Ketchikan Fishing Charter FAQ

Call (406) 239-1994, or send a trip request and we’ll reply.

Send a trip request with your dates and group size. We’ll confirm availability and details, then a 30% deposit locks in your date. The deposit is nonrefundable, and the balance is due before departure. Current pricing is on the rates page.

Yes, one of two ways. Trips run with a four-angler minimum, so we first try to match small parties with other anglers who want the same date and share the boat. A match depends on who else is booking, so we can’t promise one. The other route is reserving the whole boat for $2,300 a day, which is also the choice for any party that would rather have the boat to itself.

The boat takes six anglers, so a bigger party fishes across more than one boat on the same day. Captain Jim works with a group of Ketchikan captains to line that up. Tell us your dates and headcount and we’ll tell you what we can put together. See group charters.

July and August dates go first, so book those as early as you can. June and September usually have more room. Either way, earlier is better, especially for full days.

More than one, and Captain Jim usually suggests three. Southeast Alaska weather has a vote, and across any stretch of days one of them is likely to turn rough, or keep us in close to the dock where the fishing is more limited. If you only book a single day, that day has to be the good one. Book three and you are very likely to get at least one of the days people come here for.

Yes. Everyone fishing needs a current Alaska sport fishing license, and a king salmon stamp when king fishing applies. Buy both online from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game before your trip and bring proof with you.

Limits change by species and season, and they can change partway through a season, so we don’t print them here where they would go stale. Current rules are always at ADF&G, and Captain Jim fishes to whatever is current on the day. Ask when you book if a specific species matters to you.

At Clover Pass Resort, about 15 miles north of downtown Ketchikan, which is a 20 to 25 minute drive. Full-day trips typically start around 6 a.m., so plan the morning backward from there. We’ll confirm the exact meeting spot when you book.

Yes. Our trips run out of Clover Pass Resort, and we work with them directly, so we can help you line up a room a short walk from the boat. There are also smaller rentals nearby we can point you toward, and staying downtown works fine with a little morning planning. The trade-offs are laid out in our where to stay guide.

Often, no. Stay near Clover Pass and you can walk to the boat, and taxis and ride services run from downtown. We also have access to a rental car for guests, so mention transportation in your trip request and we’ll help you sort out the simplest plan. More in getting to Ketchikan.

Rods, reels, tackle, and bait are included, and everything is kept in good working order. You’re welcome to bring a favorite setup, but you certainly don’t need to. See what to bring for the full packing list.

Not at all. First-timers are a regular part of every season, and teaching is one of the things Jim genuinely enjoys about guiding. He’ll walk you through everything from the first cast to the last fish, and you’ll head home knowing more than when you arrived.

Yes. Alaska Fishing Company is a family business, and trips with kids are a regular highlight of the season. Kid-sized life jackets are on board, and Jim paces the day around younger anglers. Tell us ages when you book so we can plan for them.

Ketchikan fishes in the rain; light rain is a normal fishing day here, and the boat has an enclosed heated cabin. If conditions are genuinely unsafe, the captain makes that call and we’ll work with you on the schedule. This is the reason we suggest planning more than one fishing day; see above. Ask us about specifics when you book.

Much of the fishing here is in protected inside waters rather than open ocean, which helps a lot. If you’re prone to motion sickness, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a remedy that suits you and take it as directed before the trip. Plenty of nervous guests finish the day feeling fine.

The processing crew meets the boat at the dock and takes your catch from there: cutting, vacuum sealing, freezing, boxing, and storage until you fly home, or shipping to your door. Full details on the processing page.

Sometimes, and it depends entirely on your port window. Send us your ship, arrival time, and all-aboard time and we’ll tell you straight whether it works. The full picture is on the cruise fishing page.

Most guests fly in via Seattle; it’s a surprisingly quick hop for how far away Alaska feels. Our getting-here guide covers the airport, the cruise docks, and how to plan travel around a charter.