Southeast Salmon Fishing Regulations

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

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

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).

The Department of Fish and Game announces an increased opportunity to harvest king salmon. Due to continued reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the sport harvest of king salmon will continue to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska sport fishery king salmon allocation unless harvest opportunity is increased.This action further liberalizes king salmon daily bag limits and the nonresident annual limit while keeping the marine sport fishery within its allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 31 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020 as follows:

Alaska Resident

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

Nonresident

  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • The nonresident annual limit is nine 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, as follows:

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: Regional regulations listed above apply.

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.

  • 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:
    • Regional regulations listed above apply.

District 2: (see map)

  • June 15 to September 30: 
    • Regional regulations listed above apply.

Hatchery Areas

This announcement does not change king salmon regulations for the Herring Cove and Neets Bay terminal harvest areas 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.

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

Updated 2020 King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations In Southeast Alaska, Outside The Haines/Skagway Area

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 continued reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the sport harvest of king salmon will continue to be significantly below the Southeast Alaska sport fishery king salmon allocation unless harvest opportunity is increased. This action further liberalizes king salmon daily bag limits and the nonresident annual limit while keeping the marine sport fishery within its allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 30 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020 as follows:

Alaska Resident

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

Nonresident

  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • The nonresident annual limit is nine 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 Haines/Skagway Area (Section 15-A), including Chilkat Inlet:

  • The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

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

Updated 2020 King Salmon Sport Fishing Regulations In Southeast Alaska, Outside The Haines/Skagway Area