The trip was nothing like as we discussed. I reserved the boat for the wife and I so we could be flexible and move around if the fishing was not good and to catch multiple species. We stayed at the same spot only catching one spiney rock fish and no halibut. When we had just a little time left we went after salmon but no luck catching salmon in the “ salmon capital of the world”. We ended up being back at the dock almost a half hour early. In my opinion they tell you what ever you want to hear just to get your money. I understand there are bad days of fishing but feel like very little effort was put into our trip especially for the cost of the trip.
Réponse de l'hôte
Sep 2022
Looking back at the excursion you experienced with us, it is exactly what we set out to offer and sell to our clients. It's clear that your expectations were not met on this day and we regret missing the bar. As you mentioned, your private party targeted both halibut and salmon in different locations just as we discussed you would do. Unfortunately, the fishing was tough during the afternoon of your cruise ships timeframe. Often times a guides honed skillset can be overlooked when the fishing is slow as his efforts may not have produced the desired results. Many things such as timeframes, tide changes, weather, and migration patterns are an ever-changing variable that can affect the fishing from day to day. I can assure you that the level of effort from our seasoned guides is always paramount at The Alaska Catch.
After talking with your guide, Cpt Joey, he mentioned he took you Halibut fishing in two different locations attempting to get you on a halibut bite, only catching multiple rockfish. After this, he switched over to salmon fishing, catching multiple undersized King salmon, but nothing of legal size at 28". Working to put you on fish, he found more action salmon fishing and was excited to get a keeper on the boat. He also mentioned you requested to go back in early. Being that it was a private charter, our clients have the flexibility to make decisions such as heading back to the dock early on our trips. While you did catch fish both halibut and salmon fishing, although never guaranteed, I can see how you may feel you came up short by not reeling up a halibut or legal King salmon.
There are many things that require a level of effort that go into our fishing charters. A pre-trip checklist is gone over every day to ensure we are prepared. Things such as checking fuel levels, oil levels, fuel filters, cleaning windows, wiping down seats, getting youth life jackets ready, icing the fish box, icing waters and sodas make the list. Preparing salmon tackle, halibut tackle, salting bait, and making brines are done in advance. Checking the electric down riggers, lubricating reels, checking drags, retying terminal tackle, monitoring weather reports, wind direction, tide books, eLogbook's, and latest fishing reports are done before our guest arrive. After the trip, guides drop fish at the local processor along with the completed paper work. After that we disinfect the fish box, spray the saltwater from the hull, clean rain gear, organizing tackle, wash down rods, reels, and down riggers with freshwater to prevent corrosion. Cleaning the cabin, disinfecting toilets, scrubbing the deck of the boat, refueling, and removing the trash round out some of the tasks that often get overlooked on every trip we take out.
Additionally, behind the veil of a fishing charter, there are countless hours of accrued fishing and local knowledge. Many years are spent locating fish and studying patterns in order to nail down just how to get one to bite on your hook given the time of year and conditions. Many hours are spent tying leaders and properly maintaining gear. Boat maintenance is a never ending essential in Southeast Alaska. The number of hours spent sitting at a desk making bookings, travel recommendations, booking suggestions, and keeping other operational wheels moving require attention. Then there is the on the water instructions, along with the immeasurable number of decisions that guides must make in real time, to put clients on fish. All the while having the most enjoyable experience possible given the ever-changing circumstances.
To say little effort was put into your trip from a company as tenured as The Alaska Catch and a guide as experience and knowledgeable as Cpt Joey is just not the case. I agree with you that fishing in Alaska is expensive. I did however extend the rates to you from 2019, offering a significant savings. I would be lying if I told every perspective client that we hit the ball out of the park on every single afternoon cruise ship excursion. Sometimes our guides are hero's and sometimes we do our best and are unable to meet our guest expectations. Either way, the effort we put into each trip is the same. Often times the structured timeframes of an Alaskan cruise can leave you wanting more. We encourage our guest to spend 2-3 full days on the water with us to really achieve all the potential that Ketchikan Alaska fishing has to offer.
Tight Lines,
Mike Fleece