07-24-2004, 03:06 PM
Sitka area
Coho Salmon
Catch rates for coho salmon were very good last week. Anglers last week averaged 3 hours per king salmon; this is 1 hour more than the 5-year average for this second week in July.
Anglers returning to any port on the Sitka road system may not head or fillet king salmon, coho salmon, or lingcod prior to returning to port and offloading unless fish are preserved or consumed onboard. Once anglers have tied their boat to a docking facility or to existing fish cleaning stations, king salmon, coho salmon, and lingcod may be filleted and headed on board. In Sitka, cleaning stations are available in New Thomsen Harbor on float 11. This regulation does not prohibit anglers from gutting and gilling king and coho salmon before returning to port.
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=04%2F22%2F04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast"]Filleting & De-Heading News Release[/url]. Halibut
Fishing for halibut is also good; anglers last week averaged 2 hours per halibut harvested. The five-year average is 2 hours per halibut for this same week. The best fishing for halibut has been on the outside of Kruzof Island, but anglers have also had good success fishing inside waters. For more information on halibut fishing in the Sitka area vist:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/halibut.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/halibut.pdf[/url]. Lingcod
Fishing for lingcod in the Sitka area is closed from June 16 through August 15. The lingcod season will reopen August 16 and remain open until November 30. During this open period, the bag and possession limits will be one lingcod per day and two in possession for all anglers. For lingcod harvested by guided and nonresident anglers, a 30-inch minimum and 40-inch maximum size limit will be in effect. Additionally, guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net. Lingcod regulations can be found on page 11 of the 2004 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary.
Anglers returning to the port of Sitka may not head or fillet lingcod prior to returning to port and offloading unless fish are preserved or consumed onboard. Once anglers have tied their boat to a docking facility or to existing fish cleaning stations, lingcod may be filleted and headed on board.
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=4%2D27%2D04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=4%2D27%2D04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast[/url]. Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden fishing in the Sitka area will continue to improve as salmon return to their natal streams.
For more information on fishing for Dolly Varden in the Sitka area visit:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/dv.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/dv.pdf[/url]. Trout
Local streams and lakes are producing fair catches of trout.
For more information on fishing for steelhead and trout in the Sitka area visit:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/trout.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/trout.pdf[/url].
All anglers are responsible for knowing the current regulations for the area that they will be fishing. Regulation handbooks and copies of the most current regulatory changes are available at the Sitka ADF&G office and on this web site. For further information, please feel free to contact Bob Chadwick, Sitka Area Management Biologist, at (907)747-5355. For more information on sport fishing in the Sitka area, please visit: [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/SF_R1home.cfm"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/SF_R1home.cfm[/url].
Coho Salmon
Catch rates for coho salmon were very good last week. Anglers last week averaged 3 hours per king salmon; this is 1 hour more than the 5-year average for this second week in July.
Anglers returning to any port on the Sitka road system may not head or fillet king salmon, coho salmon, or lingcod prior to returning to port and offloading unless fish are preserved or consumed onboard. Once anglers have tied their boat to a docking facility or to existing fish cleaning stations, king salmon, coho salmon, and lingcod may be filleted and headed on board. In Sitka, cleaning stations are available in New Thomsen Harbor on float 11. This regulation does not prohibit anglers from gutting and gilling king and coho salmon before returning to port.
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=04%2F22%2F04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast"]Filleting & De-Heading News Release[/url]. Halibut
Fishing for halibut is also good; anglers last week averaged 2 hours per halibut harvested. The five-year average is 2 hours per halibut for this same week. The best fishing for halibut has been on the outside of Kruzof Island, but anglers have also had good success fishing inside waters. For more information on halibut fishing in the Sitka area vist:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/halibut.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/halibut.pdf[/url]. Lingcod
Fishing for lingcod in the Sitka area is closed from June 16 through August 15. The lingcod season will reopen August 16 and remain open until November 30. During this open period, the bag and possession limits will be one lingcod per day and two in possession for all anglers. For lingcod harvested by guided and nonresident anglers, a 30-inch minimum and 40-inch maximum size limit will be in effect. Additionally, guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net. Lingcod regulations can be found on page 11 of the 2004 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary.
Anglers returning to the port of Sitka may not head or fillet lingcod prior to returning to port and offloading unless fish are preserved or consumed onboard. Once anglers have tied their boat to a docking facility or to existing fish cleaning stations, lingcod may be filleted and headed on board.
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=4%2D27%2D04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/nr.cfm?nr=4%2D27%2D04®ion=Region%201%2Dsoutheast[/url]. Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden fishing in the Sitka area will continue to improve as salmon return to their natal streams.
For more information on fishing for Dolly Varden in the Sitka area visit:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/dv.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/dv.pdf[/url]. Trout
Local streams and lakes are producing fair catches of trout.
For more information on fishing for steelhead and trout in the Sitka area visit:
[url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/trout.pdf"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/sitka_guide/pdfs/trout.pdf[/url].
All anglers are responsible for knowing the current regulations for the area that they will be fishing. Regulation handbooks and copies of the most current regulatory changes are available at the Sitka ADF&G office and on this web site. For further information, please feel free to contact Bob Chadwick, Sitka Area Management Biologist, at (907)747-5355. For more information on sport fishing in the Sitka area, please visit: [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/SF_R1home.cfm"]http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/SF_R1home.cfm[/url].