Sport Fishing for King Salmon Opens in Ketchikan Hatchery Areas

Information provided by ADFG

(Ketchikan) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish is announcing the 2025 sport fishing regulations for king salmon in three hatchery areas in the vicinity of Ketchikan.   In the Carroll Inlet, Thomas Basin and Mountain Point area:  

• For all anglers: the bag and possession limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.
• For nonresidents, the annual limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length.

  Carroll Inlet Area: in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of Nigelius Point at 55° 33.50′ N. lat., 131° 21.14′ W. long.  

• Open June 1 – June 14.

  Thomas Basin: seaward of the Stedman Street Bridge to the breakwater  

• Open June 1 – June 14.

  Mountain Point Area: the waters of George and Carroll Inlets north of a line from Mountain Point at 55° 17.57′ N. lat., 131° 32.41′ W. long, to Cutter Rocks Light at 55° 17.34′ N. lat., 131° 31.47′ W. long, to 55° 17.57′ N. lat., 131° 28.18′ W. long, and all waters of George Inlet and Carroll Inlet are open.  

• Open June 8 – June 14.

  The areas opened by this emergency order will allow anglers to target Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon originating from the Deer Mountain Hatchery, Whitman Lake Hatchery and the Carroll Inlet remote release. Projected returns to these facilities will exceed broodstock needs, thus a surplus of hatchery fish are available for harvest by sport anglers. A separate advisory announcement includes information for the Herring Bay area.   The bag, possession and annual limits in these areas are identical to the regional king salmon regulations but provide additional time when sport harvest may occur. When special regulations for these hatchery areas expire, anglers may continue to fish under the regional king salmon bag, possession, and annual limits. Anglers are reminded that until June 8 (Carroll Inlet) and June 15 (Thomas Basin and Mountain Point) the salt waters outside of these areas are closed to king salmon retention. Therefore, anglers fishing in multiple areas must be diligent to ensure they do not possess king salmon when sport fishing (for any species) in areas where the retention of king salmon is prohibited.   For further information concerning this announcement please contact Ketchikan Area Management Biologist, Kelly Reppert at (907) 225-2859.