(Sitka) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing a reduction in the pelagic rockfish limits for 2025 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˚N.). These regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2025. 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.

Pelagic rockfish harvest has been on an increasing trend despite management measures to maintain harvest at historic levels. In the interest of conservative management, in 2025 the Board of Fisheries reduced the regional bag limit for pelagic rockfish for all anglers from five to three fish. In the Sitka area a further reduction for nonresident anglers is necessary to stabilize harvest. An additional one fish reduction for nonresident anglers will be in place for the Sitka area 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 our site.

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