ADFG Breaks Down Upcoming 2026 Fishing Regulation Changes

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

2026 Sport Fishing Regulation Update

(Anchorage) – Sport fishing regulation changes adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries at the following meetings during the 2025/2026 meeting cycle are not in effect until further notice:

• Statewide Finfish and Supplemental Issues
• Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands/Chignik Finfish
• Bristol Bay Finfish

These changes were included in the 2026 Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet (printed and online) in anticipation of those regulations becoming effective prior to the fishing season. However, the regulatory changes adopted during these meetings are not yet in effect, and therefore the 2025 regulations in the areas addressed at these meetings remain in effect until further notice.

For clarification, the affected Board of Fisheries proposals and actions, and the corresponding 2025 fishing regulations that will remain in effect by area until further notice are listed below:

Statewide:
Proposal 183 established a regulation requiring anglers to retain evidence of species for identification of rockfish, lingcod, and king salmon, and evidence of length for lingcod and king salmon in fisheries with length restrictions, which is not in effect until further notice. In Southeast Alaska, an emergency order that prohibits filleting and de-heading in selected ports is still in effect.

• This was a new regulation and there is no regulation in the 2025 sport fishing regulations.

Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands/Chignik:
Proposal 156 established differential harvest regulations for king salmon for resident and non-resident anglers and bait and tackle restrictions for all North Alaska Peninsula drainages, which are not in effect until further notice.
The following regulations are in effect in the Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands/Chignik areas until further notice:

• Nelson (Sapsuk) River: Fishing for king salmon is open to catch and release for king salmon through July 25. Retention of king salmon is not allowed. Fishing tackle is restricted to single-hook, artificial lures or flies through July 25.
• Sandy River: Fishing for king salmon is open through July 25. The king salmon bag limit is 1 king salmon per day, with an annual limit of 2 fish and tackle is restricted year-round to single-hook, artificial lures or flies only.
• King Salmon and Bear River drainages: Fishing for king salmon is open through July 25 with a bag limit of 10 king salmon under 20 inches in length and tackle is restricted to single-hook, artificial lures or flies year-round. King salmon 20 inches or greater in length are catch and release only.
• In the remaining North Alaska Peninsula drainages: King salmon have a bag limit of 2 per day, with an annual limit of 5 king salmon. The use of bait and treble hooks is allowed. The Alaska Peninsula king salmon season runs through July 25.

Bristol Bay:
Proposals 61 and 98 modified king salmon regulations on the Naknek River and Nushagak River drainages and are not in effect until further notice.

The following regulations are in effect in the Bristol Bay area until further notice:

• Naknek River Drainage: Open to king salmon fishing in designated waters. For king salmon 20 inches or longer there is a limit of 3 per day, 3 in possession, only 1 of which may be 28 inches or longer. Annual limit of 5 king salmon 20 inches or longer from the entire drainage, only 3 of which may be 28 inches or longer; all harvested king salmon 20 inches or longer must be recorded in ink on a valid sport fishing license, a harvest record card, or in the ADF&G Mobile App. For. king salmon less than 20 inches, there is a limit of 10 per day, 10 in possession.
• Nushagak River Drainage: Open May 1 through July 31 with gear restricted to one single-hook lure or fly, or one single-hook. Bait is allowed, except in waters upstream of the confluence of Harris Creek.

Regulations in the 2026 sport fishing regulation summary that are not listed above are currently in effect. A press release will be issued when any of the new regulations listed above go into effect. Additionally, anglers should keep in mind that regulations may be modified inseason by emergency order.

For questions or additional information, contact Regional Management Biologist Jay Baumer at (907) 267-2265.