2024 South East Alaska Saltwater regulations
Alaska King Salmon - Chinook Salmon laws
Like its name infers, King Salmon is the best of the best. Largest of the 5 species caught in Alaska, it is rich in flavor, gorgeous in color, firm in texture and a power house to reel in!
Winter Season
October 1st-March 31st
Resident: 2 King -28 inches or greater.
Nonresident: 1 King -28 inches or greater.
General Seasons
June 15 to August 26
Resident: 1 King- 28 inches. Nonresident: 1 King- 28 inches.
The nonresident annual limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. This number can change at any time due to regulations.
Special Season
*Historically accurate rules, subject to change.
Ketchikan: Mountain Point/Carol Inlet
June 1st to August 26
Resident: 1 King- 28 inches or greater.
Nonresident: 1 King- 28 inches or greater.
Ketchikan: Herring Cove
June 1st to July 31st
Resident: 3 Kings of any size.
Nonresident: 3 Kings of any size- NO IMPACT on your annual maximum of up to 3 kings!
2024 Alaska Coho Salmon - Silver Salmon regulations
Hot and Fast! Silver salmon are often some of the best times onboard with multiple hookup and landings at a time.
Fish Facts
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon, they range between 6 and 12 pounds. Coho has a mild salmon flavor and a distinct flake. Coho is a delicious combination of sockeye with the mild and rich characteristics of king salmon. Often a local favorite.
General Seasons
Open 365 days a year, but we start catching them out on the ocean in the end of June, season starts to really heat up by August and stays hot through the third week in September.
Catch Limits
Saltwater:
16 inches or longer: 6 of each species per day, 12 of each species in possession.
Less than 16 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession.
Pink & Humpy Salmon - sockeye & Red Salmon - Keta & Chum Salmon
Fun and furious, great for all ages and makes the best smoked salmon!
Fish Facts
We typically have a bountiful run of pinks & chums.
Sockeye are available but rarely caught as bi-catch.
Average size for pinks and sockeye range from 3-10lbs.
Chum range from 5-20lbs.
General Seasons
Open 365 days a year, but we start catching them out on the ocean in mid June, season starts to really heat up by mid July and stays hot through the third week in August.
Catch Limits
16 inches or longer: 6 of each species per day, 12 of each species in possession.
Less than 16 inches: 10 per day, 10 in possession.
The Lingcod
The real dragon of the sea!
Fish Facts
The lingcod are nicknamed “bucket-head” due to their wide flattened head.
They are dark gray, brown, or greenish on the back with some copper-colored mottling or spotting along the upper back.
This species of cod can grow up to 60+inches and a weight of 130-pounds.
Lingcod are highly prized for their excellent edibility.
General Seasons
Season: May 16–November 30. Lingcod are steady from the opening through October.
Catch Limits
Residents – 1 daily, 2 in possession, no size limit.
- Nonresidents – 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit: 30 to 40 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.
2024 2C Halibut regulations
Best eating and a bucketlist for all anglers!! Let's see if we can find you that barn door!
Fish Facts
Pacific halibut are the largest flatfish in the Family Pleuronectidae.
Halibut and other flatfish are flattened laterally, and swim sideways, with one side facing down and the other facing up.
The upper side is typically gray to brown, or nearly black, with mottling and numerous spots to blend in with a sandy or muddy bottom.
The underside is typically white. Virtually all halibut are right-eyed, meaning both eyes are found on the upper, dark side of the body
General Seasons
February 1–December 31
We start up regularly in April & May and continue steady all summer through October.
Catch Limits
Chartered Clients for South East Alaska 2024.
1 Halibut per day.
0-40" or 80" or larger.
7 days a week, no annual limit.
*Starting July 9th through Sept 13 no halibut retention on Fridays unless using a G.A.F permit. And the lower size limit is reduced to
G.A.F permits are available with prior reservations of your permit: cost is $450 (2024) for each permit that allows you an extra fish of any size. Pricing for 2025/26 will be determined in the spring with the release of commercial pricing.
2024 SE Alaska Rockfish regulations
Clean eating and fun to fish for!
Fish Facts
Females produce a large number of eggs (up to 2,700,000) and give birth to live larval young.
Yellow eye are slow to mature but are very long lived. One individual was aged at 121 years old. In Southeast, Alaska yellow eye males mature around the age of 18 while females mature around 22 years old.
General Seasons
Rockfish are open 365 days a year.
*Retention of demersal shelf rockfish for non-residents is closed for all south east Alaska.
Catch Limits
Pelagic Rockfish
No size limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.
Slope Rockfish: 1 per day, 1 in possession.
Yelloweye rockfish are closed for both residents and non-residents. However taxidermy options are available to immortalize your catch.
alaska Sablefish-BlackCod regulations
Bi-catch while halibut fishing or specifically deep dropping for them!!
Fish Facts
Sablefish, also known as black cod, live on the ocean floor and have been found at depths of more than a mile below the surface.
Another nickname for sablefish is "butterfish," and the reason is simple: Few fish are as silky rich in omega-3 fats as the sablefish.
They are abundant, and because sablefish's taste, appearance and texture are similar to Chilean sea bass, sable is an environmentally superior choice to sea bass, which is threatened in some fisheries.
General Seasons
BlackCod is open for retention 365 days a year.
Catch Limits
Alaska residents: No size limit: 4 per day, 4 in possession.
Nonresidents: No size limit: 4 per day, 4 in possession. 8 fish annual limit.
2024 South East Alaska Crab & Shrimp Regulations
One of our favorite activities! Trapping for crab and shrimp!
Fish Facts
Dungeness Crab: Absolutely delicious! They have become one of the four most popular high-class seafood in the world today.
Spot prawns (Pandalus platyceros) are large, clean shrimp that have a delicate texture and amazingly sweet taste that many liken to a combination of the best lobster and fresh-churned butter. Our absolute favorite.
General Seasons
Shrimping and Dungeness crab are open for retention 365 days a year.
Tanner crab: Closed June 16 through June 30.
Crabbing permits are included with your fishing license at no cost.
Shrimping permits are free but must be filled out and submitted.
Catch Limits
Golden King crab: Closed to nonresidents.
Puget Sound King Crab/Box Crab: Unlimited for non residents and residents.
Tanner & Dungeness Crab: (in combination): 3 males.
Tanner crab: 5½ inches minimum size.
Dungeness crab: 6½ inches minimum size.
Shrimp: 3 pounds or quarts (whole or deheaded) - no size restrictions or annual limit.
Cabezon, Flounder, Cod-E.T.C.
Some of my favorite eating fishing in the ocean!!
Fish Facts
Cabezon, flounder, pacific cod, kelp greenling, sharks, and even prowfish can be caught and reeled in on any given day onboard Reel Alaska Fishing Charters.
General Seasons
Open for retention 365 days a year.
Catch Limits
All non listed fish=No size limit, no maximum catch count. Stack the deck, fill the freezer.
SHARKS (EXCEPT SPINY DOGFISH) No size limit: 1 per day, 1 in possession. 2 shark annual limit, harvest record required.
SPINY DOGFISH - No size limit: 5 per day, 5 in possession, harvest record not required.
*These rules and Regulations are for our local waters and subject to change, always check by contacting authorities at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov or by calling (907) 225-2859