Prince Of Wales Island Fishing Report From ADFG
The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
Prince of Wales Island Fishing Report
May 28, 2024
Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing in freshwater provide great fishing in early summer in both lakes and creeks. Marine fishing for king salmon is currently good on the west coast of Prince of Wales. King salmon fishing has been good near Craig for those thrifty anglers looking to avoid expensive gas bills to get to outside waters. Halibut, rockfish, lingcod and shellfish fishing has been very good in marine waters surrounding Prince of Wales.
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 good with catches reported near Craig and from outside waters on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island. King fishing generally remains good and generally improves through June.
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.
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 opportunisticaly feeding on salmon fry, insects and sculpins. Catches of sea run cutthroat have been reported in some drainages such as the Thorne River. Other productive drainages for trout include Luck, Klawock, and Sarkar lakes 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 is good and should remain so through the summer.
Lingcod
Lingcod fishing is open and fishing can be excellent near rocky structure throughout the summer.
- The resident limit for lingcod is one per day, no size restrictions.
- The noresident annual limit for 2024 is one lingcod between 30 and 35 inches and one lingcod over 55 inches.
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.