Alaska Department of Fish and Game sampling for sport-caught ling cod, rockfish, and king and coho salmon has been scheduled for various ports in Southeast Alaska.
During the designated time frames, returning anglers are prohibited from filleting, mutilating and de-heading those species. The restriction applies to fishermen docking at ports on the road system, unless the fish have been consumed or preserved on board.
The restriction is meant to maximize information obtained through the sampling program. Southeast Alaska management plans require length and sex information for lingcod, length information for rockfish, and identification of tagged king and coho salmon, all of which can be obtained only when fish are intact.
The restriction doesn’t apply to gutting and gilling fish before returning to port.
In Ketchikan, the designated time frame is April 29 through Sept. 15. In Craig and Klawock, the time frame is May 6 through Sept. 1.
Time frames for other Southeast communities are below:
Sitka: 12:01 A.M. Monday, April 29, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 15, 2013.
Juneau: 12:01 A.M. Monday, April 29, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 15, 2013.
Petersburg: 12:01 A.M. Monday, April 29, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 1, 2013.
Wrangell: 12:01 A.M. Monday, April 29, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 1, 2013.
Haines: 12:01 A.M. Monday, May 6, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, June 23, 2013.
Skagway: 12:01 A.M. Tuesday, May 28, through 11:59 P.M. Saturday, August 31, 2013.
Gustavus: 12:01 A.M. Monday, May 6, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 1, 2013.
Elfin Cove: 12:01 A.M. Monday, May 6, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 1, 2013.
Yakutat: 12:01 A.M. Monday, April 29, through 11:59 P.M. Sunday, September 1, 2013.
