Southeast Alaska King Salmon Regulations Announced

The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Sport Fishing Regulations For King Salmon In Southeast Alaska in 2020:

Petersburg–Wrangell

This action does not change king salmon regulations in hatchery areas or during the time periods where special action has been taken to protect Alaska wild stock king salmon (see attached map).

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the sport harvest of king salmon is now expected to be significantly below the king salmon allocation to the sport fishery. This action increases opportunity for king salmon harvest while keeping the sport fishery within allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
  No annual limit.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• 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.

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply in all areas except as modified below for waters in the vicinity of Petersburg/Wrangell:

In the waters adjacent to the Stikine River:

(District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell; see attached map)

• April 1 to July 14, 2020: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Hatchery Areas

This announcement does not change king salmon regulations for the City Creek or Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows terminal harvest area where special regulations are in place to allow opportunity for Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon. Please see the announcement released on May 26, 2020 for bag, possession, and annual limits in these areas. Within the Anita Bay terminal harvest area, regional king salmon regulations apply, the updated regional regulations listed in this announcement will apply in Anita Bay after June 15.

Anglers fishing north of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the news release announcing regulations for the Juneau and Haines/Skagway areas. Anglers fishing south of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the news release announcing regulations for the Ketchikan area.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Petersburg/Wrangell Area Management Biologist, Patrick Fowler at (907) 772-5231.

Haines/Skagway

This action does not change king salmon regulations in the Haines/Skagway Area, where special action has been taken to protect the Chilkat River wild stock king salmon (see attached map) through December 31.

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the sport harvest of king salmon is now expected to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska region king salmon allocation to the sport fishery. This action increases opportunity for king salmon harvest outside the Haines/Skagway Area while keeping the sport fishery within the Southeast Alaska regional allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
  No annual limit.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• 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.

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply outside the Haines/Skagway Area, where the retention of king salmon will continue to be prohibited, through December 31, 2020:

In the waters of Lynn Canal north of the latitude of Sherman Rock (Section 15-A):

• April 1 to December 31, 2020: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

In the waters of Chilkat Inlet, north of the ADF&G regulatory marker at Seduction Point:

• April 1 to July 15, 2020: Closed to king salmon sport fishing.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Haines/Skagway Area Management Biologist, Richard Chapell at (907) 766-3638.

Juneau

This action does not change king salmon regulations where area closure has been taken to protect Alaska wild stock king salmon and provides an additional two-week nonretention period in Taku Inlet to protect the tail end of the Taku River king salmon return. It does provide additional harvest opportunity in the remaining marine waters near Juneau including the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area.

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the sport harvest of king salmon is now expected to be significantly below the king salmon allocation to the sport fishery. This action increases opportunity for king salmon harvest while keeping the sport fishery within allocation.

The following regionwide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches of greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• 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.

The Southeast Alaska regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Juneau:

In the waters adjacent to the Taku River (Taku Inlet north of a line from Point Bishop to Point Greely, see attached map)

• April 1 through June 30, 2020: No retention of king salmon. All king salmon caught must be released immediately

In the waters adjacent to the King Salmon River: (Section 11-D, Seymour Canal north of 57° 37′ N. latitude, see attached map)

• April 1 through June 30, 2020: closed to king salmon fishing, all anglers may not target or retain king salmon.

Hatchery Areas

This announcement will rescind king salmon regulations for the Juneau designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area that were announced on May 26, 2020. The new regulations are now listed below:

The hatchery-produced king salmon regulations in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area (see attached map) will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2020. These new regulations are as follows:

• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area do not count toward their annual limit.

The department is liberalizing sport fishing regulations in the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area due to the number of returning hatchery-produced king salmon exceeding brood stock needs for the hatchery program.

Anglers fishing north of the area should review the advisory announcement announcing regulations for the Haines/Skagway areas. Anglers fishing south of the Juneau area should review the advisory announcement announcing regulations for the Petersburg/Wrangell and Ketchikan area.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Region 1 office in Douglas at (907 465-4270.

(Ketchikan) – This action does not change king salmon regulations in hatchery areas or during the time periods where special action has been taken to protect Alaska wild stock king salmon (see attached map).

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the sport harvest of king salmon is now expected to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska region king salmon allocation to the sport fishery. This action increases opportunity for king salmon harvest while keeping the sport fishery within Southeast Alaska regional allocation.

The following regionwide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• 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.

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Ketchikan:

North and Northeast Behm Canal: (see map)

Area Description: in Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point to a line from Cactus Point to Point Eva.

• Salmon fishing is closed year-round

West Behm Canal, Southeast Behm Canal and Southern Revillagigedo Channel: (see map)

Area Description: In West Behm Canal and the contiguous bays enclosed to the north by a line from the western entrance of Bailey Bay to the northern tip of Hassler Island and a line from Fin Point to Dress Point and to the south by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point. In the waters of southern Revillagigedo Channel enclosed from a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point, continuing to the latitude of Beaver Point and from Point Rosen to Quadra Point and in southeast Behm Canal from Cactus Point to Eva Point.

April 1 to August 14:

King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

August 15 to September 30:

• Alaska resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, annual limit is four king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; harvest record is required.

Remaining waters of District 1: (see map)

Area Description: In the marine waters of Ketchikan north and east from the International Boundary Line at Dixon Entrance from 54°42.48’ N. lat., 130°36.92’ W. long. to 54°40’ N. lat., 131°45’ W. long., continuing north to Caamano Point and enclosed to the north by a line from Indian Point to Mike Point and enclosed to the southeast by a line from Lucky Point to Middy Point, and a line at the latitude of Beaver Point, and a line from Point Rosen to Quadra Point.

April 1 to June 14:

• King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

June 15 to August 14:

• Alaska resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, annual limit of three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; harvest record is required.

August 15 to September 30:

• The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length; harvest record is required.

District 2: (see map)

April 1 to June 14:

• King salmon retention is prohibited, king salmon may not be retained or possessed; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

June 15 to September 30:

• The Alaska resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, annual limit is four king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; harvest record is required.

Hatchery Areas

This announcement does not change king salmon regulations for the Mountain Point, Herring Cove, Neets Bay and Thomas Basin terminal harvest area where special regulations are in place to allow opportunity for Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon. Please see the announcements released on May 26, 2020 for bag, possession, and annual limits in these areas.

Anglers fishing north of the Ketchikan area should review the news release announcing regulations for the Petersburg/Wrangell area.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Ketchikan Area Management Biologist, Kelly Reppert at (907) 225-2859.