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Due to its location on the open ocean, Sitka is fortunate to
have very consistent fishing throughout the season, (May-Sept.). King
Salmon are abundant May through mid-July. Silver, Chum and Pink Salmon are
abundant early July through Sept.
Licenses are for sale on board the fishing boats. A
1-Day Non-Resident fishing license is $20. When
fishing for King Salmon, (May, June and early July) a King Salmon Tag is
also required and is $10. The King Salmon Tag is a fishing tag, not a
catching tag. Passengers need to bring cash to pay
for licenses and tags.
Our boats are cabin cruiser style equipped with
communication and navigation electronics, average 25ft. and feature enclosed, heated cabins with marine heads (Curtained Porta-Potty in the V-Berth). On the 4-hour Salmon Trip,
we typically put 4 to 6 people per boat. Due to Coast Guard regulations,
the maximum number of passengers is 6. All necessary equipment, tackle,
raingear, light snacks and drinks are provided.
For passengers not wishing to incur the expense of
processing, we recommend that they either bring them back on board the ship
for preparation for dinner (if available), or that they release the fish.
If they wish to keep the fish, our skippers will gut salmon. The fish is
then given to our commercial processor:
The fish is cut into approx. 1 lb. pieces, vacuum
packed and blast frozen.
Prices are based on incoming weight: (gutted or
filleted)
Processed and Frozen: $2.50 per lb.
Delivery is via Federal Express: $3-4 per lb.
(based on outgoing weight)
With processing and shipping, the passenger can
expect to spend approx. $5-$7 per lb. to get their fish home. Due to
customs regulations concerning perishable products, Fed. Ex. will only
deliver frozen fish to the lower 48 and Hawaii.
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There are 2 ways to fish for
Salmon, “Trolling”, which uses downriggers or “Mooching” which does not.
The Captain will fish the method he is personally most successful using. Neither is more or less productive than
the other.
When “Mooching”, the boat is
anchored or drifting. Each passenger
is given a rod that they hold the entire time, working the bait to a depth
the Captain specifies. When a fish
takes the bait, they play the fish.
When “Trolling”, the boat is
underway. The baits are lowered to a
specific depth using downriggers and the rods are placed in rod holders. When a fish takes the bait, the rod pops
off the downrigger, the fisherman removes the rod
from the rodholder and plays the fish. When Trolling, the passengers are not
individually assigned a rod and they do not hold the rod, until a fish is
hooked. Often times 1 rod will hook
the majority of the fish. For this
reason, passengers play hooked fish on a rotational basis. The rotation is determined by picking
numbers or drawing cards unless the passengers determine their own
rotation. When trolling, it is not
uncommon for the Captain to fish 2 rods regardless of the number of
fishermen. Fishing 2 rods is often
more effective as the gear is turned over more quickly. When Trolling, if the fish decide not to
take the bait that day, it is possible that a passenger might not “touch a
rod” but that is a function of the method of fishing.
Ocean sportfishing
is subject to many variables such as weather, ocean conditions and the
unpredictable nature of wild fish. The passenger is paying for the opportunity
to catch a fish, not a guarantee of catching. The primary goal of the
Captain is to put his clients over fish and help them catch. Fortunately, according to Alaska Dept. of
Fish & Game, Sitka
consistently has the highest catch rate for King and Silver Salmon in the
state and our Captains all have at least 5 years of local fishing experience.
Occasionally, during the peak of the King Salmon run, fishing is
exceptionally good and a limit of fish is caught quickly. In general we do
not practice catch & release after a limit has been brought aboard in
order to reduce mortality rates. If the catch rate is exceedingly quick and
the boat limits out, we will then take a sightseeing trip or fish for a
different species if available and practical.
Our goal is to provide a high quality, safe and
memorable Alaskan Fishing experience.
For more details about this tour, visit princess shore excursions.
SPECIAL NOTES
Participants must be physically active; the tour
requires covering uneven terrain. Please refer to page 18 in the 2007
Alaska Adventures Ashore brochure for additional information, including
licensing fees and requirements.
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TOUR ID
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SITKA-008
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VALID DATES
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May 01, 2008 -
Sep 30, 2008
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DURATION
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4 Hours
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PRICE
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Adult: $209.00
Child: $209.00
(under 5 years free)
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ACTIVITY LEVEL
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Most active shore excursions
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ACTIVITY TYPE
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None Specified
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