Alaska Fishing Regulations
Not legal advice. Compiled from official government summaries. Regulations change each year — always check the official source before relying.
General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)
- ⚠ Alaska regulations are area-based: the general limits below apply to Southeast Alaska/Yakutat; Southcentral, Interior, Arctic and Western areas have their own limits in the ADF&G regs book.
- ⚠ Freshwater sport fishing season is open year-round except for king salmon closures between Cape Fairweather and Dixon Entrance.
- ⚠ Check emergency orders before fishing (adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR) - many salmon limits are set in-season.
- ⚠ Harvest records required: steelhead trout, sharks, and (for nonresidents) king salmon, lingcod, sablefish, demersal shelf rockfish.
- ⚠ Alaska residents follow NONRESIDENT limits when fishing in the EEZ (3-200 nautical miles offshore).
- ⚠ All saltwater vessels must carry a functional deepwater release device for rockfish; unreleased rockfish must be returned at depth or 100 ft.
- ⚠ No person may possess filleted Pacific halibut on board (max 2 ventral + 2 dorsal + 2 cheek pieces with skin attached).
- ⚠ Charter operators and crew may not keep king salmon or lingcod while clients are aboard.
- ⚠ Motorized vehicles may not cross waters where salmon/trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic char/sheefish/whitefish spawn without a Fish Habitat permit.
Species Limits
| Species | Limit | Size / Season |
|---|---|---|
| King salmon - freshwater (Yakutat area) | Residents: 1/day 20 in+ (1 possession); 10/day under 20 in. Nonresidents: annual limit 1 fish 20 in+ | Min 20 in; Southeast outside Yakutat: closed except management-area exceptions |
| Coho salmon - freshwater | Yakutat: 4/day 16 in+ (8 possession); Southeast: 6/day 16 in+ (12 possession) | |
| Chum, pink & sockeye salmon incl. kokanee | 6 of each species/day 16 in+ (12 possession each); combined under 16 in: 10/day | |
| Steelhead trout | 1/day 36 in+ (2 possession); 2 fish annual limit, harvest record required | Min 36 in |
| Cutthroat & rainbow trout (combined) | 2/day (2 possession) | 11 in min, 22 in max |
| Dolly Varden | 10/day (10 possession) | No size limit |
| Brook trout | 10/day (10 possession) | No size limit |
| Arctic grayling | 10/day (10 possession) | No size limit |
| Other freshwater species not listed | No bag, possession, annual, or size limits | |
| King salmon - saltwater | Bag/possession/annual limits set annually by emergency order (SE Alaska King Salmon Management Plan) | Min 28 in; under 28 in retention prohibited; nonresidents need harvest record |
| Chum, coho, pink & sockeye salmon - saltwater | 6 of each species/day 16 in+ (12 possession); under 16 in: 10/day combined | |
| Halibut | Unguided: 2/day, 4 possession (Feb 1 - Dec 31; closed January) | No size limit; federal regs apply to charter/guided |
| Lingcod | Residents: 1/day, 2 possession, no size (May 16 - Nov 30); Nonresidents: 1/day, 1 possession, annual limit 2 (1 of 30-35 in + 1 of 55 in+) | Area seasons differ (Northern SE, Central SE Outside, Southern SE Outer Coast, Inside Waters, Yakutat) |
| Sablefish (black cod) | Residents: 6/day (6 possession); Nonresidents: 4/day (4 possession), 8 fish annual limit | No size limit; nonresidents need harvest record |
| Pelagic rockfish | 3/day, 6 possession | No size limit (Sitka CSEO area differs) |
| Slope rockfish | 1/day, 2 possession | No size limit |
| Demersal shelf rockfish | Residents: 1/day, 2 possession; Nonresidents: 1/day, 1 possession (annual limit 1, Jul 1 - Aug 25) | No size limit; nonresidents need harvest record |
| Sharks (except spiny dogfish) | 1/day (1 possession), 2 fish annual limit | Harvest record required |
| Spiny dogfish | 5/day (5 possession) | No harvest record needed |
| Other saltwater species not listed | No bag, possession, annual, or size limits |
Waterbody-Specific Rules
Kenai River (upper, middle, lower)
- King salmon: annual limits differ by section (e.g., middle Kenai 1 king 20+ in for nonresidents, C&R in parts); check ADF&G regs + emergency orders.
Kasilof River
- King salmon: 1-2/day per area regs; sockeye limits per area.
Russian River
- Sockeye salmon: 3/day (Jun 11 - Aug 7); snagging restricted to specific periods; closed when escapement thresholds met.
Copper River (Glennallen area)
- King salmon: 1/day, 20 in minimum; C&R in parts; sockeye per area.
Ship Creek (Anchorage)
- King salmon: 2/day, 16 in minimum; snagging C&R periods.
Lake Louise
- Rainbow trout: 2/day, 18 in minimum; lake trout 2/day.
Lake Iliamna
- Sockeye salmon: 10/day (some waters); trout per area regs.
Yukon River
- Chum salmon: 10/day; king salmon 2/day; seasonal per area.
Chena River (Fairbanks)
- King salmon: 1/day, 20 in minimum (seasonal); C&R periods.
Chitina (Copper River personal-use)
- Personal-use dipnet fishery - separate regulations (not sport).
Kenai River
- King salmon: annual limits differ by section (upper/middle/lower); check ADF&G regs + emergency orders.
Seasons
Vary widely by area and species; salmon runs seasonal (typically May-September); some waters closed during spawning.
Licence Fees
Alaska sport fishing license (resident $29 annual; nonresident 1-day ~$25, annual ~$145); king salmon stamp for nonresidents; fees per ADF&G.
Edition: 2026 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations (ADF&G) · Effective: 2026 season · Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game (adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.main)
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