(Sitka) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is announcing a change to the Southeast Alaska marine sport fishery regulations for king salmon. The following regulations will be effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

• The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• The nonresident annual limit is two 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 the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

No change has been made to regulations for Alaska residents fishing within state waters. The regulations for Alaska residents continue to be:

• Bag and possession limit of two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
• No annual limit for resident anglers in state waters;
• From October 1 through March 31, a resident angler may use two rods when fishing for king salmon, a person using two rods under this regulation may only retain salmon.

When fishing in the exclusive economic zone or EEZ (between 3-200 nautical miles from shore), all anglers must comply with the regulations established for nonresident anglers. This means that both residents and nonresidents are subject to a one fish daily bag limit and 2 fish annual limit for king salmon 28 inches or greater in length when fishing in the EEZ.

The sport fishery is being managed to achieve but not exceed the 2026 sport harvest target of 43,600 king salmon. Nonresident anglers were previously limited to one king salmon annually beginning on July 1. However, due to lower than anticipated harvest, the nonresident annual limit is increased to 2 king salmon annually between July 1 and September 30. King salmon harvested prior to July 1 will apply towards the two fish nonresident annual harvest limit. The sport harvest of king salmon will continue to be monitored, and additional action may be required to keep the sport fishery within the harvest target.

In areas where special regulations have been issued to provide additional opportunity for Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon (Juneau designated saltwater hatchery area, Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows terminal harvest area near Petersburg, and Herring Bay near Ketchikan) special regulations continue to apply.

Special regulations that provide protection for wild stocks throughout the summer (King Salmon River (Seymour Canal near Juneau) and the Ketchikan Area) will remain in place and are unaffected by this regulation change.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Acting Southeast Alaska Management Coordinator, Troy Tydingco at (907) 747-5355.

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