Alaska Ocean Safaris: A Day in the Life

We recognize that a cruise (or any holiday) can be a hectic period. Ensuring you have the most seamless experience with us is crucial, hence we’ve compiled an itinerary outlining a typical day with us.

Step 1

Navigating to Salmon Falls Resort

After you’ve left the bustling atmosphere of your cruise ship, your initial task is to reach Salmon Falls, where our vessels are moored. The most convenient method to accomplish this is by scheduling a trip with a local taxi service. We collaborate with Sourdough (907) 225-5544, who offer our guests a discounted fare for their journey. Inform your taxi driver that your destination is Salmon Falls Resort and that you’ll be fishing with Alaska Ocean Safaris. Usually, their drivers are familiar with our captains and can guide you appropriately once you get there.

Step 2

Preparing to Fish

Before you can start fishing, there are several prerequisites you need to fulfill. The most crucial one is obtaining a fishing license. In Alaska, it’s mandatory for anyone fishing to possess a license. Our skippers can issue you a license upon arrival, but it might eat into your fishing time. We strongly advise you to procure a license online prior to your arrival from the State of Alaska. You can purchase it to be valid for the specific day you plan to fish, and the cost is the same as getting it in person. We also need to complete the State of Alaska logbook, and we require your fishing license number to do so. We provide rain gear on board, but don’t forget to pack warm clothes. The weather in Ketchikan can fluctuate unpredictably.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game License Store Online:

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/Store

The most common license purchased by our clients is the 1-day Sport Fishing License.

If you are salmon fishing in May, June, or July, we also recommend at least one person in your part has a King Salmon Stamp which is required to keep King Salmon

Step 3

Locating Your Captain and Your Boat

Upon reaching Salmon Falls, you can proceed along the boardwalk towards the pier. Your captain might be waiting for you on the boardwalk or at the boat, depending on your arrival time. The staff at Salmon Falls can guide you to one of our captains, but they may not know specifically which captain you are assigned to. Our boats are usually located in the areas indicated here, so don’t hesitate to approach the boat, where the captain is probably preparing some fresh bait for your journey.

Step 4

Lets Go Fishing!

Our vessels are fully outfitted with all the necessary gear for fishing, all that’s missing is you! Once you’re on board with your fishing license, the skipper will navigate to the fishing hotspots.

• For a 4-hour salmon charter, we remain in close proximity to our docking area, often we can simply detach from the dock and commence fishing.
• For a 4-hour Halibut charter, we need to make a brief journey, approximately 15 – 20 minutes, then we anchor the vessel in roughly 300 feet of water to begin fishing.
• For our full-day excursion, we may travel up to 2 1/2 hours each way, depending on the known locations of the fish.

Our salmon fishing is primarily done through trolling, while we usually anchor and jig for halibut. However, our skippers may employ different methods based on the fish’s location and behavior. We also ensure that you return to your vessel promptly, so once you finish fishing and are headed back.  If you took a cab out to Salmon Falls your driver should be at the dock waiting your return.

Step 5

Final Steps

Upon returning to the pier, there are several tasks to complete before you hop into a taxi and return to your vessel. Firstly, you need to fill out the Fish and Game logbook (yay for official documentation!). Secondly, you need to settle any remaining payment for the journey with your skipper. Your skipper is able to accept payment for the remaining trip cost, licenses, gratuities, and any other charges in cash or by card on-board.

The last stage involves ensuring your fish is delivered to your home! The team at Salmon Falls will assist you in completing some forms, collecting a delivery address, contact details, and credit card information, as well as your preferred fish processing method. The most popular method is to have your fish cut into one-pound fillet portions, each individually vacuum sealed. All fish are shipped frozen overnight, and Salmon Falls will store it until you return home. Remember to take a picture of your fish!

If you had a great time with us, we would greatly appreciate a review!