Species Guide
Hatchery kings in the Narrows, September silvers in Frederick Sound
Petersburg is a working commercial fishing town on Mitkof Island, tucked between Frederick Sound, the Wrangell Narrows, and Sumner Strait. All five species of Pacific salmon move through its waters in season. For visiting anglers, the fishery centers on two acts: a hatchery king salmon run in early summer and a strong coho bite from mid-August through September.
What makes Petersburg unusual is the Blind Slough terminal harvest area. A sizeable hatchery king run returns to Crystal Lake Hatchery on Mitkof Island, and because those fish are hatchery-bought and paid for, the terminal area carries looser limits than the wild-king rules that restrict much of Southeast. That includes road-accessible shore fishing where you don't even need a boat.
The Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough terminal harvest area opens May 15, and its hatchery return provides good action both for shore anglers at Blind Slough and for boaters working the Narrows at the slough's mouth. For 2026, regulations through August 15 allow nonresidents 1 king per day (1 in possession, any size) and residents 2 per day, with no size limit inside the terminal area. In 2026 the freshwater Blind Slough fishery was also opened to all recreational anglers.
Outside the terminal area, wild king rules are stricter: harvested wild kings must be at least 28 inches, and in 2026 most of the Petersburg management area didn't open to wild king harvest until June 14, with some nearby waters closed until July 14. Nonresident annual limits on wild kings step down as the season progresses. King regulations in Southeast change every spring based on abundance, so confirm current rules with ADF&G before you fish.
Peak saltwater coho fishing runs mid-August through September, when silvers are most abundant in marine waters. Local anglers watch for jumpers in Frederick Sound near Five Mile Creek, troll the Kupreanof Island shoreline out to Cape Strait, and work the Mitkof Island side past Frederick Point; the Blind Slough hatchery also returns coho to the Wrangell Narrows. In between the king and coho peaks, pink and chum salmon flood the area in midsummer, with sockeye present in season too.
Petersburg's charter scene is small-boat and personal: our directory lists around ten operators, from day-trip outfits like Petersburg Sportfishing and Tongass Wilderness Adventures to full-package lodges like Island Point Lodge and Rocky Point Resort. Trolling is the standard saltwater technique for kings and coho, usually with bottomfish mixed into a full day.
The town sits in the Tongass rainforest, so plan for rain even in August. Kings require a King Salmon Stamp on top of the standard Alaska fishing license. Getting here is part of the character: Alaska Airlines jets and the ferry serve the island, and the town stays a fishing town first, cruise stop a distant second.
| Period | What's happening | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| May 15 - June | Hatchery kings return to Blind Slough | Terminal harvest area open; 2026 nonresident limit 1/day, any size |
| June 14 onward (2026) | Wild king waters open in most of the area | 28-inch minimum on wild kings; some nearby waters closed until July 14 |
| July - mid-August | Pinks and chums thick; kings taper | Terminal-area king rules published through Aug 15 in 2026 |
| Mid-August - September | Coho peak in salt water | Frederick Sound, Cape Strait, Frederick Point; the top charter window for silvers |
Seasons and limits change — always confirm current regulations with ADF&G before booking.
Two windows: hatchery kings from mid-May into June around Blind Slough and the Wrangell Narrows, and coho from mid-August through September in Frederick Sound. Pinks and chums fill the midsummer gap.
Yes. In 2026 the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough terminal harvest area allowed nonresidents 1 hatchery king per day of any size (published through August 15). Wild kings outside the terminal area carry a 28-inch minimum, later openings, and annual limits. King rules change yearly.
Yes. You need a King Salmon Stamp in addition to your Alaska sport fishing license ($30/day or $145/annual for nonresidents). The stamp is only required for kings; coho, pinks, chums, and sockeye need just the license.
All five Pacific salmon (king, coho, sockeye, pink, and chum) are seasonally plentiful in the Petersburg/Wrangell area. Charters most often target kings in early summer and coho in late summer, with pinks and chums common in between.
petersburg, AK
$270–$320/person
petersburg, Alaska
Wrangell jet boat company running Anan bear tours, LeConte Glacier trips, Stikine River adventures, and fishing charters since 1989.
petersburg, Alaska
Guided and self-guided salmon, halibut, and cod fishing out of Petersburg, with boat rentals, lodging, and home-cooked meals on the Inside Passage.
petersburg, Alaska