Ketchikan Halibut and Salmon Private Fishing Charter

Your captain runs the boat where you decide to fish.

A private fishing charter in Ketchikan puts you and up to five other anglers on your own vessel with a licensed captain for five hours, targeting halibut, salmon, lingcod, rockfish, Pacific cod or Dungeness crab depending on what you want to pursue. You choose the focus (fishing only, wildlife sightseeing, or a combination), and the captain adjusts the route and technique to match. Fishing gear, rain jackets, bibs, boots and gloves are provided. An Alaska fishing license is optional at checkout.

The experience

The boat leaves from Ketchikan harbor and heads to the grounds your captain knows hold the species you're after. Five hours on the water means real time to fish rather than a quick pass through: the charter runs farther than day trips and gives the captain room to read conditions and move if the bite shifts. You'll cast for halibut on the bottom, work salmon in the shallows, or drop crab pots in quiet inlets depending on the season and what's running. The captain handles navigation and knows where to find fish. You handle the rod.

Everything you need to fish is onboard: rods, reels, tackle and bait. Rain gear (jacket, bibs, boots, hat and gloves) keeps you dry in Southeast Alaska weather. A Merchant Mariner licensed guide runs the boat and manages the fishing, so you're not learning as you go. You're fishing with someone who knows these waters and can shift tactics if the conditions change. The flexibility is the point: if the halibut bite is slow and you spot whales, the captain can pivot. If you want to stay in one spot and work salmon, that's the plan.

After you return to the harbor, you can take your catch to the restaurant at the dock for a chef-prepared meal, or arrange to have it cleaned and prepared at the rustic fish camp deep in the National Forest: your fresh fish cooked in front of you under old-growth timber. The charter itself is five hours. Dining is separate and booked when you reserve the boat. Pickup is included. Public transportation options are available nearby if you're staying elsewhere in town.

What’s included

• Merchant Mariner licensed captain.
• fishing rods, reels, tackle and bait.
• rain jacket, rain bibs, boots, hat and gloves.
• five hours on the water targeting your choice of halibut, salmon, lingcod, rockfish, Pacific cod or Dungeness crab.
• pickup from Ketchikan harbor included.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 May 2027

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Baranof Fishing Excursions

Is this one for you?The boat departs from Ketchikan harbor with pickup included, so you don't need a car or a ride arranged. The captain meets you at the dock. If you're staying in town without transportation, this settles the logistics and gives you five hours to focus on fishing instead of getting there.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I fish for different species on the same charter, or do I pick one?

You design the focus with your captain before you leave the dock. Many charters target halibut and salmon together, or switch between them depending on where the fish are. Lingcod, rockfish, Pacific cod and Dungeness crab are also options, and you can ask the captain to pivot mid-trip if the bite changes or if you spot wildlife worth pursuing instead.

What's the difference between fishing the whole five hours and adding the dining experience?

The five-hour charter is the time on the water fishing. Dining is optional and happens after you return: either a chef-prepared meal at the restaurant at the harbor, or your catch cleaned and cooked at the fish camp in the National Forest. You arrange that separately when you book the boat.

Do I need my own Alaska fishing license, or is it included?

An Alaska fishing license is optional at checkout. If you don't have one, you can add it when you reserve the charter.

How many people can fish on the boat?

Up to six anglers can fish on the charter. The captain is separate from that count, so you might be fishing with friends, family or a mix of people you meet onboard.

What happens if the weather is rough or the fish aren't biting?

The captain has the flexibility to adjust the plan: moving to a different ground, switching to a different species, or incorporating wildlife sightseeing if that's what the conditions allow. The five hours on the water stays the same. How you spend it adapts to what's happening.

What should I bring besides the gear that's provided?

Rain gear, boots, gloves and hats are all provided. Bring sunscreen, seasickness medication if you need it, snacks and water. The boat has a cabin for shelter if conditions get rough.