Sportfishing Shut Down In Southeast Alaska’s Peterson Creek Amid Low Steelhead Numbers

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

Sport Fishing Closed in Peterson Creek

(Juneau) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today that a portion of Peterson Creek, north of Juneau, is closed to sport fishing for all species. Specific restrictions are as follows:

• The waters of Peterson Creek, including Peterson Lagoon, from the intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at salt water to the falls approximately 1.5 miles upstream are CLOSED to sport fishing from April 15 – June 30, 2025, to protect spawning steelhead.

Between 2018-2022 adult steelhead index counts in Peterson Creek were below the long-term average. In order to provide additional protection for Peterson Creek steelhead, this closure has been implemented annually since 2019 during the time period in which steelhead are returning and spawning within Peterson Creek. In the last two years steelhead counts have improved with the 2023 count nearing the long-term average and the 2024 count exceeding the long term average. Given the life history of steelhead and the history of low escapement counts in the years preceding 2023, this closure is being implemented for this popular roadside system for the 2025 season to ensure this population of steelhead continues to demonstrate healthy returns.

For more information, please call the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office in Douglas at 907-465- 4270 or visit our website.