Petersburg Fishing Report From ADFG

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

Petersburg Fishing Report

May 07, 2026

Steelhead

The chilly spring challenged access to the area streams by road, as they are only now becoming free of snow. The steelhead were not bothered by the late spring. Anglers willing to brave the cold water and knee-deep snow were rewarded with meeting the first wave to enter in early April. Steelhead are now dispersed throughout the systems, pairing up and beginning to spawn. They will exit the streams soon after. The last couple of weeks of fishing have been fantastic, and potentially the next week or more should continue to provide additional opportunities to those who appreciate tossing a line at these large spring spawners.

Dolly Varden and Trout

Dolly Varden and trout have just begun to emerge and will increase in numbers, remaining throughout the summer. With lighter tackle, the spring offers a good time to seek these fish without having to deal with pink salmon in the streams. Good-sized cutthroat trout are caught this time of year. Dolly Varden will be seen in greater numbers each week and can be caught from the shore, boat, or dock.

King Salmon

The vast majority of marine waters in the Petersburg/Wrangell area are currently closed to king salmon retention. Opportunity to harvest king salmon will be available in areas where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are returning starting May 15, 2026.

King salmon regulations have changed since last year. The forecast of returning adult king salmon to the Crystal Lake Hatchery is greater than last year, which allows for both resident and nonresident angling opportunities in the freshwater and saltwater portions of the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area. Remember that a king salmon stamp is required whenever fishing for king salmon (including catch and release).

The City Creek release site, including the freshwaters of City Creek, is permanently discontinued and closed to king salmon retention.

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. ADF&G creel sampling has not started on the docks, but anecdotally, I am hearing that halibut are being caught. 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

Sport fishing for lingcod is currently closed in all Southeast Alaska waters but will open on May 16^th. Once opened, residents of Alaska 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 residents of Alaska 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 residents of Alaska 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.

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