries approved management plans. Under this new method, the king salmon catch limit will not be known until early April. Regional king salmon sport fishing regulations issued for the 2022 season continue to be in effect until the 2023 Southeast Alaska king salmon catch limit is established. Regional sport fishing regulations may be updated in April if a change is required.

Separate advisory announcements will be issued announcing king salmon regulations for locations where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Ketchikan Area Management Biologist, Kelly Reppert at (907) 225-2859 or visit our website.

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Juneau Area for 2023

(Juneau) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the 2023 regionwide sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and the modifications for the Juneau Area. The following regionwide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From March 10 through March 31, 2023, and October 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024, 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 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 the back of 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 for the inside waters in the vicinity of Juneau:

Marine waters near Juneau except Seymour Canal and upper Taku Inlet: (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., Sections 14-B and 14-C, and District 15 south of the latitude of Sherman Rock; see attached map)

• April 1 through June 14, 2023: No retention of king salmon. All king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters adjacent to the Taku River: (Taku Inlet north of a line from Point Bishop to Point Greely, see attached map)

• April 1 through June 30, 2023: 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 June 30, 2023: closed to king salmon fishing, all anglers may not target or retain king salmon.

The Pacific Salmon Commission has adopted a new method for setting the annual king salmon catch limit for Southeast Alaska. The catch limit is allocated among gear types in accordance with Board of Fisheries approved management plans. Under this new method, the king salmon catch limit will not be known until early April. Regional king salmon sport fishing regulations issued for the 2022 season continue to be in effect until the 2023 Southeast Alaska king salmon catch limit is established. Regional sport fishing regulations may be updated in April if a change is required.

A separate news release will be issued announcing king salmon regulations for locations where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return.

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

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Juneau Area Management Biologist, Daniel Teske at (907) 465-8152 or visit our website.

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Petersburg/Wrangell Area for 2023

(Petersburg) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the 2023 regionwide sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and the modifications for the Petersburg/Wrangell Area. The following regionwide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2023 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From March 10 through March 31, 2023 and October 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024 a resident 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 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;

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

In the majority of marine waters within the management area:

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

• April 1 to June 14, 2023: 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, 2023: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

The Pacific Salmon Commission has adopted a new method for setting the annual king salmon catch limit for Southeast Alaska. The catch limit is allocated among gear types in accordance with Board of Fisheries approved management plans. Under this new method, the king salmon catch limit will not be known until early April. Regional king salmon sport fishing regulations issued for the 2022 season continue to be in effect until the 2023 Southeast Alaska king salmon catch limit is established. Regional sport fishing regulations may be updated in April if a change is required.

A separate advisory announcement will be issued announcing king salmon regulations for locations where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return. Fishing opportunity in the Anita Bay, Gunnuk Creek and Blind Slough terminal harvest areas will open on June 1, 2023 and the City Creek release site will open June 15, 2023.

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.

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

Sport Fishing Regulations for King Salmon in Southeast Alaska and the Haines/Skagway Area for 2023

(Haines) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the 2023 regionwide sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and the modifications for the Haines/Skagway Area. The following regionwide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 10 2023, through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Alaskan Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• From March 10 through March 31, 2023, and October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, 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 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 the back of 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 for the inside waters in the vicinity of Haines and Skagway:

All anglers

• From April 1 through July 15: The waters of Chilkat Inlet, north of the ADF&G regulatory marker immediately north of Seduction Point (see attached map) will be closed to king salmon sport fishing.
• From April 1 through December 31: In Section 15-A, the waters of Lynn Canal north of the latitude of Sherman Rock, including Chilkat Inlet, (see attached map), the retention of king salmon is prohibited; any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

The Pacific Salmon Commission has adopted a new method for setting the annual king salmon catch limit for Southeast Alaska. The catch limit is allocated among gear types in accordance with Board of Fisheries approved management plans. Under this new method, the king salmon catch limit will not be known until early April. Regional king salmon sport fishing regulations issued for the 2022 season continue to be in effect until the 2023 Southeast Alaska king salmon catch limit is established. Regional sport fishing regulations may be updated in April if a change is required.

Anglers fishing south of the Haines/Skagway area should review the news releases announcing sport fishery regulations specific to the Juneau, Petersburg/Wrangell and Ketchikan areas.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Juneau Area Management Biologist, Daniel Teske at (907) 465-8152 or visit our website.