ADFG Sitka Area Regulations 2026

It promises to be another exciting fishing season in Sitka. Anglers from around the world will come here to fish for king salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, halibut, lingcod and rockfish. And we are happy to help. Word around town is that there are kings to be found, halibut are showing up, there’s good potential for a solid pink and coho season, and anglers will be able to catch lingcod and rockfish.

As usual, rules and regulations abound when it comes to the species we target in the Sitka area. Here are some of those regulations you will need to follow. Always check for recent emergency orders and confirm regulations with ADF&G.

King Salmon Regulations:

Alaska Resident
  • The resident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
Nonresident
  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
  • The nonresident annual limit is one 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.
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Lingcod Regulations:

Alaska Residents

  • Season: May 16 – November 30
  • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Nonresidents

  • Season: May 16 – June 30 and September 1 – November 30.
  • 1 per day, 1 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.
  • Nonresident anglers shall immediately record the date and location (body of water fished) of all lingcod harvested either on their sport fishing license or on their nontransferable harvest record.
  • Charter operators and crew members may not retain lingcod while clients are on board the vessel.

All Anglers

  • When fishing in the exclusive economic zone (between 3–200 nautical miles from shore), see map below, all anglers must comply with the nonresident bag, possession, and annual limits for lingcod.

Demersal Shelf Rockfish regulations :

This includes yelloweye, quillback, tiger, China, canary, copper and rosethorn. This identification guide is helpful.

Residents

  • Season: January 1 – December 31
  • 1 daily, 2 in possession, no annual limit

Nonresidents

  • Season: July 1 – August 25
  • 1 daily, 1 in possession, annual limit of one fish.
  • Immediately upon landing and retaining a demersal shelf rockfish, a nonresident must enter the species, date and location on the back of their sport fishing license or on a nontransferable harvest record.

All anglers

  • When fishing in the exclusive economic zone (generally between 3-200 nautical miles from shore, see map below), all anglers must comply with the nonresident regulations.
  • When releasing any rockfish, anglers must use a deepwater release mechanism to return the fish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet.
  • All vessels must have at least one functional deepwater release mechanism on board and readily available for use when saltwater sport fishing activities are taking place.

The map is located here.

Pelagic Rockfish Regulations:

This includes black, blue, dark, dusky, widow, and yellowtail. This identification guide is helpful.

Residents

  • The resident daily bag limit is three pelagic rockfish, six in possession, no size limit.

Nonresidents

  • The nonresident daily bag limit is two pelagic rockfish, four in possession, no size limit.

All Anglers

  • When fishing in the exclusive economic zone (between 3-200 nautical miles from shore), see map below, all anglers must comply with the two fish bag limit and four fish possession limit for pelagic rockfish.

The map is located here.

Halibut Regulations

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Halibut regulations for unguided anglers continue to be generous. Some of the pertinent rules are listed below:

  • Sport fishing season: February 1 to December 31
  • Daily bag limit: Two halibut of any size, per day, per person.
  • Allowable gear: A single line with no more than 2 hooks attached or a spear. No other gear is allowed.
  • Filleting halibut: No person shall possess on board a vessel halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

It should be another great year of catching fish in the Sitka area. We are excited to see you, and look forward to helping you achieve your fishing objectives this summer.

Guided anglers face regulations made by the federal government under international treaty. To see them, visit NOAA.gov.