Every trip we run uses the same boat, the same captain, and the same gear. The difference between a full day and a half day is one thing only, and that thing is hours. So the real question behind this choice is what those extra hours buy you on this particular water.
Why hours matter more here than most places
Ketchikan’s fishing grounds are spread out, and some of the most productive water sits a long run from the dock. Boat travel comes straight out of your fishing time, so the farthest grounds only come into play when the clock allows. A full day, roughly 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., gives Captain Jim the range to reach that water and the time to fish it properly. It also leaves room to adjust. If the first plan is slow, ten hours means there is time to move, switch species, or change tactics.
When the half day is the right call
A half day is real fishing, and for some guests it is simply the better fit. Time is the usual reason. A tight schedule, young kids testing out their first trip, or a group mixing anglers with people who want the afternoon in town. Boat travel does limit which areas the trip can reach, so the day fishes closer to the dock, and Jim plans it accordingly. Plenty of good fish come off half days every season.
A quick way to decide
- Came to Alaska to fish? Book the full day. It is the trip we recommend to anyone who can give it the time.
- Want a real shot at a salmon and halibut combo? That needs a full day. Switching fisheries takes travel, and the short trip squeezes it.
- Short on hours or testing the waters with kids? The half day is the right tool.
- On a cruise stop? Your port window decides for you. Start with the cruise fishing page.
The numbers
Full days are $575 per person and half days are $400, each with a four-angler minimum. Smaller parties can share the boat with other anglers or reserve the whole boat. Current details are always on the rates page, along with what’s included, which is most of it. Gear, tackle, bait, life jackets, and instruction all ride along on every trip.
If you’re still unsure, send your dates and your group, and we’ll tell you which trip we’d book in your shoes.
The details people ask about
How long is a full-day fishing charter in Ketchikan?
Roughly ten hours, about 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the water, meeting at Clover Pass Resort. The half day runs roughly half that.
Is a half-day charter worth it?
For the right trip, yes. It is real fishing on water closer to the dock, and it fits schedules a full day cannot. What it gives up is range, which on this spread-out fishery is the full day’s whole advantage.
Can a half day do the salmon and halibut combo?
The combo is at its best on a full day. Switching fisheries takes boat travel, and on a short trip that travel squeezes both halves of the fishing.