Alaska Commercial Fishing Seasons

ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHING SEASONS

Opening and closing dates may vary from year to year, but this is a general overview of the commercial fisheries seasons in Alaska.

January

January 1 - August 15 Pacific Cod (Pots) "A" Season
January 20 - November 1 Pacific Cod (Bering Sea via Trawlers)

February

No fisheries begin in the month of February, but several are ongoing from other seasons.

March

March 1 - November 15 IFQ Blackcod (sablefish)
March 1 - November 15 IFQ Halibut
March 17 - June 17 Area 1 Herring (roe specifically) begins and varies by area

April

April 15 - June 30 Region 1 Spring King Salmon (trolling)

May

May 1 - December 31 Area 3 Dungeness Crab
May 1 - February 28 Area 1 Yakutat Shrimp (pots)
May 1 - February 28 Area 1 Beam Trawl Shrimp Seasons
May 12 - June 15 Hake (off of the OR and WA coast lines)

June

June 1 - August 15 Area 1 Sablefish (blackcod via longliners)
June 1 - September 30 Area 1 Summer Salmon Troll
June 2 - October 31 Area 1 Yakutat Set Net Salmon
June 8 - September 15 Area 2 General salmon (gillnetting and purse seiners)
June 8 - September 30 Area 1 Salmon gillnet
June 10 - July 25 Sockeye Salmon season in Bristol Bay
June 10 - August 20 Area 4 Salmon seasons with varying dates
June 10 - September 1 Pacific Cod Catcher/Processor via trawling "C" Season
June 10 - September 1 Pacific Cod Catcher Vessel via trawling "C" Season
June 10 - November 1 Pollock season in the Bering Sea "B" Seasons
June 10 -November 30 Pacific Cod Catcher/Processor via hook & line "B" Season
June 10 - November 30 Pacific Cod Catcher Vessel via hook & line "B" Season
June 29 - July 15 Yellowfin Sole (at open sea)
June 29 - July 15 Rockfish
June 29 - July 15

July

No fisheries being in July but there are several ongoing through the summer.  It's peak month!

August

There are very few fisheries that begin in August, but several ongoing. 
August 15 - May 15 Gold King Crab in the Aleutian Islands
August 5 - November 25 Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea via hook & line

September

September 1 - September 15 King Crab
September 1 - September 15 Mackerel
September 1 - December 15 Pacific Cod "B" Season
September 1 - November 15 Region 1 Sablefish (Blackcod)
September 1 - November 20 Region 4 ATKA Mackerel Eastern "B" Season
September 1 - November 15 Region 4 ATKA Mackerel Central "B" Season
September 1 - November 15 Region 4 ATKA Mackerel Western "B" Season
September 1 - October 15 Pacific Cod in the Gulf of Alaska

October

October 1 - February 28 Area 1 Dungeness Crab
October 1 - February 28 Area 1 Shrimp
October 1 - April 14 Area 1 Winter King Salmon via Trolling
October 15 - May 31 Area 4 Tanner Crab
October 15 - May 15 Opilio in the Bering SEa
October 1 - October 8 Pollock "D" Season in the Gulf of Alaska
October 1 - February 28 Area 1 Shrimp via pots

November

November 1 - November 13 Area 1 Red King Crab

December

December 3 - February 28 Area 1 Herring