POW anglers must keep lingcod, rockfish, salmon whole until docked at Craig or Klawock

Marine boat anglers returning to Craig or Klawock this summer are subject to a handling restriction on certain sport-caught species: lingcod, nonpelagic rockfish, and king or coho salmon may not be filleted, mutilated, or de-headed at sea.

The rule is straightforward. "These fish must remain whole until your vessel is tied up at a docking facility where the fish will be offloaded, unless they've been consumed or preserved on board," ADF&G's Prince of Wales Island sport fishing report states. The restriction applies specifically to anglers returning to Craig and Klawock, not every port on the island.

ADF&G says the purpose of the restriction is to maximize the information collected through creel sampling and angler interviews, described as "critical data that helps manage and sustain our fisheries." Creel technicians will be on the docks this summer to ask anglers about their trips and to sample their catch. The agency asks that anglers be patient and respectful as technicians carry out that work.

Charter operators coordinating custom processing after landing will need to build the whole-fish requirement into their trip planning: filleting happens after offload, not before.

The dockside sampling reminder is part of ADF&G's broader Prince of Wales Island fishing report, released June 29, 2026, which also covers current marine and freshwater conditions across the island. The report notes that new regulations take effect July 1, including a change to the nonresident Chinook salmon annual harvest limit, which drops from three fish to two fish over 28 inches starting that date. Through June 30, the nonresident daily bag limit remains one fish with an annual harvest limit of three fish over 28 inches.