2025 Regulations Update
Alaska Department of Fish and Game set the king regulations for 2025 last week. They require a 40 percent reduction in king harvest for resident sport, non-resident sport, net fisheries, and commercial troll. The reduction is a conservation measure based on a low king abundance index set by the Pacific Salmon Commission, the international body that manages stocks of salmon in the U.S. and Canada.
For visiting anglers to Southeast Alaska:
- 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.
To clarify: Non-resident anglers can keep one king salmon per day and one per year regardless of when you visit. While our July, August, and September guests have fished under a one-king or no-king annual limit in the past, the annual limit has been 3 in May and June historically. This conservation-driven reduction impacts all gear groups with a 40% harvest reduction. Everyone is biting this present bullet to conserve for a better future.
Still Here
Regardless of the king regulations, everything our guests know and love about Southeast Alaska and the AU experience remains. You’ll still enjoy an area of unapparelled beauty including the northern temperate forest sloping into the saltwater wilderness. The fishing for all species, including kings, remains as good as you’ll find in the North Pacific. The comradery you experience with friends and family will be just as priceless as ever. The professional service, the family feel, the diligent crews, and the well-oiled machine that is AU still await you in Sitka. There’s never a limit on fun, family fellowship, friendship, and natural beauty.
AU Actions
- AU along with the Southeast Alaska Guides Association (SEAGO) continues to explore regulation options with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Given the low abundance index, we don’t see a lot of wiggle room.
- We are gearing up for alternatives to kings. We’ve purchased electric reels for all the boats which open the door to blackcod in deep water. Also, in that deep water, you might catch a jumbo shortraker rockfish, among the best-eating rockfish in the ocean.
- We can explore out-of-the-way king salmon spots with the hopes of finding the big one you’ve always dreamed of. We can do catch-and-release fishing for kings.
- We’re adding light tackle to our boats that will make exploring the kelp beds and rock piles for rockfish, lingcod, and the occasional barn door halibut more of a hoot than ever.
- AU will lease plenty of GAF for groups that want to target trophy halibut.
Q & A
Q: Are these regulations permanent?
A: No. They are based on this year’s abundance index.
Q: Are kings populations permanently low?
A: No. We’ve experienced low abundance in the past and rapid recovery upward in following seasons. The contributing factors to king salmon abundance are hard to predict and varied.
Q: Does a low abundance index mean bad fishing?
A: No. We’ve seen exceptionally good king fishing under low abundance indexes and challenging fishing under higher abundance indexes.
Q: Can the abundance index change during the season?
A: Unfortunately, no. Once set, regulations from California to Alaska, including British Columbia, are determined and remain in place throughout the season.
Q: When will we know the king regulations for 2026?
A: Usually, we get the abundance index from the Pacific Salmon Commission in the last week of March or the first week of April. The regulations are set immediately afterward.
Please send us any questions you have, and we’ll get right back to you with an answer.
Guess the Fish!
Test your fish identification; the waters surrounding Sitka are filled with many different species that you never may know what you are reeling in until you can see it. Can you identify the 3 species pictured below? (Answers at the bottom.)
A Few New Faces at AU
As we are preparing for the 2025 season we wanted to introduce you to the wonderful people that will be joining our crew! Expect to see their faces throughout the season both on and off the water as we have a mix of new deckhands and hostesses. They will be joining the returning crew to make a top-notch team!
Fish Identification Answers
Longnose Skate
Albacore Tuna
Thresher Shark
