(Released: February 10, 2020 - Expired: December 31, 2020)

Division of Sport Fish
Dave Rutz, Director
Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Contact: Richard Chapell, Area Management Biologist
(907) 766-3638

Sport Fishing Regulations For King Salmon In Southeast Alaska And The Haines/Skagway Area For 2020

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the 2020 region wide sport fishing regulations for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and the modifications for the Haines/Skagway Area. The following region wide regulations, are effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2021:

Alaska Resident

  • The resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • From October 1st 2020, through March 31st 2021, a resident angler may use two rods when fishing for salmon.

Nonresident

  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches of greater in length.
  • From January 1 through June 30, the nonresident total harvest limit is three king salmon;
  • From July 1 through July 7, the nonresident total harvest limit is two king salmon, any king salmon harvested from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the two fish total harvest limit;
  • From July 8 through December 31, the nonresident total harvest limit is one king salmon, any king salmon harvested from January 1 through July 7 will apply toward the one fish total harvest limit;
  • Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, in ink, on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

The Southeast region wide bag and possession limits above will apply in all areas except as modified below for the inside waters in the vicinity of Haines/Skagway:

All anglers

  • From April 1 through July 15: The waters of Chilkat Inlet, north of the ADF&G regulatory marker immediately north of Seduction Point (see attached map) will be closed to king salmon sport fishing.
  • From April 1 through December 31: In Section 15-A, the waters of Lynn Canal north of the latitude of Sherman Rock (see attached map), the retention of king salmon is prohibited; any king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

The 2020 total run forecast for Chilkat River king salmon is fewer than 1,550 large fish, which is below the lower end of the escapement goal range (1,850 to 3,600 large fish). When the run forecast is below the goal range, the Lynn Canal and Chilkat River King Salmon Management Plan prescribes closing Chilkat Inlet to king salmon sport fishing through July 15. Because of continued poor marine production of Chilkat River king salmon, the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2018 adopted the Chilkat River and King Salmon River King Salmon Stock Status and Action Plan, which specifies nonretention of king salmon in Section 15-A until the Chilkat River stock has recovered.

Fishery conservation actions are being taken in a region wide effort to reduce harvest of Southeast Alaska wild king salmon in all fisheries, including sport, commercial, personal use, and subsistence. Anglers fishing south of the Haines/Skagway area should review the news releases announcing sport fishery regulations specific to the Juneau, Petersburg/Wrangell and Ketchikan areas.

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

SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR KING SALMON  IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA AND  THE HAINES/SKAGWAY AREA FOR 2020

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