Deep-sea fishing in Alaska offers an exhilarating adventure for anglers of all levels. Whether you’re targeting halibut, Salmon, Rockfish, or Cod, a charter boat trip provides a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of deep-sea fishing in one of the most stunning locations in the world. This comprehensive guide will walk you through what to expect, including preparation, fishing techniques, and how to handle your catch.

Preparation for Your Charter Fishing Trip

One of our YouTube viewers offered to pay for us to go deep-sea fishing! It was an unexpected offer that we gladly accepted. We were on a tight timeline and planned to leave Alaska within two weeks. There was little time to make a vast, comprehensive analysis. We needed to find an available charter (some folks book a year in advance) and book it now. We know nothing about deep-sea fishing, so we relied heavily on online reviews to guide us in the right direction.

Cost is a big aspect of planning your fishing expedition, so let’s talk about it.

How Much Is a Fishing Charter in Seward, Alaska?

The cost of a fishing charter in Seward, Alaska, can vary depending on factors like the type of trip, duration, and the target species. Here’s a general breakdown:

Full-Day Fishing Charters:

• Price Range: $250 to $400 per person
• Target Species: Halibut, Rockfish, Salmon, and sometimes Lingcod (in season)
• Duration: Typically 8-10 hours

Half-Day Fishing Charters:

• Price Range: $150 to $250 per person
• Target Species: Often focuses on Salmon or Rockfish
• Duration: Around 4-6 hours

Combo Trips (Multi-Species):

• Price Range: $350 to $500 per person
• Target Species: A combination of Halibut, Salmon, and Rockfish
• Duration: Usually a full day (8-10 hours)

Our trip with Puffin Charters cost $450 each. We gave a $40 tip to the deckhand and a $40 tip to the captain. The fishing license costs $15 (each) for a one-day license. We spent three nights in an RV park, $60 per night and a $5 convenience feel. The total cost was $1,1995. The charter we used offered discounts for the end of the season, so we’d suggest checking on any discounts that apply to you when booking your adventure.

New Restrictions

Regulations prohibit charter halibut fishing on Wednesdays in the Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay, Resurrection Bay, and Prince William Sound, as well as the ports of Homer, Seward, Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, and Yakatat. (Some areas are also blocking out Tuesdays.) The overall goal is to help maintain a healthy halibut population for years to come. A practical aspect is that you’ll need to plan to align your schedule with the availability of the charters.

Keep reading: Best Alaska Books and Movies: Unlocking the Essence of Alaska

Booking Your Charter-Seward Fishing Charters

Selecting the right charter boat is crucial for a successful deep-sea fishing trip. Look for reputable companies with experienced guides who can guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience. Reading reviews and checking ratings can help you make an informed choice.

We narrowed our search down to three companies. 

1. Puffin Charters
2. Aurora Charters 
3. J-Dock Fishing Company

One area that we focused on was a “female-friendly” excursion. Some of the online reviews mention the nasty bathrooms. We wanted an experience that would be good for catching fish and using the toilet. Call us silly. When we mentioned this on the boat, another couple said they looked for the same thing when selecting a charter.

Puffin Charters was the best fit for our schedule. We have no regrets about our choice. 

Purchasing Seward Fishing Licenses

Before you set out, you’ll need to buy a fishing license. In Alaska, you can buy a fishing license online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game or at local retailers. Ensure you have the correct license type for the species you plan to catch. For deep-sea fishing, you’ll need a sport fishing license.

We purchased our license online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The deckhand checked each person’s license as they boarded the fishing boat, and the information from the license was recorded in a charter logbook.

What to Pack for Deep Sea Fishing

Make sure to pack the following for your trip:

• Warm clothing (layers are best). We brought clothes for rain, sun, and wind. We didn’t use the rain gear but were prepared just in case. 
• Sunscreen and sunglasses. We skipped the sunscreen and had minor sunburns the next day. 
• Sea sickness medication. Noelle wore a sea-sickness wristband and took over-the-counter medication, but she was still sick as a dog. More on that in a bit. 
• Snacks and beverages. We loaded up with sandwiches, snacks, and flavored waters. We may have eaten 1/4th of what we packed. 
• A camera for capturing your adventure. We packed our GoPro and attached its flotation device in case we dropped it into the water. 

Preparing for Seasickness

One of us is barfy (boats, twisty roads, low-altitude airplane rides), and another isn’t. We understand each side of the equation. 

Seasickness can dampen your fishing experience. To prevent it:

• Noelle wore a Sea-band Anti-Nausea Acupressure wristband. 
• Take sea sickness medication an hour before departure. As recommended by the pharmacist, we both consumed Meclizine about an hour before we left the dock.
• Noelle got seasick pretty quickly after we left shore. We also carried 4mg of (dissolvable under the tongue) Ondansetron (Zofran) left over from our PCT trek. 
• The 4mg Zofran didn’t work for Noelle, but another passenger had 8mg Zofran pills. Aside from knocking Noelle out for an hour or two, the 8mg pill did the trick. The other passenger recommended taking a pill the night before deep sea fishing and another pill the morning of the excursion. 
• While it may seem that we just urged you to take medication from strangers on a boat, we didn’t. We recommend you talk with your doctor to determine what’s best for you.
• Focus on the horizon to stabilize your inner ear. Steve found this somewhat successful when we’re in heavy swells. It’s not perfect, but it helps.
• Stay hydrated and avoid heavy meals. Nibbling is good, but horking down a huge meal isn’t. Most folks on the charter drank water or Gatorade-type products, and a few drank beer. Hard alcohol was prohibited. 

What to Expect on the Day of the Trip

Arrive at the dock early to check in and get acquainted with your boat staff and fellow passengers. Most charters provide all necessary fishing gear but confirm this with the provider beforehand. Puffin Charter told us where to meet and the exact time. All fishing gear was provided. 

Arrival 

We checked in at the meeting location and met the captain around 5:30 AM. Once everyone had arrived and each person verbally verified that they had a fishing license, we headed for the boat.

Boarding

As we boarded the boat, each person provided a copy of their fishing license to the deckhand. The deckhand copied the information down into a logbook. The logbook contained information about each guest, including our names, fishing license numbers, and (later) how many and what type of fish we caught during the day.

Heading to the Fishing Grounds

Once aboard, your crew will brief you on safety protocols and fishing techniques. As you head out, enjoy the stunning Alaskan scenery and prepare for the thrill of the catch. We had about a two-and-a-half-hour ride to the fishing grounds. We’re not gonna lie—it was very cramped and extremely bumpy.

Steve amused himself by watching the scenery outside the boat. Noelle amused herself by getting seasick in the bathroom. There’s no better way to get everyone to move quickly out of your way than to have your mouth fill up with barf.

Fishing

The deckhand prepared the bait as the boat drove to the fishing grounds. Once we arrived at the targeted fishing grounds, baited poles were handed out quite quickly. Everyone was fishing within a half hour. 

The rear of the boat was primarily used for halibut, while the sides and front were used for Salmon, Rockfish, and Cod fishing.

Fishing Techniques for Halibut, Salmon, and Rockfish

Halibut Fishing

• Ocean Depth: Typically 100-300 feet. Most of our fishing occurred between 300-350 feet. 
• Fishing Rod: Heavy-duty rod.
• Line Weight: 50-80 lb test. Everyone wants the giant halibut, but the largest fish captured on our boat was approximately 65 lbs. Most of the “overs” were around 25-30 lbs. I’d guess the majority of the “unders” were between 10-15lbs. 
• Bait: Herring, squid, or live bait.
• Techniques: Use bottom fishing techniques. Drop the bait to the ocean floor and wait for a bite. The captain advised us that we wanted the halibut to swallow the bait and then poop it out before we started trying to reel it in. We get it. Don’t be over-anxious and start cranking on the rod too soon. We didn’t find the halibut to be that big of a fighting fish. They were deep in the water and quite heavy, so it took a lot of reeling. The captain advised us to just keep reeling. It didn’t need to be at a fast speed, just a continuous speed.
• Dispatch: Once the halibut reached the ocean’s surface, the deckhand hooked the fish with a gaff, pulled it onboard, and dispatched it with a club. Larger halibut were dispatched with a gunshot to the head while at the ocean surface, and then they were double gaffed and pulled onto the boat by the captain and the deckhand. 
• Over and Under: We were allowed one “over” and one “under” halibut. The over halibut is longer than 28”, and the under is less than 28”. 
• Limit: One over and one under. 

Salmon Fishing

• Ocean Depth: Approximately 30-150 feet.
• Fishing Rod: Medium to heavy rod.
• Line Weight: 20-40 lb test.
• Bait: Lures, herring, or salmon eggs.
• Techniques: Trolling with lures or bait. Adjust depths based on the salmon’s feeding patterns. The salmon were not running through Seward yet during our late August tour. While we trolled for salmon, it was short-lived. Once you’ve caught your “over and under,” you can fish for Salmon, Rockfish, or Cod.

Rockfish Fishing

• Ocean Depth: Usually 50-150 feet.
• Fishing Rod: Medium to heavy rod.
• Line Weight: 30-50 lb test.
• Bait: Jigs, small fish, or squid.
• Techniques: Use vertical jigging techniques to attract Rockfish. We spent a few hours moving from site to site in search of Rockfish. The captain would tell us what depth to set on our rods. Some rods had accurate line counters; others didn’t. It was pretty straightforward when the counter worked accurately. When the counter didn’t work, it was a guessing game for the depth. 
• Limit: The daily limit is three (3) Rockfish per person. We each caught a single Rockfish. Other folks on the charter caught three Rockfish each, so perhaps they had a better technique than we did.

Cod Fishing

• Ocean Depth: Usually 50-150 feet.
• Fishing Rod: Medium to heavy rod.
• Line Weight: 30-50 lb test.
• Bait: Jigs, small fish, or squid.
• Techniques: There didn’t seem to be any technique. Drop the line to the required depth and wait. When the rod bends over a few times, gently set the hook and reel in the fish. 
• Limit: The daily limit is one (1) per person. We caught one Cod. 

Cleaning/Preparing Your Catch

Our charters deckhand cleaned the fish while we were still on the ocean. Other charters will return you to the dock and clean it for you. Yet other charters will return you to shore, where you’ll work with a separate company to have your fish cleaned. The charter company generally absorbs the cost, but you’ll want to verify this beforehand. 

Cleaning Your Catch On the Boat

Our boat’s deckhand cleaned the catch while still on the ocean. Watching him deftly maneuver the fish knife and sway with the boat’s motion was impressive. Keep this service in mind when it comes time to leave a tip.

Our deckhand didn’t skin the fish, and there were a few bones here and there that we (later) needed to pick out. We were handed trash bags with our catch on the dock. Other charters may clean the fish for you and pack it into freezer bags. In hindsight, it would have been easier if we had been given fish ready for freezing. We spent several hours portioning, scaling, and freezer-packing our fish the next day.

Cleaning Your Catch on the Dock via Deckhand and Captain

The Captain and deckhand will clean the fish for you on the dock. They should be able to assist with transporting the catch to a processing facility. The cost is generally included in the cost of the charter.

Cleaning Your Catch on the Dock via a Separate Filleting Company

Some boats bring your catch to the dock, but you’ll work with a different company to have your fish cleaned and prepped for takeaway. The cost is usually based on the type of fish, not on a per-pound basis. A highly skilled fillet person (is there a name for this person?) will clean your fish and cut it up per your instructions. 

Fish Filleting Company

We watched Buttwhackers clean fish in Homer, Alaska. It was crazy how fast they moved! The filleting company works with charters or individual sport fishers to clean the fish. They are absolute professionals who clean fish all the time. Worth every penny. 

Shipping Your Catch

If you choose to ship your catch home, you must work with a packing and shipping company. Luckily, they’re close to the docks. The ship captain, deckhand, or fillet person can give you the lowdown. 

In our experience, with the fish being cleaned on the boat, the deckhand pointed toward the shipping facility. It was our responsibility to take our haul to the shipper. We were handed trash bags with our catch on the dock. 

We saw other charters who worked with fish cleaners on the docks. The fillet folks would clean your fish and then transport it to the shipping company. You needed to talk with the shipping company, but the fish was transferred from the fishing dock to the fish processing center. 

There are different costs to be aware of:

1. Shipping container box: The fish needs to be stored in something! 
2. Vacuum Sealing: Portioning the fish into appropriately sized pouches and vacuum sealing them. 
3. Flash Freezing: The vacuum pouches are frozen.
4. Shipping: Sending Nemo home requires another cash outlay.

Check Luggage versus Overnight

There’s no cheap option to get your fish home. You’re gonna pay something, somewhere. There are different costs to consider.

Overnight

The packing company can prepare your fish by vacuum sealing the different portions of fish, loading the packaged fish into a shipping container, and adding gel ice packs to keep the fish cold. You’ll pay a hefty price for overnight shipping.

Checked Luggage

Inform your fish processing company how you plan to take the fish home. There are different shipping containers for checked luggage versus overnight mail. 

Checked luggage on your airline may be free, so it’s good to have a plan before you start fishing. Delta gives each of us two free checked bags at 50 lbs. That’s 200 lbs of fish. You can ship your gear home via carrier pigeon at the slowest and cheapest option. It will be far less expensive than overnight shipping fish home. 

Drive It Out

We’re bumping around Alaska this summer in our truck camper. We’ll head south and drive to the lower 48 via Canada. We have about 25 lbs of fish in our freezer. We left Halibut with our daughter in Anchorage and ate a gigantic fillet with our friends. Driving it out won’t necessarily work if you have a monster fish haul, but it’s working for us. 

Final Thoughts

We had a blast deep-sea fishing with Puffin Charters in Seward, Alaska! Seasickness aside, it was a heck of a time. We have enough halibut to last for months! Each time we share the halibut with friends and family, they’re forced to listen to us share about our adventure.