A male and female pink salmon return from the Pacific Ocean to the waters of Indian River (Kaasda Héen) to spawn.
NPS Photo / Ken Beck
Take some time to explore fishing opportunities in the park and learn your responsibilities before casting a line or flicking a fly into the water. Sitka National Historical Park allows fishing as a means of providing for public enjoyment and customary and traditional use. Fishing is regulated to ensure that it is managed to avoid unacceptable impacts to park resources.
Within park boundaries, there are several species that are found in the Indian River. Four species of Pacific salmon, steelhead (or “rainbow”) and cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden all spawn here. For more information on the species and Freshwater Monitoring Quality project please see our information page on fish.
Please ensure if you do choose to fish, that you follow all state regulations for legal methods of capture, as well as the current state catch and size limits of various species, which are subject to change. All state regulations apply to fishing in the tidal flat area of the park as well.
Licenses
All people over the age of 16 need an Alaska state fishing license and need to carry it with them while fishing or while intending to fish. If you are intending to fish for king salmon and are a resident over the age of 18 or a non-resident over the age of 16, you will need a separate stamp. Law enforcement officers may check both licenses and equipment. For more information on Alaska state fishing license requirements and options please go to Alaska Department of Fish & Game website.
Fishing Regulations
Unless otherwise provided for, fishing regulations apply to all finfish found in both fresh and saltwater, and mollusks and crustaceans found in saltwater (shellfish). Other taxa, including amphibians, and freshwater mollusks and crustaceans (e.g. waterdogs, crayfish) are not considered “fish” for the purpose of NPS fishing regulations and are addressed by NPS regulations governing “wildlife” (36 CFR 2.2).
These fishing regulations apply, regardless of land ownership, on all lands and waters within the park that are under the legislative jurisdiction of the United States.
Fishing shall be in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of Alaska and 36 CFR 2.3(a) except as provided below. Where there is a conflict between a state regulation and a federal regulation, the state regulation is superseded by the federal regulation.
Fishing in fresh waters in any manner other than by hook and line, with the rod or line being closely attended.
Chumming or placing preserved or fresh fish eggs, fish roe, food, fish parts, chemicals, or other foreign substances in fresh waters for the purpose of feeding or attracting fish in order that they may be taken.
Commercial fishing, except where specifically authorized by Federal statutory law.
Fishing by the use of drugs, poisons, explosives, or electricity.
Digging for bait, except in privately owned lands.
Failing to return carefully and immediately to the water from which it was taken a fish that does not meet size or species restrictions or that the person chooses not to keep. Fish so released shall not be included in the catch or possession limit: Provided, that at the time of catching the person did not possess the legal limit of fish.
Fishing from motor road bridges, from or within 200 feet of a public raft or float designated for water sports, or within the limits of locations designated as swimming beaches, surfing areas, or public boat docks, except in designated areas.
Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their reproductive bodies, into a park area ecosystem. This includes the discarding and/or dumping of bait and bait buckets.
The use or possession of fish, wildlife or plants for ceremonial or religious purposes, except where specifically authorized by Federal statutory law, or treaty rights.
Except as otherwise designated, fishing with a net, spear, or weapon in the salt waters of park areas shall be in accordance with State law.
The following regulations apply only within Sitka National Historical Park:
Use of species native to Alaska as bait for fishing is allowed in accordance with non-conflicting State law and regulations.
Indian River prohibitions:
King salmon 20 inches or longer:Limit one per day and one in possession. King salmon less than 20 inches: Limit 10 per day, 10 in possession. Nonresident anglers have an annual limit of three fish 28 inches or greater in length. A harvest record is required from nonresident anglers.
Fishing for chum, coho, pink, and sockeye salmon is closed downstream of the Sawmill Creek Bridge.
Steelhead 36 inches or longer: Limit one per day and two in possession. Two fish annual limit, harvest record required.
Dolly Varden have no size limit. Limit 10 per day and 10 in possession.
Cutthroat and rainbow trout in combination size limit of 11 inch minimum and 22 inch maximum. Limit two per day and two in possession.
Fish Consumption Advisories
The Environmental Protection Agency, states, territories, and tribes provide advice on fish and shellfish caught in the waters in their jurisdiction to help people make informed decisions about eating fish. Advisories are recommendations to limit your consumption of, or avoid eating entirely, certain species of fish or shellfish from specific bodies of water due to chemical or biological contamination.
Fish is part of a healthy balanced diet, but eating wild fish and shellfish caught in park waters is not risk free. Parks are “islands”, but the much larger “ocean” that surrounds them affects the natural resources inside a park. Other aquatic toxins are the result of natural biological processes. Also, chemical contaminants that originate outside of park boundaries can come into parks.
Mercury is an example of a toxin originating outside a park that can find its way into a park. Mercury exists naturally in some rocks, including coal. When power plants burn coal, mercury can travel in the air long distances before falling to the ground, usually in low concentrations. Once on the ground, microorganisms can change this elemental mercury to methyl mercury. This type of mercury can build up in animal tissues, and it can increase in concentration to harmful levels. This high concentration can occur in large predatory fish - those often pursued and eaten by anglers. Studies have shown that fish in some National Park System waters have mercury levels that may be a concern to people who regularly eat a lot of fish.
Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research conducts toxin sampling of shellfish. Filter feeding bivalves are especially prone to accumulating dangerous levels of toxins. These include mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops. Carnivorous scavengers like crabs can pick up toxins in their viscera (the crab’s “butter”) from eating contaminated shellfish. Plankton-eating forage fish like herring and sand lance are also susceptible to planktonic toxins. Since chitons, limpets, and sea urchins are primarily herbivorous, they are generally not at risk for accumulating planktonic toxins. FDA regulatory limits of 80 µg toxin/100 g shellfish tissue for paralytic shellfish toxins and 20 ppm for domoic acid. Shellfish in Sitka sound is susceptible to paralytic shellfish poisoning. Check out SEATOR’s advisories, based on shellfish and phytoplankton observations at each listed location.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species are not native to an ecosystem. Their introduction causes, or is likely to cause, harm to the economy, the environment, or to human health. Aquatic invasive species are a growing risk to parks and their values. In the United States alone, there are more than 250 non-native aquatic species. For many centuries, humans have contributed to spreading non-native species around the globe.
You can make a difference. To learn more about Aquatic Invasive Species in the National Park Service, visit the Fish & Fishing website.
Aquatic invasive species have not been identified in Sitka National Historical Park. However, several aquatic invasive species have been cataloged in Alaska’s marine waters such as the Atlantic salmon, Chinese mitten crab, European green crab, invasive tunicates such as Botrylloides violaceus and Botryllus schlosseri, New Zealand mudsnails, quagga mussels, and zebra mussels.
Alaskans and visitors need to be aware that aquatic diseases and invasive species can be easily spread from one waterbody to another. In fact, anglers, boaters and their equipment are known to play a key role in transporting these pests. It takes only one mistake to infect a new area. Think ahead, and save a watershed. To protect Alaska's waters and native aquatic species, please follow these guidelines:
CLEAN — Rinse and remove any mud, sediment, and/or plant debris from all gear, boats, and boat trailers, floatplane rudders and floats, and anything that comes into contact with the water. Separate all pieces of wading footgear and waders (remove liners, etc.) to check for and remove visible mud, sediment and/or plant debris before leaving the area. Use a stiff bristle brush to clean all fishing gear.
DRAIN — Empty all water from coolers, bilge pumps, buckets, and wring out gear before leaving the boat launch or fishing areas.
DRY — Completely dry gear between waterbodies or trips. Equipment that remains damp can harbor small particles of invasive species that can remain viable for weeks. If drying gear completely in not possible-decontaminate!
DECONTAMINATE — Freeze gear until solid or wash gear in 140°F hot water scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush. If drying, freezing or heating gear is not feasible, use a 2% bleach solution to clean gear away from fresh water recreation sites. Spray or rinse gear for one minute. A 2% bleach solution can be made easily by mixing 2.5 oz. of chlorine bleach with tap water to make 1 gallon of solution.
