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Fishing in Southeast Alaska

As part of our 40th Anniversary (Yup, 40th!) we treated ourselves to a fishing trip in Southeast Alaska.  This is something we've talked about in recent years - taking a self-guided fishing trip to the inland waterways of Alaska.  Terri talked to the folks from the Eagle Lodge on Prince of Wales island.  Traveling to the island was fun.  We had a great time traveling by plane, the Iinter-Island ferry, and finally a big white van, to get to the lodge.

Being self-guided had its benefits:

  1. We drove the boat.
  2. We determined when we'd drive the boat.  The tide charts worked in our favor during the week.  No cranky captain telling us to be on the dock at 0400 to catch an incomming, outgoing, slack, high, low, midline tide. We started our day after breakfast at the lodge.
  3. The limit for self-guided fishing was two halibut, of any size, per day, per person. The limit for someone being guided was one halibut per day, less than or equal to 37" or 80" or more in length.  Getting a small one wasn't too challenging, but getting the second one takes a long ride out on the ocean to maybe get a fish as big as the front door of your house. (And then a long ride back). Oh, and no fishing for halibut on Tuesdays on a charter (guided) fishing trip. 

So, in the end, we came home with great memories, 100 lbs of fish filets (filleted, vacuum packed, and frozen by the folks at the lodge!)  We relaxed, fished, and had a great week - and forgot to take enough pictures.


Started the trip at Anchorage International Airport


Our First Catch. A very enthusiastic, but tiny, sculpin that appreciated the free snack, but not having to leave the water to get it.


Fishing for halibut on the inland waterway.


First day's halibut!


Terri landed a lingcond and a couple halibut!


Bob was successful, too!  We landed rock fish, and a couple halibut on day two.


Outside our window was a pair of nesting bald eagles.  Noisy at 3:30am Nesting Bald Eagles, to be exact.


The weather cooperated and we had a great time, although the rain gear did come in handy.  In Alaska, if you wait for perfect weather, you'll be stuck indoors most of the time, and in Alaska nearly any weather is perfect weather for fishing.


The last fishing excursion of the trip landed four halibut!


Looking forward to our next fishing outing! This little fellow wasn't even hooked!  He just wouldn't let go until we convinced him he could keep the free snack.