Salmon Fishing Excursion-DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

We booked a Guided Salmon Fishing Trip, the Salmon aren't expected to run until late July and August. It's all fishing by downriggers. In our party of 3, only one of us even touched a pole and that was to reel in the line at the end of the day... other than that we watched some eagles flying around and some sea lions in the distance. We basically spent 450.00 for the trip and 90.00 for the fishing license to ride in a boat for 3.5 hours.

A shuttle driver in Juneau told us the Salmon wouldn't be running for another 7-8 weeks, which is the best time to see bears. And when we returned from our excursion a couple told us that happened to the 4 years ago on the same cruise and then there was a different cruiser whose boss told her not to go fishing for the same reason.

Just an FYI to hopefully save people some hard earned cash.

Thanks, too bad they even offer the excursions, seems like they are taking advantage of peoples lack of understanding of the fishing season.

Kirk

Booked through the ship? Didn't ask here or elsewhere re: the fishing "seasons"? Sorry it happened to you and thanks for the warning, but more importantly I hope you learned a lesson to do more research before booking a tour, and checking independent options.

We've fished many places for many different kinds of fish. Sometimes the fish are there and biting when they shouldn't be, and sometimes they're not when they should be. It happens. I would like to say you should have relaxed and enjoyed the scenery and camaraderie. Unfortunately, although sometimes fishing and not catching is just fine, other times it really bothers me (like the time we paid $650 in Costa Rica and were the only boat that didn't catch, and the captain and mate were unfriendly to boot), so I do know how you feel. That said...

Check this link http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInforuntiming.main the kings should be running now.

The people telling you late July and August are telling you a different run for a different kind of salmon....silvers.

You have made vast generalizations that paint an entire industry in an entire state. I'm sorry you're not happy, but many people will be happy fishing this week.

My husband ran a fishing charter business for 2 summers. He had 100% success rate with his clients. As good as he is at finding fish and then helping people catch them, I still didn't get a king last year...and I put in way more than 3.5 hours.

My advice to everyone....if not catching is not acceptable, then don't book a fishing charter.

Fishing is many times fishing and sometimes catching. One must always assume it is more fishing than catching.

Fishing as others noted is very seasonal. The charter boats on the other hand its their livelhood and hopefully adapt their tours to what is in season. Sadly without research and just signing up for a excursion can result in dissapointment in the activity and the yield. Sounds like the case for the poster.

Do your research carefully, select the right operator, pick the right dates, sometimes down to a specific week can yield more catching, but even than it is called "fishing" for a reason and not catching.

All the more reason to go to Alaska again when the salmon are really running :D

I can share a story of 12 hours on a boat with not a bite, was I dissapointed, yup. Was it money wasted, not really as I understood it was fishing and sometimes you come home empty. :mad:

But sometimes ... :D

As others have posted, a little research would have gone a long way in not causing you disappointment. It appears you also purchased a King Salmon stamp. About 2-3 weeks too early for Kings.

Sorry you were disappointed but next time, please do your homework. A simple Google search for Alaska + fish charts turns up a tremendous amount of info.

You have blasted the entire Alaska charter industry because you were unprepared. Did you even ask your charter operator what kind of fish would be running the first/middle part of May? (VERY, VERY early for any kind of salmon) IF the charter operator told you you would catch salmon, then you could partially blame the operator. Otherwise, please try it again but do some research first.

FYI -

And if you actually did manage to catch any fish (salmon or otherwise) do you have ANY idea just how much it would cost you to ship it home? $$$$:eek:

Thanks for the head's up Justlaff.

I will be taking my first Alaskan cruise with my family on the Diamond this June 11. We booked a private fishing charter in Ketchikan and the owner/operator was very honest and up-front about what we might expect. He mentioned that we were about a week early for what he considers "good - not great" King Salmon fishing, BUT we might get lucky. He said if the Kings aren't biting, then we will bottom fish for halibut, cod, etc.). He also said we would see awesome scenery and maybe some wildlife (humpbacks, orcas, definitely eagles). Anyway, we appreciated his honesty, booked it, and are looking forward to a fun day on the water - fish or no fish!

R3SUNZ

R3sunz, it seems you have chartered with a better company and I wish you luck. I would've been a happy camper if our guide would've been as upfront with us and gave us the same options. Instead, I'm told it was my fault , that I didn't do enough research.

But FYI to you, we were on Carnival and docked opposite the Outlet Mall in Ketchikan and only had time for the 4 hr trip. Our guides took us south about 10 minutes and fished the point on the eastern side. We trolled downriggers up and down the point and didn't try any other area. There were four boats in the area all on the same radio channel and nobody on any of the charters caught anything. One captain even made the comment that it was 'A nice day to not have to work.'

Giving all the more credence to the theory that it wasn't a matter of hit or miss, more of a matter of not having anything to hit.

To the rest, I'm warning people about a situation that is very suspicous.

Guide Services are offering Salmon Trips at times when Salmon aren't in season, some people would consider that to be a teeny bit fraudulent.

Google alaska + fishing+ charter mainly yields companies offering Salmon Charters during a time in which Salmon are not in season and some porn sights as well.

I contacted 3 or 4 different charters companies and none of them mentioned or even hinted that it was a little early for Salmon. I mainly stick to fresh water fishing, so I didn't know to specifically ask if Salmon were in season.

I went with a company that was recommended on these boards.

That being said, this is a warning for the casual cruisers like me, that don't have a tremendous amount of time to research fishing trends in a port they'll only visit once. From what I experienced and from what was told to me by fellow cruisers, May thru early July is not prime season to fish for Salmon. If you do book a fishing charter, confirm whether or not you will be able to switch to or if there is an availablity to fish for different species or go wildlife viewing.

I'm not blasting the industry, just reporting a fact that you seem to agree with. Salmon aren't in season and it's not a good time to book charters.

Here's another point, Salmon fishing is done bit trolling with downriggers which mean you won't even touch a pole unless you get a bite.

For those who say I didn't do proper research, I thought I did a reasonable amount. I talked to several guide companies. We typically fish fresh water, so season to me determines where on the lake the fish are, not if they are in the area or not. When the fish do run up the rivers and creeks, they stage in the vicinity. It never occurred to me that they would be further out.

There's a lot of industries that need to be blasted for taking advantage of vacationers and the fishing industry isn't immune from criticism, just because by it's nature, it is a hit or miss proposition.

We fish our local lakes, so we know that catching isn't a guarantee, duh. We weren't elated but we were fine with the trip until we got back on board and were told repeatedly that Salmon weren't in season.

I'm not a beer drinker, but if you're going to take me fishing for something you know isn't in the area, it would sure be nice to have one. :D

If we had known that we had a better chance of hitting the Jackpot in the Casino than catching anything, we wouldn't have bothered with the trip.

We had issues with our particular guide, he only trolled one area.:mad: After fishing that area for and hour and having neither of 4 boats catching anything, we asked if there was something else we could fish for our guide laughed and said 'no' or if there was other places to fish and we were told 'not really'. There's just no way to make that funny...

But those comments make it even more clear, that it wasn't a matter of wether the fish were biting or not, but more to the point that the Salmon weren't in the area. We thought it was strange that we stayed in the same area, but what's the point of moving when the fish aren't in the area.

We've been on guided salt water trips before, once my nephew:p was the only person to catch a fish on a forty person party barge and another time in the bahamas, where we caught an assortment of fish. Both times, we moved around different areas looking for the fish. That didn't happen on this trip, was it the guide, the season or both? From radio chatter, none of the four boats in the area caught anything.

-One of the fellow cruisers we had talked to told us their guide told them they weren't going to catch anything after they were on board and had paid.

- I don't know what more research I could've done to select a better guide. Maybe when R3sunz gets back from his trip, he can tell us how it went and to with whom he took.

To the rest, I'm warning people about a situation that is very suspicous. Guide Services are offering Salmon Trips at times when Salmon aren't in season, some people would consider that to be a teeny bit fraudulent.

I agree that you were taken advantage of. The unfortunate reality is that misleading if not fraudulent trip descriptions are a reality everywhere in the world, including Alaska, including ship excursionswhich so many people think of as being highly honourable. In my province, Northern Lights viewing tours were offered throughout the years when there just were none to be seen. And the descriptions for wildlife viewing in the Rockies are almost funny - but they lose their humour when I think of what people pay to take them. I've seen some Alaska fishing guides' Web sites that list the seasons of the species they go after - perhaps that should be compulsory.

Instead, I'm told it was my fault , that I didn't do enough research.

 

>>SNIP!!

 

 

Yeah, welcome to the world of electronic forums, where the Monday morning quarterbacks know absolutely as much as Jehovah himself.

As for the rest of your post, you should don armor. The peck party could get vicious.

You got snookered, and I for one thank-you for the heads-up.

So it's the OPs fault??

I guess that's the world we live in today. The victim is the one to blame...

So these charters have NO responsibility to inform the paying client of what to expect? They just take your money and whatever happens, happens..huh..

This country continues it's downward spiral... :(

thank you for posting this!

Here's a link to the Fish & Wildlife, it hints that there are more than just Salmon available to fish. After further review, we fished Mt. Point just a little south of Herring Cove.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastKetchikan.fishingInfo

This is the run chart:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInforuntiming.main

Here's the latest fishing report, 50 hrs to catch 1 fish, how do you like your chances now?

Current Sport Fishing Report

Ketchikan

Harvest and Effort Statistics

May 17, 2011

Saltwater Fishing

Anglers last week averaged 50 hours per fish. King salmon fishing will continue to improve, historically peaking around the end of June. We are expecting a good return of hatchery king salmon to the Herring Cove and Neets Bay Area this year. Look for increased bag limits in Herring Cove around June 1st and continuing through July to target these hatchery kings.

Anglers averaged one halibut for every 12 hours fished. Last year it took 10 rod hours per halibut with a five-year average of 13 hours per fish. The lingcod season will be open from May 16 – November 30.

Freshwater Fishing

Dolly Varden fishing along the roadside/shoreline should continue to improve as water temperatures warm and Dolly Varden migrate from overwintering lakes. Lake outlets and streams that connect to the salt water are prime places to harvest these fish in the spring.

***Reminder

All anglers are responsible for knowing the current regulations for the area that they will be fishing. Regulation handbooks and copies of the most current regulatory changes are available on this website and at the Ketchikan ADF&G office, (907) 225-2859.

Here's a link to the Fish & Wildlife, it hints that there are more than just Salmon available to fish. After further review, we fished Mt. Point just a little south of Herring Cove.

 

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastKetchikan.fishingInfo

 

This is the run chart:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInforuntiming.main

 

Here's the latest fishing report, 50 hrs to catch 1 fish, how do you like your chances now?

 

Current Sport Fishing Report

Ketchikan

 

Harvest and Effort Statistics

May 17, 2011

Saltwater Fishing

Anglers last week averaged 50 hours per fish. King salmon fishing will continue to improve, historically peaking around the end of June. We are expecting a good return of hatchery king salmon to the Herring Cove and Neets Bay Area this year. Look for increased bag limits in Herring Cove around June 1st and continuing through July to target these hatchery kings.

 

Anglers averaged one halibut for every 12 hours fished. Last year it took 10 rod hours per halibut with a five-year average of 13 hours per fish. The lingcod season will be open from May 16 – November 30.

 

Freshwater Fishing

Dolly Varden fishing along the roadside/shoreline should continue to improve as water temperatures warm and Dolly Varden migrate from overwintering lakes. Lake outlets and streams that connect to the salt water are prime places to harvest these fish in the spring.

 

***Reminder

All anglers are responsible for knowing the current regulations for the area that they will be fishing. Regulation handbooks and copies of the most current regulatory changes are available on this website and at the Ketchikan ADF&G office, (907) 225-2859.

Again, you went too early in the season which is where either your own research or actually asking your guide before you booked what was available would have been valuable knowledge. By the 1st of June, the Kings are starting to arrive back to their birth place and by the 12-20 of June, the peak influx is coming in. The reds start returning at the end of June-first part of July. And the silvers start coming in in mass about August 15.

As ADF &G posted, you were too early for either Lingcod (which just opened this week) or Dolly Varden. About the only thing early/mid May that may be available would be some of the rockfish varieties. But they too may have seasonal limits (DH doesn't fish for rockfish).

Again, you went too early in the season which is where either your own research or actually asking your guide before you booked what was available would have been valuable knowledge. By the 1st of June, the Kings are starting to arrive back to their birth place and by the 12-20 of June, the peak influx is coming in. The reds start returning at the end of June-first part of July. And the silvers start coming in in mass about August 15.

 

As ADF &G posted, you were too early for either Lingcod (which just opened this week) or Dolly Varden. About the only thing early/mid May that may be available would be some of the rockfish varieties. But they too may have seasonal limits (DH doesn't fish for rockfish).

I thought about this thread a lot this weekend. I was out on a outdoors activities weekend thingie, with tons of fishermen around. There are spring kings to be caught and Dolly Varden. So a charter captain could say, yes you could catch something. But it comes down to that 50 hours. There's a big difference between flying up here for a week of fishing and a half-day charters where so many factors can effect your chances.

It's like seeing all of you being told by the board wags that the ONLY way to see bears is to come later in the year, blah, blah, when I've seen a bear this year already, people I was with this weekend say a bear, and a friend's just posted on Facebook that one's currently trying to break into her house. To us, they're all over the place!

To the carefully packaged tourism industry, you can't be directed to the places bears are in the spring, so you're told to come in the late summer.

Same with fishing, IMO.

Duh? What a surprise.

Again, you went too early in the season which is where either your own research or actually asking your guide before you booked what was available would have been valuable knowledge. By the 1st of June, the Kings are starting to arrive back to their birth place and by the 12-20 of June, the peak influx is coming in. The reds start returning at the end of June-first part of July. And the silvers start coming in in mass about August 15.

 

As ADF &G posted, you were too early for either Lingcod (which just opened this week) or Dolly Varden. About the only thing early/mid May that may be available would be some of the rockfish varieties. But they too may have seasonal limits (DH doesn't fish for rockfish).

All of these posts that snap back at travelers and are sympathetic to tour companies, have me confused. The tour should obviously say what is included especially when things are not expected to be good. "you went too early", "ask" and "do research" instead of some empathy?

All of these posts that snap back at travelers and are sympathetic to tour companies, have me confused. The tour should obviously say what is included especially when things are not expected to be good. "you went too early", "ask" and "do research" instead of some empathy?

There is a whole lot more to the story than the OP leads us to believe. Other forums have other conflicting info from the OP, etc. Read between the lines.

So it's the OPs fault??

 

I guess that's the world we live in today. The victim is the one to blame...

 

So these charters have NO responsibility to inform the paying client of what to expect? They just take your money and whatever happens, happens..huh..

 

This country continues it's downward spiral... :(

you mean all these years that i've gone fishing and gotten skunked i should have been able to blame someone else and gotten a refund? i feel so used. i paid my quarter, where's my instant gratification?

glad i don't live in your country, that must really suck.

All of these posts that snap back at travelers and are sympathetic to tour companies, have me confused. The tour should obviously say what is included especially when things are not expected to be good. "you went too early", "ask" and "do research" instead of some empathy?

What is included in a fishing tour is fishing, NOT catching.

A small amount of research for a fishing chart OR ask the guide what the fish counts are during your time frame would seem to be a prudent move for someone spending quite a few dollars on a fishing excursion. You really should get some bang for your dollars.

Just like the dog sled/glacier tours. The LATER in the season you go, the more the chance of cancellation. The ice/snow is melting and sliding along on wet ice is very dangerous. Or going to Amsterdam to see tulips in late May. Will you see tulips-maybe. But you sure missed the peak season. Or even going to someplace like Barrow or Prudhoe Bay in the very early or late season. May be 10 degrees and snowing. The road to Prudhoe may be closed-avalanches happen a lot on the Dalton.

Why you believe a tour company/excursion guide should voluntarily give you the information is beyond me??? Some people may only be looking for the "experience", not the fish. Do the cruise lines tell you that the fishing may not be any good on THEIR excursions??? No-they let everyone make up their own minds. Again, a little research will do wonders.