A state waters Prince William Sound area fishery for Pacific cod opens on Feb. 1 for jig, pot and longline gear, with a guideline harvest level of 437,425 pounds, of which 371,811 pounds are allocated to longline gear and 65,614 pounds for pot or jig gear.
The opener was announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18, by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which reminded harvesters that directed fishing for all groundfish species is closed in waters within three nautical miles of two Steller sea lion rookeries.
Area registration is required for the P-cod state waters season.
For pot vessels, a limit of 60 groundfish pots may be operated from a vessel and each pot must display a buoy identification tag. Vessel registrations and buoy tags are available from ADF&G offices in Homer and Cordova or by appointment in Seward.
Harvesters are required to check in with ADF&G prior to each fishing trip by phoning 907-424-7225 and reporting their vessel name, estimated time and date of departure and estimated length of trip.
