Blind Slough Closes to Sport Fishing and King Salmon Bag Limits Decrease in Wrangell Narrows
July 2, 2008
Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced a closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough due to brood stock concerns at the Crystal Lake Hatchery (CLH). The closure includes all waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, from Friday July 4th through Thursday July 31st, 2008.  Bag and possession limits for king salmon within the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area (THA) are restricted to two king salmon of any size for the same time period. King salmon caught within the THA do not count toward nonresident annual limits.
Conservation measures will be taken in response to weak returns of king salmon in order to achieve hatchery broodstock goals (500 females and 500 males) at CLH necessary to sustain the hatchery release programs for Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows and in Anita Bay, near Wrangell. A closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough is needed at this time to prevent additional pre-spawning mortalities in Blind Slough during summer periods of low- and warmer water conditions. Harvest restrictions in the marine waters will allow some harvest, yet allow additional escapement into Blind Slough.Â
Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement should contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231.
For additional information contact Doug Fleming , Petersburg-Wrangell Area Biologist, (907) 772-5231.
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King Salmon Bag Limits Increased in Wrangell Narrows - Blind Slough For 2008
May 28, 2008
Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced an increase in the bag and possession limit for king salmon in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area from June 1 through July 31. The sport fishing bag and possession limits for all anglers fishing in this area will be four king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and four king salmon less than 28 inches in length. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest area near Petersburg is described as: that portion of Wrangell Narrows, south of 56O 46’ N. latitude (Martinsen’s dock) and east of the longitude, and north of the latitude, of the northern tip (Inlet Point) of Woewodski Island, and; the waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point. King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area, June 1 – July 31, do not count toward the 2008 nonresident harvest/annual limits.
The increase in bag and possession limits are justified based on a projected run of Crystal Lake Hatchery king salmon under provisions in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area Management Plan (5 AAC 33.381). This plan directs the department to increase the bag limit from June 1 through July 31 when the projected king salmon return to the terminal harvest area is greater than 4,000 fish. The 2008 estimated run is 5,700 king salmon. The nonresident annual limit is repealed in the terminal harvest area based on provisions in the Southeast King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 47.055).Â
Anglers are reminded to observe and follow regulations concerning methods and means for this local sport fishery, which are posted at area boat launches and at access points to Blind Slough.   Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement can contact the Division of Sport Fish, in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231
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