Lingcod Limits Reduced In Waters Off Northern Afognak, Shuyak Islands

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

Afognak Island Lingcod Limits Reduced

(Kodiak) – To ensure sustainable harvests of lingcod, in the waters of northern Afognak and Shuyak Islands, north of the latitude of Tonki Cape (58° 21.181’ N. lat.) and north of the latitude of Black Cape (58° 24.583’ N. lat.), including the waters of Tonki and Perenosa bays between these capes the bag limit is reduced. This modification is necessary due to increasing harvest and participation in the fishery, particularly with much more restrictive bag limits in adjacent Cook Inlet waters. The bag limit for lingcod is 1 per day, 2 in possession, 35 inches in length or greater. This reduced limit is effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026.

In the northern Afognak and Shuyak Islands the harvest of lingcod has been of particular concern as harvest has increased significantly since 2019. The lingcod bag limit will be similar to the Cook Inlet lingcod bag limit for regulatory simplicity in management areas that are in close proximity. Lingcod harvest in this area accounts for approximately 35% of the total Kodiak Management Area guided lingcod harvest. Little information exists in terms of the population size or structure of lingcod in the Kodiak archipelago, and it is unknown what a sustainable harvest level is for lingcod or how much additional harvest the population can support, particularly in a relatively confined area such as this.

“Lingcod harvest has been increasing steadily in the relatively small and isolated area of northern Afognak and Shuyak Islands,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “It is unknown what a sustainable harvest level for lingcod is in this area and how much increased harvest can be accommodated. Therefore, it’s warranted to reduce the lingcod bag limit to attempt to curb harvest in the fishery given the lack of information. Lingcod and rockfish bag limits in this area will be similar to Cook Inlet bag limits so areas in close proximity have similar regulation sets.”

ADF&G will continue to monitor harvests and biological information using saltwater guide logbooks, dockside sampling data, and the Statewide Harvest Survey for this fishery.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum at (907) 486-1880.