King salmon Regulations in Alaska (2026)

Where

Southeast Alaska salt waters (ocean)

Size limit

28 inches or longer: Bag, possession, annual, and size limits are established annually by an emergency order, as specified in the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan. Less than 28 inches: Retention prohibited. Nonresidents: A harvest record is required. See page 4. Anglers should check with the nearest ADF&G office for current bag, possession, annual, and size limit regulations.

Season

The salt water sport fishing season is open year-round for all species, except for halibut, lingcod, demersal shelf rockfish, Tanner crab, shrimp, and resident king crab fisheries, and unless otherwise noted below or in special regulations.

• 28 inches or longer: Bag, possession, annual, and size limits are established annually by an emergency order, as specified in the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan.
• Nonresidents: A harvest record is required. See page 4. Anglers should check with the nearest ADF&G office for current bag, possession, annual, and size limit regulations.
• Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping king salmon while clients are on board.

Official source

Where

Cook Inlet & Kachemak Bay salt waters (ocean)

Size limit

20 inches or longer: There is a combined annual limit of 5 king salmon 20 inches or longer from the waters of the following areas: Cook Inlet Salt Waters, West Cook Inlet, Susitna River Drainage, Knik Arm, Anchorage Bowl, and Kenai Peninsula. If you retain a king salmon 20 inches or longer, you must immediately record that harvest. See page 4 for recording instructions. A king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. You must not remove a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the water before releasing it. 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. April 1-August 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 16-March 31: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Bag limit

1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. April 1-August 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 16-March 31: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Possession

1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. April 1-August 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. September 16-March 31: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

Season

• Summer Fisheries - April 1-August 31: • 20 inches or longer: April 1-April 30 and August 16-August 31: • Open to king salmon fishing. May 1-August 15: Closed to king salmon fishing. April 1-August 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. • Winter Fishery - September 1-March 31: • All Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay salt waters: September 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit. • September 16-March 31: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit.

• In 2026, king salmon were restricted in the Cook Inlet salt waters. See the emergency order for more info.
• There is a combined annual limit of 5 king salmon 20 inches or longer from the waters of the following areas: Cook Inlet Salt Waters, West Cook Inlet, Susitna River Drainage, Knik Arm, Anchorage Bowl, and Kenai Peninsula.
• No annual limit in effect; recording of king salmon harvest is not required during this time, but a king stamp is required.

Official source

Where

Prince William Sound salt waters (ocean)

Size limit

1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit in 2026 by emergency order. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.

Bag limit

1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit in 2026 by emergency order. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.

Possession

1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit in 2026 by emergency order. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.

Season

• Salt waters: April 1-Sept. 15: • 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit in 2026 by emergency order. • Sept. 16-March 31: • 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit. • Jan. 1-Dec. 31: • Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega Terminal Harvest Areas (see map on page 75):

• No annual limit or recording requirement, but a king stamp is required.
• Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping king salmon while clients are on board.
• 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit in 2026 by emergency order.

Official source

Where

Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula & Aleutian Islands salt waters (ocean)

Bag limit

April 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, any size. In 2026, in the westside salt waters of Kodiak Island by emergency order: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size or annual limit.

Possession

April 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, any size. In 2026, in the westside salt waters of Kodiak Island by emergency order: 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size or annual limit.

Season

In 2026, in the salt waters of the southern Alaska Peninsula west to Scotch Cap on Unimak Island and waters circumjacent to Kodiak Island by emergency order: • April 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, any size. In 2026, in the westside salt waters of Kodiak Island by emergency order: • May 1-June 30: Closed to king salmon fishing.

• In 2026, in the salt waters of the southern Alaska Peninsula west to Scotch Cap on Unimak Island and waters circumjacent to Kodiak Island by emergency order:
• April 1-September 15: 1 per day, 1 in possession, any size. In 2026, in the westside salt waters of Kodiak Island by emergency order:
• 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size or annual limit.

Official source

Where

North Gulf Coast salt waters – Resurrection Bay (North of line between Cape Resurrection to Aialik Cape) (ocean)

Size limit

May 1-Aug. 31 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Sept. 1-Apr. 30 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Bag limit

May 1-Aug. 31 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Sept. 1-Apr. 30 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Possession

May 1-Aug. 31 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Sept. 1-Apr. 30 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Season

May 1-Aug. 31 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Sept. 1-Apr. 30 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

• There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required.

Official source

Where

North Gulf Coast salt waters – Outside of Resurrection Bay (ocean)

Size limit

There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required. Open year-round 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Bag limit

There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required. Open year-round 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Possession

There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required. Open year-round 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Season

There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required. Open year-round 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

• There is no annual or seasonal king salmon limit in effect, and there is no king salmon harvest recording requirement for the entire year, but a king salmon stamp is required. Open year-round 1 per day, 1 in possession, no size limit.

Official source