Chignik state-waters cod opens to vessels of any size Oct. 31

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, a vessel of any size may fish for Pacific cod in the Chignik Area state-waters season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Kodiak office announced the change on Oct. 27 under Emergency Order 4-GF-23-26. The area's management plan allows any remaining cod to go to larger vessels after Oct. 30.

Through Oct. 26, pot boats had landed about 5.31 million pounds of state-waters cod in the area. Jig gear had landed none. ADF&G says about 229,000 pounds of the guideline harvest level (GHL) are left.

Either pot or jig gear may be used for the rest of the season, and gear limits are off. The fishery stays open until the GHL is taken or the season ends Dec. 31. ADF&G reminds fishermen that Chignik is a superexclusive registration area for state-waters cod.

Questions go to area management biologists Nat Nichols and Cassandra Whiteside in Kodiak at (907) 486-1840.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: ADF&G — Vessel Size Limit Removed for Remainder of 2026 Chignik Area State-Waters Pacific Cod Season (PDF) (Oct. 27, 2026).