As has been routine in recent years, the state has closed the waters in front of the Stikine River to sport fishing for kings or retention of the salmon though July 14. The annual closure is a continuing effort to rebuild the river’s depleted runs.
The closure of District 8 covers the waters around the top half of Wrangell Island to the eastern half of Zarembo Island, and up the east side of Mitkof Island.
Districts 6, 7, 9 and 10 as far north as Frederick Sound and into Chatham Strait and south of Etolin Island are closed to king sport fishing or retention through June 14.
The department predicts a return of 10,000 kings of more than 28 inches in length to the Stikine system this year, significantly below the spawning escapement goal of 14,000 to 28,000 kings.
In 2024, eight of the 11 king salmon stocks in Southeast achieved their escapement goals — the Stikine River and Andrews Creek, which feeds into the lower Stikine, did not meet the goals and remain listed as “stocks of management concern.”
The closures do not affect the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough terminal harvest area or the Anita Bay terminal harvest area on Etolin Island, where sport anglers can take hatchery king salmon beginning June 1.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced April 1 the Southeast sport fishing catch limits for this year. For Alaska residents, the limit is down to one king a day, 28 inches or more in length. For nonresidents, the limit is one king for the year.
“Immediately upon landing and retaining a king salmon, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a non-transferable harvest record,” the department reminded sport anglers.
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