Contact:
Doug Fleming
Petersburg-Wrangell Area Biologist
Phone: (907) 772-5231

Petersburg- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reminding sport anglers that after midnight Friday July 14, 2006 they can no longer retain king salmon hooked other than in the mouth while fishing in Blind Slough.  For the remainder of the season, all fish hooked other than in the mouth (snagged) must be released.  This includes all waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point.  Other sport fishing regulations for the Blind Slough area and gear are posted at various access points to the fishery.  The following regulations for Blind Slough and the Wrangell Narrows terminal harvest area remain in effect through July 31, 2006:

• The sport fishing bag and possession limits for all anglers will be three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and three king salmon less than 28 inches in length.
• King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area during this period do not count toward the nonresident annual limit.

The above regulations were noticed in the May 31, 2006 news release for the Wrangell Narrows and Blind Slough terminal harvest area.  After July 31, 2006, the sport fishing bag and possession limits for all anglers will be two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and two king salmon less than 28 inches in length. For nonresident anglers, all harvested king salmon 28 inches or greater in length are to be counted toward the 2006 nonresident annual limit of 4 king salmon.  At this time nonresident anglers will be required to immediately record harvests in ink on the back of their license or harvest record.