Alaska fishing trip

[TrkyBob53]

I would like to take a trip next year to Alaska to go fishing.  I am thinking maybe out of Sitka. Wondering if any on here have any good or bad things to say about any of the charters or all inclusive fishing resorts there.  Thing about late June or mid August.

[highmuley]

My grandfather took me to sitka twice when I was a teenager. I think the outfitter was South East alaska adventures?? I think. Either way, the fishing was awesome. Sitka is a great little town. The accomidations were all inclusive. I had a great time. Good luck and enjoy

[cohoho]

As a closer trip - closer than Central AK, Ketchikan is awesome, late summer for big Kings and heck you can eat the white ones there... lol....  Third week of July is the absolute best timing if your heading to Central AK on the Kenai....  Reds thick and the bigger run of Kings.  I personally like the Big Sue valley late summer for Silvers, non-stop action..  So many places, so little time.  Everything depends upon what you have to spend and what you want out of a trip...  Sep on the Kenai is fantastic, no tourist, huge Silvers and the fattest Rainbows and Dollies in the world waiting for a pegged bead to float by them...

[ribka]

As a closer trip - closer than Central AK, Ketchikan is awesome, late summer for big Kings and heck you can eat the white ones there... lol....  Third week of July is the absolute best timing if your heading to Central AK on the Kenai....  Reds thick and the bigger run of Kings.  I personally like the Big Sue valley late summer for Silvers, non-stop action..  So many places, so little time.  Everything depends upon what you have to spend and what you want out of a trip...  Sep on the Kenai is fantastic, no tourist, huge Silvers and the fattest Rainbows and Dollies in the world waiting for a pegged bead to float by them...

Plus some great steelhead fishing in area rivers

[vandeman17]

We have been to Sitka twice with a charter and had a great time both times. If you want, I can find the name of the charter and pass it along to you.

[LabChamp]

Reel Class Fishing Charters... The best boats and the best captains in Sitka. Was a captain with them for a couple years before I got married. They have TOP NOTCH boats, and arent affraid to go where the fish are. Derek is their best captain, and the one you want to fish with hands down. Dont let em push you on anyone else, including his brother. He is THAT much better than the rest.

[vandeman17]

Reel Class Fishing Charters... The best boats and the best captains in Sitka. Was a captain with them for a couple years before I got married. They have TOP NOTCH boats, and arent affraid to go where the fish are. Derek is their best captain, and the one you want to fish with hands down. Dont let em push you on anyone else, including his brother. He is THAT much better than the rest.

Agreed! That is who we went with and fished with Derek both times. He is a machine

[Glockster]

If you want to catch 10 to 20 KINGS on a slow day come up to the Nushagak river

Biggest king salmon run in AK.  I have been guiding there for 7yrs.

I have guided in Sitka too.  Beautiful down there and some amazing fishing too.  But you gotta be willing to put up with the ocean and sometimes it's just too rough to get out to the fish.   

[upwind]

Kodiak would be my choice .

[LabChamp]

Guided all over Alaska and gotta say Sitka is the best. 20-30 Kings a day in june is VERY common. Keep in mind that is before you go halibut fishin, the same day.

[7mmfan]

Was also a Captain for Reel Class Charters, can't say enough about the operation. Started as a deckhand for Derek (the owner of the company) and worked my way up to Captain. I lived with him and his family while there and never met a more generous guy. Fished for him for 4 years and there absolutely isn't a better crew of guys. While Derek is one of the best salmon fisherman I know, any of their captains (Jordan, Luke, Mike or Ben) will put you on fish better then 99% of the Sitka fleet, period. Plus, he is a local guy from Puget Sound, always nice to support the people that live around here. Feel free to pm me with any questions about the operation. Derek will be hard to get a hold of for the next month or so until they are done with the season and heading back home.

Derek Floyd 425-239-5740
derek@reelclasscharters.com

My profile picture is a 40# one of my clients caught up there.

[TrkyBob53]

Thanks for all the info.  I do prefer the saltwater fishing.  I did a trip with my dad in 94.  flew out of sitka on a float plane about 1/2hr south.  Stayed  at a camp there for a week.  It was catch and release until the last day because of the limits of the plane to fly out of the camp.  It was a gas.  I loved it when I hooked up on the big halibut.  Thats what I would like to key on for another trip.

[7mmfan]

Sounds like you were in the Whale Bay camp. Derek Floyd, the guy Labchamp and I recommended used to be a guide out of that camp. Thats awesome, way back in the glory days of that area.

[bearpaw]

I have been watching this topic, I am wanting to do an Alaskan fishing trip one of these years too, are the biggest kings on the Kenai?

[7mmfan]

I would say that your best shot at a BIG king is in the Kenai, but its not a gimme fishery. A lot of people go up there and only hook 1 or 2 a day. Most of those fish are 35-50 lbs though. Plus you'll be with 150 boats full of your best buddies. Plan WAY ahead because the river is only a few days a week prime time so you'll want to book a prime week at least a year if not 2 or 3 in advance.

[danderson]

  Just spent a week fishing the Kenai, the big kings are far and few between, fished for 6 days and saw 2 fish caught, both released because they had to be over 55 inches to legally boat, the local guides are hurting and no one really knows what happened to the run, it starts the first week of June and supposts to peak the second week in July, my buddie just got back from there 2 weeks ago and the king fishery was shut down completely to protect the run, the only bright side was the sockeye were running strong making for easy limits, and halitbit fishing was good with a two fish limit per day, Alaska dept. fish and game website has good fish count reports for folks interested in planning a trip for next year.

[LabChamp]

I would say that your best shot at a BIG king is in the Kenai, but its not a gimme fishery. A lot of people go up there and only hook 1 or 2 a day. Most of those fish are 35-50 lbs though. Plus you'll be with 150 boats full of your best buddies. Plan WAY ahead because the river is only a few days a week prime time so you'll want to book a prime week at least a year if not 2 or 3 in advance.

  He hit it right on the head! Fished the kenai for years and have many friends that live on the river. It has been pretty slow this year to say the least. I really hope that the AK game division will save this fishery. Should be that the big fish have to be put back and a limited number of slot fish available for harvest. This would eliminate people only killing trophy fish for their wall.

Sitka is a great place for numbers. Common to catch 20-30 kings a day in mid-june, per boat. Keep in mind that it is generally a one fish limit. The advantage is that you are getting to eat IMO the best salmon in the world. This area is a transitional area for most migrating salmon. Therefore, many more feeding, active, and fat laden fish available. The average king in sitka goes from 20-35 pounds. However fish over 40 are seen often, but these fish aren't a promised daily catch.

I hope this helps out!

[doyourtime89]

I have been wanting to head to AK too, but I am not really looking for the big kings.  I would like to go to somewhere and do some river fishing for big or at least good size silvers.  But from what I hear there are place to get those and get them all day and everyday.  I have heard the silver fishing is crazy and on fire.  That is what I am looking for.

[oldcamper]

  I would agree, I would rather go for the silvers and catch a bunch rather than hopeing for a few. Alaska is getting hit by the same netting problems we are in the PNW, so the pickens are getting slim.