Steelhead Season Winds Down, Summer Preview For ADFG’s Prince Of Wales Report

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

Prince of Wales Island Fishing Report

May 19, 2026

It was a good steelhead season on Prince of Wales (POW) but the season is wrapping up as most fish have spawned. Some fresh fish will continue to trickle in through late May but it is well past peak run time. In addition to steelhead, sportfishing opportunities during May include trout (cutthroat and rainbow) and Dolly Varden in freshwater and king salmon, shellfish, and some bottomfish in saltwater. King salmon fishing has been good on the west coast of POW.

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!

Creel Samplers Are Now on The Docks!

Marine boat anglers returning to Craig and Klawock may encounter ADF&G creel technicians this summer who will ask you about your fishing trip and sample your fish. To aid in our ability to sample fish you may not fillet, mutilate, or de-head sport-caught lingcod, nonpelagic rockfish, and king or coho salmon at sea. These fish must remain whole until your vessel is tied up at a docking facility where the fish will be offloaded, unless they’ve been consumed or preserved on board. This is specific to marine anglers returning to the port of Craig and Klawock.

The purpose of this restriction is to maximize the information collected through ADF&G creel sampling and angler interviews—critical data that helps manage and sustain our fisheries.

ADF&G creel samplers will be present on the docks, so please be patient and respectful as they carry out this important work.

Guides and Business Owners: don’t forget to register for 2026! You can register online at the ADF&G Store. Southeast saltwater guides are required to use an eLogbook.

Chinook (King) Salmon

King salmon fishing reports have been good on the west coast of POW.

Chinook Salmon Regulations for 2026

• 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; starting July 1 the nonresident annual limit will be one fish over 28 inches.
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon, a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on their paper or electronic harvest record.

Eastside of Prince of Wales

Inside waters of Southeast Alaska, including Clarence Straight on the east side of Prince of Wales, closed to king salmon retention on April 1 and reopens June 15. The closure is a conservation measure to protect Alaska mainland king salmon stocks as they migrate to their spawning rivers.

Steelhead

Based on ADFG surveys and angler reports steelhead returns were good on POW this spring. It is well past the peak run timing and the majority of fish have spawned. Drainages that support good numbers of steelhead include; Thorne, Karta, and Klawock rivers and Staney, Ratz, and Eagle creeks. Fish can be found in numerous smaller drainages on the island for those anglers interested in exploring.

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 have begun feeding on pink and chum salmon fry as they emerge from the gravel. Fishing improves as water temperatures warm throughout the spring in both lakes and rivers. Productive drainages for trout include Luck, Klawock, and Sarkar lakes, the Thorne River, 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 will improve as spring transitions to summer.

Lingcod

Retention of lingcod opened May 16 Lingcod are aggressive, relatively easy to catch, tasty and in shallower water during May.

• The resident daily bag limit is one fish with no size limit;
• The nonresident daily bag limit is one fish with an annual harvest limit of one fish fish between 30 and 35 inches and one fish over 55 inches;
• The west side of Prince of Wales south of the 56^o Latitude at Cape Decision will be closed to lingcod harvest for nonresidents August 1 through August 31;
• Immediately upon landing and retaining lingcod, a nonresident must enter the species, date, and location on their paper or electronic harvest record.

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, including yelloweye is open for residents of Alaska with a daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two.

Demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, will be open for nonresidents from July 1 through August 25 with anannual limit of one fish.

Demersal shelf rockfish are the following species: yelloweye, 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.

• Resident and nonresidents daily bag limit of one per day; one in possession

Pelagic Rockfish

Pelagic rockfish provide good fishing in the marine waters surrounding POW.

• Season: year-round
• Three per day; six 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.