Sitka Pelagic Rockfish Sport Fishing Limits Reduced For 2026

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

Sitka Area Pelagic Rockfish Limit Reduced in the Sitka Area in 2026

(Sitka)– The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing a reduction in the pelagic rockfish limits for 2026 in the Sitka Area (CSEO). The affected area includes the marine waters west of Baranof and Chichagof Islands between 57? 30? N. Latitude and the Latitude of Cape Ommaney (56? 9.60? N.). These regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026. The regulations are:

• Residents
  • The resident daily bag limit is three pelagic rockfish, six in possession, no size limit.
• Nonresidents
  • The nonresident daily bag limit is two pelagic rockfish, four in possession, no size limit.

An increase in pelagic rockfish harvest by sport anglers since 2009 has led to substantially higher harvest levels than previously seen. In response to the increased harvest and in the interest of conservative management the Board of Fish reduced regional background regulations for all anglers in 2025. The additional emergency order restrictions for 2026 are aimed at stabilizing harvest and are the same as those issued in 2025.

When fishing in the exclusive economic zone (between 3-200 nautical miles from shore), see map below, all anglers must comply with the two fish bag limit and four fish possession limit for pelagic rockfish.

For further information, contact the Sitka ADF&G office at 907-747-5355 or visit: Emergency Orders and Press Releases