Alaska Airlines has a great rewards program, which can include a free companion fare ticket.  If you sign up for the Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit card, you will get a companion fare voucher.  The voucher allows you to get a second “companion” fare ticket for a nominal amount plus applicable taxes.

In addition, Alaska Airlines will give you 25,000 miles when you open the account, which is enough for a round trip ticket from almost anywhere in the U.S. to Ketchikan.  If you are traveling with family, this card can pay for two full fares to Alaska. Everyone in my family uses this program as it is by far the best way to save money and still enjoy an incredible trip to Alaska.

If you are arriving in town on a cruise ship, a fishing charter will use up most of your time in Ketchikan.  Cruise ships stay in port anywhere from 3 to 14 hours. You need to check your itinerary to find out exactly how long you will be docked.

As long as your stay is more than 4 hours, you will have time for a charter. If you are in town for more than 6 hours, you will have time to fish and take a quick tour.  If you are flying into town, we will work with you to make sure you have plenty of time to go fishing and see the highlights in town. Give us a call, and we can help coordinate the trip of a lifetime.  

Ketchikan’s summer weather is predictably unpredictable. While always beautiful, Ketchikan is in the middle of a rainforest, and the climate is famously temperate. Plan on temperatures ranging from the 50s up to the 80s. Dress in layers so you can change with the weather.

A long sleeve base layer with a sweater or hoodie is a good start. Then, of course, you will want to bring along your rain gear; both top and bottom. We have rain gear available; however for the best comfort, you will want to be prepared with your own gear.

Catching world-class salmon is only half the benefit.  You will want to process, freeze, and transport your fish back home to fill your freezer with wild-caught, Alaskan Salmon.   We work with the largest sport fishing processor in town to make sure your catch is properly cleaned, frozen, and packaged for the trip home.  They will clean the fish and cut perfect sized fillets for packaging. The fish will be flash frozen and packaged in a secure “fish box” to ensure it is safe for transit.  For those on cruise ships, the fish processor will mail your fish straight to your door.  For those staying longer, Alaska Airlines allows you to check your fish box making sure it gets to your destination in perfect condition.

There are three basic techniques for salmon fishing in the ocean.  Your captain will determine which particular method is appropriate based on many different factors.  Trolling is the most common approach to ocean salmon fishing.

With the help of a downrigger, trolling involves setting your gear at a specific depth and slowly running the boat so your leader trails behind the boat with a flasher – mimicking the appearance of bait herring, which is a salmon’s preferred meal.  

Mooching is done with a double hook leader in combination with a sliding sinker and cut plug herring. This technique works well when the fish are actively feeding particularly in schools. This technique requires a lot of activity as you will want to move your bait through the water continuously.

Lastly, there is “jigging.” Jigging is done by lowering a weighted lure to a target depth. You then raise the lure up and down in a range between 2-3 feet. The repeating action gives salmon the appearance of a lame herring. Who doesn’t love an easy meal!

Private charter trips for 4 people start at $800.

Alaska regulations allow you to catch and keep 1 king salmon and 6 other salmon per day.  The longer you stay and fish, the more fish you can bring home.

Alaska regulations allow you to catch and keep 1 halibut per person per trip, under 40″.

We will help you arrange your fish for processing. The processor can either FedEx your fish home, or you can check boxes of fish on your flight like airplane luggage.

While processing is not included in your charter, we work closely with the best fish processor in Ketchikan to get your fish filleted and packaged for shipping.  The processor with then ship your fish right to your door.

We strongly recommend bringing layers and rain gear.  It’s always cooler out on the water than on land.  Synthetic layers are preferred over cotton.  When cotton gets wet, it retains moisture and cools the wearer, which is not ideal in our variable climate.  Instead, we suggest wearing layers that are quick drying or moisture wicking like wool, fleece, polypro, or capilene.