Area Sport Fishing Reports
Sitka

April 29, 2026

Be sure to get your 2026 fishing license before hitting the water this season!

Steelhead

Steelhead runs in the Sitka area appear to be a little later than usual, likely due to cold water temperatures. Recent surveys had snow along the streams and ice lingering at the lakes. More fish are expected as water temperatures rise, usually peaking in May.

Salmon

King salmon fishing has just begun in earnest with anglers reporting good success. Fishing should pick up even more as the season progresses. Angler bag limits are up some this year - resident angler bag and possession limits are two kings 28 inches or greater with no annual limit. The nonresident bag and possession limit is one fish, 28 inches in length or greater. There is an annual limit of three kings from January 1- June 30 which steps down to one fish July 1- December 31. Any fish caught prior to July 1 counts towards your annual limit. See more information on king salmon regulations here.

New requirements for filleting your harvest

There is a new statewide requirement for anglers to keep all rockfish species, lingcod, and king salmon in all waters – both fresh and salt – in a condition that allows for examination and measurement of these species. See page 8 of the 2026 regulatory summary. In addition to this newly passed regulation, an annual saltwater specific requirement that anglers keep their catch was recently issued. Here’s a link to that Advisory Announcement. This southeast-specific regulation prohibits anglers from filleting, mutilating, or de-heading sport-caught lingcod, demersal shelf rockfish (DSR), slope rockfish, and king and coho salmon at sea before returning to port. Marine anglers may gut and gill their catch at sea but must bring back their catch to most ports on a road system (See the Advisory Announcement for communities and dates) unless they consume or preserve their catch on board.

Fishing in the EEZ

A reminder that resident anglers must comply with nonresident fishing regulations when fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ are waters from 3 miles offshore out to 200 miles. There are maps depicting this in the 2026 regulatory summary and posted at most of the harbors. This requirement does not affect nonresidents since their limits are the same in state and federal waters. Residents however must abide by nonresident size, bag, possession, seasonal dates, and annual limits. In addition, anglers may not be in possession of a fish that would be otherwise illegal to possess in the waters in which they are fishing. For example, if a resident angler caught a 45-inch lingcod in state waters (after May 15^th), they could not then go out to the EEZ and fish for any species because nonresident anglers are limited to one lingcod between 30 and 35 inches.

Resident anglers are subject to and must record any harvest of species that has an annual limit when fishing in the EEZ. This will include king salmon, lingcod, and nonpelagic rockfish in addition to steelhead and sharks (which must be recorded in state waters as well).

Halibut

Fishing for halibut is open. Catch rates for halibut are okay and will get better through the summer and fall. See NOAA for sport fishing regulations.

Lingcod

Lingcod season is currently closed but opens May 16. Resident limits are one a day, two in possession, with no size or annual limit. Nonresident season is open May 16 – June 30 and September 1– November 30. Nonresident limits are one per day, one in possession, size limit: 30 to 35 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length. Annual limit of 2 fish, one of which is 30 to 35 inches in length, one of which is 55 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)

In 2026, Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) is open year-round for residents. Residents are allowed one fish daily with no annual limit (in State Waters). Nonresidents are allowed one DSR annually from July 1-August 25. A harvest record is required. Here’s a helpful rockfish ID link to common rockfish groups. DSR are a subset of nonpelagic rockfish including: Yelloweye, Quillback, China, Tiger, Rosethorn, Copper, and Canary.

Slope Rockfish

All anglers are allowed one daily, two in possession all year with no annual limit. The most common slope rockfish include: Redbanded, Rougheye, Silvergray, Shortraker, and Vermilion.

Pelagic Rockfish

Fishing for pelagic rockfish is open all year and typically good year-round. The most commonly caught pelagic rockfish in the Sitka Area are the Black and Yellowtail, although Duskys aren’t uncommon. Try fishing around underwater structures near kelp beds with a dart or jig. These rockfish make for excellent table fare.

A reminder to anglers that all vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release device on board and readily available regardless of species targeted. Any rockfish not retained must be released at depth of capture or 100 feet, whichever is shallower.

Resident anglers are allowed three daily, six in possession, and nonresidents in the Sitka Area are allowed two daily, four in possession. See the Sitka Area Special Exceptions for a map of CSEO on page 25 of the 2026 Southeast Regulation Summary. The department has developed a guide to assist anglers in identifying species groupings. If you’d like a copy of this on waterproof paper, stop by the office for a free one.

Shellfish

Be sure to check your local fishing regulations to be aware of harvest limits, size requirements and necessary permits for shellfish. Also be aware that certain types of shellfish in Southeast Alaska have been known to cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) which can be fatal.

For Dungeness crab, try placing pots in bays and around the mouths of river where crabs congregate to feed. If fishing with friends, be sure to keep each angler’s catch separate to avoid pooling bag limits.

Check out the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

For further information, please feel free to contact the Sitka area sportfish management staff at (907) 747-5355.