Petersburg Area Fishing Report From ADFG

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

Petersburg Fishing Report

May 20, 2026

King Salmon

King salmon fishing began on May 15^th in the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA), where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are returning. We will have a creel technician on the docks starting this weekend, asking anglers about their catch and taking biological samples. I have heard of king salmon being caught in the saltwater portion of the THA. I have not heard of a king salmon being caught in the freshwater portion (Blind Slough), where we have a creel technician this summer, but I have heard the trout fishing there is decent. Harvest should increase over the next few weeks throughout the THA, usually peaking around the third week in June.

The first opportunity for wild king salmon will occur on June 15^th, when District 6, District 10, and portions of District 5, District 7, and District 9 open to king salmon retention.

District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell will remain closed to king salmon retention until July 15^th.

Bag and possession limits for king salmon are specific to the area being fished and residency. For further information and maps, contact the ADF&G office or visit our website.

Halibut

The sport fishery is open February 1^st – December 31^st.

Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure craft used for fishing, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish.

Halibut are federally managed. Regulations are available through NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region at (907) 586-7228. https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/sport-halibut

Lingcod

Alaskan residents are allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Nonresidents will be allowed a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, with a size limit of 30-35 inches or 55 inches and longer. For nonresidents, there is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 of which is 30-35 inches in length, and 1 that is 55 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required. The Northern Southeast Area will be closed to nonresidents for lingcod fishing from June 15^th to August 31^st. For further information and maps, contact the ADF&G office or visit our website.

Rockfish

The retention of demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, is open to Alaskan residents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no annual limit. Demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, will be open for nonresidents from July 1 through August 25 with a bag limit of 1 per day, 1 in possession, and an annual limit of 1 fish. Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

Slope Rockfish are open to Alaskan residents and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. Pelagic Rockfish are open to residents of Alaska and nonresidents with a bag limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession, and no size limit. A helpful species identification guide has been published on the ADFG website.

A rockfish release device is now required to be used whenever releasing rockfish, and a rockfish release device must be onboard your vessel whenever sport fishing in marine waters.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are available to catch this time of year. Both will be seen in greater numbers each week and can be caught from the shore, boat, or dock.

Last weekend was the Lil Fisk kids’ fishing derby sponsored by the Sons of Norway and the Petersburg Chamber. Fish and Game was happy to help again this year. Congratulations to all the young anglers who participated.

Steelhead

The steelhead season is winding down. Over the past two months, many anglers reported catching steelhead in streams throughout the area. Now these fish have spawned and are heading back out. While there still may be a chance to catch one before they are gone, we are at the tail end of what was a good run.

If you are looking for places to fish, check out our interactive map at gofishak.