(Petersburg) - This action does not change king salmon regulations in hatchery areas or during the time periods where special action has been taken to protect Alaska wild stock king salmon (see attached map).

Due to reduced nonresident harvest in the sport fishery related to COVID-19, the sport harvest of king salmon is now expected to be significantly below the king salmon allocation to the sport fishery. This action increases opportunity for king salmon harvest while keeping the sport fishery within allocation.

The following regionwide regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020:

Alaska Resident

• The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
  No annual limit.

Nonresident

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• The nonresident annual limit is four king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon a nonresident must enter the species, date and location, on their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

The Southeast regionwide bag and possession limits listed above will apply in all areas except as modified below for waters in the vicinity of Petersburg/Wrangell:

In the waters adjacent to the Stikine River:

(District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell; see attached map)

• April 1 to July 14, 2020: The retention of king salmon is prohibited, any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

Hatchery Areas

This announcement does not change king salmon regulations for the City Creek or Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows terminal harvest area where special regulations are in place to allow opportunity for Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon. Please see the announcement released on May 26, 2020 for bag, possession, and annual limits in these areas. Within the Anita Bay terminal harvest area, regional king salmon regulations apply, the updated regional regulations listed in this announcement will apply in Anita Bay after June 15.

Anglers fishing north of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the news release announcing regulations for the Juneau and Haines/Skagway areas. Anglers fishing south of the Petersburg/Wrangell area should review the news release announcing regulations for the Ketchikan area.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Petersburg/Wrangell Area Management Biologist, Patrick Fowler at (907) 772-5231.

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