Ketchikan king salmon season opens slowly, expected to improve

Ketchikan-area anglers face limited king salmon retention now, with broader openings June 15 and fishing expected to improve through late June into July as more fish arrive, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Herring Bay opened June 1 with a three-fish daily bag limit of any size. Mountain Point opened June 8 with a one-fish daily limit and a 28-inch minimum size. Most of the Ketchikan area and east Prince of Wales will open June 15 with special restrictions continuing through August 14 in multiple areas. Detailed information and maps are available in ADF&G advisory announcements posted March 31 and April 30.

Kelly Reppert, ADF&G's area management biologist for Ketchikan, said in Friday's fishing report that king salmon harvest has been off to a modest start but is expected to improve as the season progresses. Reppert can be reached at (907) 225-2859 or [email protected].

The Herring Bay terminal harvest area does not count toward the nonresident annual limit. For Mountain Point and the broader Ketchikan area opening June 15, the bag limit is one king salmon per day with a 28-inch minimum size. Nonresidents face an annual limit of three king salmon 28 inches or greater.

Across Southeast Alaska this season, nonresidents may keep one king salmon 28 inches or greater per day, with an annual harvest limit of three fish from April 1 through June 30 and one fish from July 1 through December 31.

Other Fishing Conditions

Trout and Dolly Varden fishing is good around the area and will continue to improve through summer. Productive waters along the road system include the Ward Creek drainage, Ketchikan Creek, Harriet Hunt Lake, and Carlanna Lake.

Anglers are having success catching halibut, and fishing is expected to continue improving as summer progresses.

Lingcod season opened May 16. In Southern Southeast Inside Waters, residents may keep one fish per day with two in possession and no size limit. Nonresidents may keep one fish per day and one in possession, with a size limit of 30–35 inches or 55 inches or greater, and an annual limit of two fish.

Rockfish can be caught year-round. All sportfishing vessels are required to have at least one deep water release device on board.