Welcome to sport fishing in the Petersburg/ [ Wrangell area Sport fishing here in Southeast Alaska is popular recreation, and the array of sportfishing opportunity will please even the most discriminating angler This guide summarizes the main sport fisheries within the Map 1 Petersburg/Wrangell management Petersburg/ area Wrangell area com- Geography munities and Climate
The Petersburg/Wrangell area includes the PACIFIC OCEAN islands of Kuiu, Kupreanof, Mitkof, Zarembo, Etolin and Wrangell, as well as the US main- land to the eastfrom Cape Fanshaw south to Meyers Chuck on the Cleveland Peninsula Frederick Sound and lower Chatham Strait form the northwestern boundary of the area, and Prince of Wales Island lies to the south and west, separated by Sumner Strait and Clarence Strait contd
1 Access to Forested mountains as high as Petersburg/Wrangell 5,000 feet and vast areas of open area communities muskeg are the prevailing landscape [ Evergreens dominate the forest The Petersburg/Wrangell area is served by the Alaska Marine Highway Sitka spruce, western hemlock, (state ferry system), commercial jet, and smaller, propeller-powered aircraft western redcedar and Alaska-cedar photo by Mark Schwan The state ferry is a dependable mode of travel regardless of weather, and you Coastal areas are rocky and rugged, and small islands dot the waterways can also transport your auto, truck, boat, or recreational vehicle You cannot The outer islands form a protective reach the area from outside by road, but there are small road systems within each barrier for the inside waters against community the open ocean By Air Dozens of small streams and lakes Alaska Airlines provides daily jet service, and several air taxi and air charter The Devils Thumb at sunsetviewed are scattered throughout the area, and from Mitkof Island, Southeast Alaska companies offer daily wheeled or float plane flights into the Petersburg/Wrangell the 330-mile-long Stikine River flows area from Ketchikan Contact Alaska Airlines or local air charter operators at: Most of the area lies within the out of British Columbia and empties Tongass National Forest boundary and into Eastern Passage just six miles Alaska Airlines Kupreanof Flying Service is managed by the US Forest Service north of Wrangell Reservations and Information P+O+ Box 768 (800) 252-7522 (ALASKAAIR) Petersburg, AK 99833 Remaining land is owned by state and The area is lightly populated, with Website: wwwalaskaaircom (907) 772-3396 local governments and the private about 3,000 residents each in Peters- sector Kake Tribal Corporation owns burg and Wrangell, 665 in Kake, Pacific Wing Air Charters Sunrise Aviation Inc+ Temsco Helicopters, Inc+ the largest blocks of private land in 50 in Meyers Chuck, and 50 in P+O+ Box 1560 A P+O+ Box 432 Box 829 the area Kupreanof Petersburg, AK 99833 Wrangell, AK 99929 Petersburg, AK 99833 (907) 772-9258 (907) 874-2319 (907) 772-4780
Summary of Petersburg/Wrangell area By Water transportation services The Alaska Marine Highway maintains year-round ferry service between Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake All ferries have lounges, solariums, and dining [ Float State Wheel Marine RV Groc- plane ferry Jet plane pump Boat RV pump rooms and/or cafeterias The summer months can be busy, but there is almost Gas eries service service airline service station ramp park station always space for walk-on passengers Those wishing to bring a vehicle or stay in Petersburg a cabin should reserve early to get specific dates Visit the AMHS website: Wrangell wwwalaskagov/ferry or get information by mail, phone or fax, at: Kupreanof Alaska Marine Highway 1-800-642-0066 toll-free in U+S+ Kake 6858 Glacier Highway (907) 277-4829 in Anchorage Meyers Juneau, AK 99801-7909 (907) 465-3941 in Juneau Chuck USA (907) 277-4829 (fax) contd 2 3 By Land Facilities in the Petersburg/Wrangell Local road systems consist of a few paved roads near Petersburg and Wrangell, and various primary and secondary gravel roads developed for area logging access and transport, which vary greatly in width, surface condition, There are hospitals in Petersburg To make cabin reservations on the Inter- and maintenance: and in Wrangell, and a paramedic is net, go to: wwwReserveUSAcom/cabins/ available in Kake Medically trained To contact local USFS offices, call or ON WRANGELL ISLAND, a paved road seasonally Travellers should check personnel, facilities, and pharmacy write: extends south from Wrangell along the locally for current road conditions supplies are limited in the other Zimovia Highway to Pat Creek, and north THE VILLAGE OF MEYERS CHUCK lies at outlying communities Wrangell Ranger District of Wrangell to the airport Over 100 the northwestern tip of Cleveland Penin- P+ O+ Box 51 miles of gravel roads lead to various sula, about 50 miles south of Wrangell Wrangell, AK 99929 locations on Wrangell Island These US Forest Service (907) 874-2323 This roadless community is reached only roads receive little or no wintertime by floatplane or boatwithin the local Public Use Petersburg Ranger District maintenance area, access is by trails or skiff Cabins P+ O+ Box 1328 THE CITY OF PETERSBURG is located on Petersburg, AK 99833 Mitkof Island, 40 air miles northwest of THE CITY OF KUPREANOF, located (907) 772-3871 Wrangell A paved road runs 22 miles directly across Wrangell Narrows from The US Forest Service main- south of Petersburg on the Mitkof High- Petersburg on Kupreanof Island, has no tains 42 cabins for public use in Lodging and way and 2 miles north of town to the road system Access is limited to small the Petersburg/Wrangell area The Car/Boat Rental airport and the Sandy Beach area Con- skiff or float plane cabins typically accommodate 4 to necting to the paved road at varying The other road systems in the Peters- 6 people Most are in remote In addition to USFS cabins, there distances from town are 200 miles of burg/Wrangell area are on Kuiu and areas, where access is limited to are sport fishing lodges, small motels, logging spurs Travelling these gravel Zarembo Islands ON KUIU ISLAND, the floatplane, boat, or trail Many and bed-and-breakfast establishments spurs requires caution: they vary in width road system consists of 200 miles or more are adjacent to lakes, with skiffs in the area Some communities have and surface condition and are not main- of logging road, accessible primarily from available Sport fishing is handy public or private campgrounds and tained during winter months Anyone who Rowan Bay These vary in quality and are near 29 of these cabins (see maps cabin rentals Shoemaker Bay RV plans to use these roads should check used mainly by local residents and logging and tables on pages 2025) Park in Wrangell (Wrangell Parks locally for current road conditions outfits working in the area THE ZAREMBO and Recreation) is open to public use THE COMMUNITY OF KAKE~about 50 ISLAND road system is even more primi- A series of USFS road maps for air miles west of Petersburg on Kupreanof tive, comprising 100 miles or more of the Petersburg/Wrangell area is Car and boat rentals are also Island, can be reached by float plane or logging road with limited maintenance, indispensable if you plan much available in several communities ferry from Petersburg The Kake road and is used only by barged-in vehicles road travel and are unfamiliar with You can find more information at the system consists of 5 miles of gravel road Visitors to Kuiu and Zarembo should the road system To purchase Division of Sport Fish office in consider accessing these islands by air connected to approximately 150 miles of USFS road maps, make cabin Ketchikan, or by contacting one of charter or larger boat logging access roads The roads in Kake reservations, or get more informa- vary in condition and are maintained only tion, contact the local USFS office contd
4 5 these offices near your intended State and Comfort and Alaska Boating Safety Program destination: National Parks Safety website for required equipment: Wrangell Chamber of Commerce www alaskaboatingsafety org P+ O+ Box 49 Whether you are sport fishing or Wrangell, AK 99829 Weather throughout the area is Brown and black bears are 1-(800) 367-9745 enjoying other recreational pursuits very unpredictable, and if its not common throughout Southeast Alaska in the Petersburg/Wrangell area, you raining, you can be sure that it will Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Seeing one of these magnificent will be visiting one of the most P+ O+ Box 649 be before long Good rain gear and animals can be a memorable part of Petersburg, AK 99833 scenic areas in the world You will boots are a must Short boots are ones trip; however, bears should be (907) 772-3646 want, and need information to help fine for some areas or for use with avoided whenever possible The dan- City of Kake make the most of your trip Below rain gear; however, hip boots and/or ger associated with bears is generally P+ O+ Box 500 are principal contacts for further chest-waders are preferable for most overrated, but bears are definitely Kake, AK 99830 information shore-based fisheries If you are (907) 785-3804 unpredictableand encounters State parks and attractions: camping, be sure to take along an should never be taken lightly In Most property in northern South- abundance of rain-fly material some areas, brown bears frequent east Alaska is federal or state land, Alaska State Parks 400 W+ Willoughby Excellent populations of mos- favorite sport fishing locations and, and public access is encouraged Juneau, AK 99801 quitoes, white-sox, no-see-ums, and on occasion, steal fish from anglers However, some waters are bounded (907) 465-4563 flies inhabit the area and can be When in bear habitat: (1) make by private property on which public Tongass National Forest/Admiralty depended upon to give you trouble noise so as not to surprise one; (2) use is permitted by the landowner Island National Monument: if you do not have a good supply of do not keep food stored in or near insect repellent Different brands of your tent; (3) keep a very clean U+S+ Forest Service camp; and (4) do not camp on a Public Information Center repellent may be needed to deter 101 Egan Dr+ various insects Insect-proof tents game trail or alongside a stream full Juneau, AK 99801 are practically a necessity, and head of spawning fish (907) 586-8751 nets are needed in some areas Common sense is the best bear Other tourist attractions and Pick calm weather for boating protection available, but many related information: Tidal movement is extreme and must people carry a firearm for additional protection; large caliber rifles of at Alaska State Division of Tourism be considered when navigating P+ O+ Box 110801 narrow channels or beaching or least 30-06 ballistics or shotguns Juneau, AK 99811-0801 anchoring boats Boats smaller than with slugs or buckshot are recom- (907) 465-2010 14-foot seaworthy skiffs are not mended Familiarity with firearm recommended for saltwater use Local operation is absolutely essential, as a marine charts are excellent naviga- bear can travel 50 feet in a second Petersburg, Alaska tional aids which display hazardous photo by Mark Schwan shallow and rocky areas Visit the
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