Beginning in August: Deep-release puts the pressure on rockfish survival

Take your pick: Whether homemade or a commercial design, every sport fishing boat in Southeast Alaska must have a deep-release mechanism on board beginning August 1. (Photo by Robert Woolsey/KCAW)
For sport anglers in Southeast Alaska having a slow day trying for salmon or halibut this August, there will be no “Plan B” for bottom-dwelling rockfish.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing all sport fishing for nonpelagic rockfish in outside waters from Yakutat to Ketchikan f