I booked this 6 hour fishing charter for my family privately even though we were arriving by cruise ship into Ketchikan and could have booked one through the ship. It was cheaper than going through the ship and we had a fantastic experience with Captain Mike. First of all, we were picked up right at the pier where the ship docked so no need for transportation to his boat. Mike's boat is only a few years old so it is modern, comfortable and very, very clean. No fishy smell whatsoever. The boat also had an enclosed cabin that seated the four of us comfortably which was great because it can get chilly racing across the water to the fishing spots. Some of the other fishing charters we saw had open boats that looked like oversized rowboats. Can you imagine having to spend 4-6 hours in one of those boats if it was raining, windy or cold? Mike has a vast knowledge of fishing and where to find fish so we did not leave Ketchikan empty handed. My husband and two daughters all caught halibut and several other types of fish(no salmon - apparently they don't come into the area until end of June).
Mike was always ready to help out or give advice if needed but also stepped back and let everyone find their own way. He was a great host and captain who was genuinely interested in providing his clients a good experience. When our trip was over we were dropped off right beside our cruise ship and Mike whisked our fish right to the processors for cleaning, parcelling and eventually shipping(cost was about $108 for around 6 pounds of fish). We arranged to have our fish delivered after we returned from vacation and ate some of it the next day. There is nothing better than fresh fish caught by your own hands! Definitely consider using Mike if you are in Ketchikan looking for a great fishing experience.