Petersburg anglers now required to carry rockfish release devices

All vessels sport fishing in marine waters of Southeast Alaska must now carry and use rockfish release devices when releasing rockfish, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's May 20 fishing report for the Petersburg area.

The requirement applies to all marine sport fishing activity, not just trips targeting rockfish. Anglers must have a functional deepwater release device readily available and use it to return all unharvested rockfish to the depth of capture or to at least 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Jeff Rice, area management biologist for the department, included the mandate in his weekly fishing report covering conditions and regulations for multiple species in the Petersburg area. King salmon fishing is already underway in the Wrangell Narrows and Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area, having begun May 15.

The rockfish release device mandate comes alongside existing regulations that restrict when and how many rockfish anglers may keep. Demersal shelf rockfish, including yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper, and rosethorn species, remain open to Alaska residents with a bag limit of one per day, two in possession, and no annual limit. Nonresidents face a much narrower window: they may retain demersal shelf rockfish only from July 1 through August 25, with a bag limit of one per day, one in possession, and an annual limit of one fish.

Nonresidents must immediately record any retained demersal shelf rockfish on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record, noting the species, date, and location. Slope rockfish and pelagic rockfish remain open to both residents and nonresidents with a bag limit of one per day and two in possession.

The department has published a species identification guide to help anglers distinguish between rockfish types. Yelloweye rockfish are characterized by a bright golden yellow eye and can reach up to 36 inches. Canary rockfish show three orange stripes on their head and a light lateral line, growing up to 30 inches. Black rockfish are blue-black with a white belly and can grow up to 25 inches.

Rougheye rockfish typically have a dark splotch on their gill plate and rough spines under the eye; they are usually caught at depths greater than 400 feet and grow up to 38 inches. Shortraker rockfish have short gill rakers, no splotch on the gill plate, are usually caught at depths greater than 400 feet, and can grow up to 43 inches.

The release device requirement affects anglers who may encounter rockfish incidentally while fishing for other species. King salmon fishing began May 15 in the Wrangell Narrows and Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area, where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are returning. Rice reported that king salmon have been caught in the saltwater portion of the terminal harvest area, though none have been reported in the freshwater portion at Blind Slough. Harvest typically peaks around the third week in June.

The first opportunity for wild king salmon will occur on June 15, when District 6, District 10, and portions of District 5, District 7, and District 9 open to king salmon retention. District 8 and a portion of Eastern Passage near Wrangell will remain closed to king salmon retention until July 15.

Halibut fishing remains open through December 31. Federal regulations prohibit possessing halibut that have been filleted or mutilated on board a vessel, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than two ventral pieces, two dorsal pieces, and two cheek pieces, with enough skin on each piece to identify whether the piece is from the light side or the dark side of the fish. Halibut regulations are managed by NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region.

Lingcod regulations differ sharply between residents and nonresidents. Alaska residents may keep one per day with two in possession and no size limit. Nonresidents face a bag limit of one per day and two in possession, with a size limit of 30 to 35 inches or 55 inches and longer. Nonresidents also face an annual limit of two fish, one of which must be 30 to 35 inches in length and one that is 55 inches or greater. A harvest record is required. The Northern Southeast Area will be closed to nonresidents for lingcod fishing from June 15 to August 31.

Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are available to catch this time of year, with numbers increasing each week. Both can be caught from shore, boat, or dock. The steelhead season is winding down after what Rice described as a good run over the past two months. While anglers may still catch steelhead before the fish leave the area, most have already spawned and are heading back out.

The department will have a creel technician on the docks starting this weekend, asking anglers about their catch and taking biological samples. A creel technician is also stationed at Blind Slough this summer, where Rice reported the trout fishing is decent.

Last weekend, the department assisted with the Lil Fisk kids' fishing derby sponsored by the Sons of Norway and the Petersburg Chamber.

Bag and possession limits for king salmon are specific to the area being fished and residency. Anglers can find further information, maps, and regulations on the department's website or by contacting the Petersburg office at (907) 772-5227.