Alaska offers numerous opportunities to give your muscles a good workout while catching huge fish. You and your guide can take a boat and fish for saltwater species such as halibut. Or, you can try your hand catching one of the state's trophy-sized king salmon. For an adventure that may involve shoreline hiking, hire a guide and head to the quieter inland streams and creeks to reach the prime trout holes. No matter which species you go after, you'll get lots of exercise while creating a memorable Alaskan fishing experience.
About Guided Services
Guides run the gamut from those who take you on a boat to the prime fishing holes to those that hike with you to reach the best spots. Fishing guides take you for the day or on multiple days of fishing. If you arrive in Alaska via a cruise ship, hiring a guide means you can enjoy a short fishing adventure while likely catching your quota. Guides also know about the local flora and fauna and can show you all of the area's beauty from a local's perspective.
Licenses and Tags
Before you cast your line, buy an Alaska state fishing license online or at sporting goods stores. As of October 2010, a recreational fishing license costs $24 per year for residents and $20 per day for non-residents. If you want to fish for king salmon, you'll also need a king tag. King tags cost $10 annually for residents or $10 per day for non-residents.
What's Included
Most fishing guides, especially those with boats, provide almost everything you'll need to catch fish, including tackle, gear and bait. Some guides also offer the clothing you need along with boots and rain gear. Guides also help arrange for cleaning, processing and packaging of your fish so you can enjoy your catch at home, too.
Locations
Almost every body of water in Alaska contains fish. You'll find all five of the salmon species in the coastal waters from the southeastern part of the state north to the Chukchi Sea. Follow the water upstream from the coast, and you'll find salmon getting ready to spawn in their natal streams. The deeper waters near Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet offer deep-water halibut fishing. Trout fishing occurs further inland along the quieter streams and creeks.
Season and Species
In Alaska, most guides take you fishing for halibut from May through September, before fall storms make the saltwater too choppy and unsafe for fishing. Salmon fishing also starts in May and continues through October, although the species vary depending on the area. You can fish for tasty king, silver and sockeye salmon. Or, try your luck catching a chum or pink salmon, less tasty, but fun to catch anyway. Trout fishing occurs in the spring through fall.
Fishing Lodges
If you want to focus on fishing and leave all the details to someone else, make reservations at one of Alaska's fishing lodges. Fishing lodges provide charter boats and guides as well as accommodations. Some lodges also provide meal plans.
Member Comments