Prince Of Wales Fishing Report: Good Trout, Dolly Varden Fishing This Month
The following press release is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
Prince of Wales Island Fishing Report
May 14, 2024
Steelhead are finishing up spawaning and many have migrated out of freshwater. Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing in freshwater is very good in late May in both lakes and creeks. Marine fishing for king salmon is good on the west coast of Prince of Wales and bottom fish and shellfish fishing is currently productive in marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales. Fishing for aggressive and eager to bite lingcod opens May 16. Jigging large jigs and plastic curly tails is a fun way to catch lingcod!
Check out the wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the gofishak interactive map to discover fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!
Guides and Business Owners: don’t forget to register for 2024! You can register online at the ADF&G Store. Southeast saltwater guides are required to use an eLogbook.
Chinook (King) Salmon
King salmon fishing is fair with catches reported near Craig and from outside waters on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island. King fishing generally improves through the month of May.
Chinook Salmon Regulations for 2024
- The resident daily bag limit is two fish over 28 inches;
- The nonresident daily bag limit is one fish with an annual harvest limit of three fish over 28 inches through June 30;
- 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.
Eastside of Prince of Wales
Inside waters of Southeast Alaska, including Clarence Straight on the east side of Prince of Wales are currently closed to king salmon retention and reopens June 15. The closure is a conservation measure to protect Alaska mainland king salmon stocks as they migrate to their spawning rivers.
Steelhead
Spring steelhead are present in many freshwater drainages on Prince of Wales Island. Drainages that support good numbers of steelhead include; Thorne, Karta, and Klawock rivers and Staney, Ratz, and Eagle creeks. Fish will also be present in numerous smaller drainages on the island in April for those anglers interested in exploring.
Trout and Dolly Varden
Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden are available in many of the freshwater drainages of POW. Trout and Dolly Varden are currently feeding on salmon fry and smolt. Fishing improves as water temperatures warm throughout the spring in both lakes and rivers. Productive drainages for trout include Luck, Klawock, and Sarkar lakes, the Thorne River, and Ratz Creek. Regulations regarding size limits, bag limits, and the use of bait can vary by waterbody, so please check the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary.
Halibut
Halibut fishing will improve as spring transitions to summer.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing opens May 16 and fishing can be excellent during the second half of May.
Rockfish
Rockfish can be caught year-round. There is a section on the Fish and Game website for identifying common rockfish of POW.
All sport fishing vessels are required to have at least one functional deepwater release device (regardless of species targeted), and anglers will be REQUIRED to use a deepwater release device to release rockfish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Please see the Southeast Alaska Sport Fish Regulation Summary or visit your local ADF&G office to see examples of rockfish release devices and learn about their use.
Demersal Shelf Rockfish
The retention of demersal shelf rockfish is open for residents of Alaska with a daily bag limit of one. Yelloweye remained closed.
Demersal shelf rockfish are closed to harvest for nonresidents.
Demersal shelf rockfish are the following species: quillback, copper, canary, china, tiger, and rosethorn rockfish.
Slope Rockfish
Some slope rockfish are common in marine waters surrounding POW. The most common species are silvergrey and vermilion rockfish.
- One per day; one in possession
Pelagic Rockfish
Pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding POW.
- Season: year-round
- Five per day; ten in possession
For additional information regarding rockfish identification and management, please refer to the rockfish conservationpage.
Regulation summaries and copies of the news releases are available at the Craig ADF&G office.
For further information, please contact the Prince of Wales Area Management Biologist: Craig Schwanke (907) 826-2498.