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Fishing in Alaska FAQ
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Fishing in Alaska
What is the largest halibut caught by Black Rock Charters? What are the top 5?
Our current halibut record is 90 inches long, 405 lbs. caught on board the Makai in 2007. The other halibut in our top five would be 88 inches, 375 lbs. and 8 halibut 86-87 inches, around 350 lbs. Keep in mind that we do not have exact specifications on the large halibut because we encourage catch and release on the largest halibut. One reason is because not everyone wants to take home that much halibut so we release them and search for smaller fish to take home. The other reason is the largest halibut are female and lay the eggs that keep our business thriving.
What is the largest king salmon caught by Black Rock Charters? What are the top 5?
Our current record is 50 lbs caught on board the Quicksilver in 2000 by angler John Palica. The other King Salmon in our top five are 46, 45, and a handful between 40 and 44 lbs.
What is the largest silver salmon caught by Black Rock Charters?
20 lbs
What is the largest salmon shark caught by Black Rock Charters?
8ft. estimated around 350 – 400 lbs
What is the largest ling cod caught by Black Rock Charters?
52 lbs
What is the average size halibut caught by Black Rock Charters?
50 lbs
What is the average size king salmon caught by Black Rock Charters?
20 lbs
What is the average size silver salmon caught by Black Rock Charters?
10 lbs
What is the average size salmon shark caught by Black Rock Charters?
7 ft. 300 pounds
What is the average size ling cod caught by Black Rock Charters?
20 lbs
How big are the fish and what are the limits?
The fish are all big in Alaska! Limits change every year: For king salmon, generally 1 per day per person with a 3 to 4 fish annual limit. Other fish limits are typically 6 cohos, 6 pinks, 6 chums, 6 sockeyes, and 2 halibut per day.
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Sport Fishing Boats and Captains
What are the sport fishing boats like?
The boats are 26, 28, and 30ft long. They are all aluminum construction, with twin Yamaha outboards. They are very fast and reliable and get us where we need in a hurry. They all have cabin heat, stand up heads, dinette table and seating, lots of deck space for fishing with large fish holds for all your fish! Learn more about our sport fishing boats here.
Are there bathrooms on the boats?
Yes every boat is equipped a bathroom.
How big are the boats?
Our boats average 28ft in length, plenty of room to move around, while not giving up overall speed of the boats. Learn more about our sport fishing boats here.
Is there an enclosed cabin on the boats?
All the boats have enclosed cabins with heat to get out of the weather. They also have full seating so you can relax on your way to the fishing grounds.
Do you allow alcohol consumption on your boats?
If you group has booked the entire boat (4-6 people) you can pack your cooler with your choice of alcoholic beverages. We encourage moderate consumption and reserve the right to end a trip and anytime for in appropriate behavior as a result of the consumption of alcohol.
What about motion (sea) sickness?
You generally will not get sea sick on the inside waters where we spend 90% of our time fishing. If we decide to go out to the ocean you will have time to take your medicine to help prevent that if you have a tendency to get sea sick. Otherwise its very calm fishing. The waters around Gustavus, Alaska are protected by islands which prevent swells and large waves from forming.
How to prevent motion (sea) sickness?
Take your Sea Sickness pills several hours before going out on the water.
Do the fishing guides/boat captains accept gratuity?
Yes, gratuity is very appreciated and a lot of the boat captains rely on it as a portion of their income. Our Captains will go the extra mile and work as hard as they can to make sure you have a safe and memorable experience with us. Learn more about our Alaska Fishing Boat Captains.
How much experience do the fishing boat captains have?
All the boat captains have to have extensive fishing experience before coming to work for Black Rock Charters. The owner and captain Josh Cozby personally has 19 years of experience fishing the waters in and around Gustavus, Alaska.. Learn more about our Alaska Fishing Boat Captains.
Your Alaska Fishing Trip
What happens during a typical day aboard a Black Rock Charters fishing boat?
The boats leave the dock at 7 am. If we are Halibut fishing then we will go catch our bait for the day and then head to the halibut grounds, if we are salmon fishing then we will just head straight out for them. We will fish all day or until our limits are reached or you just cant reel in another fish. We get back to the dock by 4 pm to get all the fished processed and so you can get back to clean up for your evening of relaxing and dinner.
What fishing licenses & stamps do we need?
You can purchase all of your licenses and stamps on board your boat with Black Rock Charters. We will make sure you have the right licenses. Most of our fishing packages include the cost of fishing licenses.
How are our meals handled while we are in Gustavus, Alaska?
All meals are provided by your lodge of choice, and lunches are packed in coolers for your day of fishing.
What kind of wildlife will I see while on my Alaskan fishing trip?
Humpback Whales, Orcas, Minke Whales, Bald Eagles, Sea lions, Sea Otters, Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Brown and Black Bears, Moose, Deer, Puffins, and many varieties of Sea Birds. See our Alaska Wildlife Photos here
Is catch and release acceptable while fishing with Alaskan Fish Guides?
Catch and release is always acceptable. Only take home what your going to eat and enjoy. Catching the fish and watching it swim away is a very enjoyable experience. We encourage catch and release of any halibut larger than 150 pounds; because the largest halibut are female and lay the eggs that keep our business thriving. The other reason is the halibut meat at that size is not as tasty compared to a 50 pound halibut.
What kinds of fish will I catch?
You can catch Halibut, Salmon, Rockfish, Sharks, Rays, and other variations of bottom fish like cod and snapper. See more Alaska fish photos here.
Can I fish without a guide?
Yes you can fish the local streams without a guide, or directly from the dock. Most lodges offer fishing equipment if you want to head out for a quick trip after dinner.
Fish Packaging
How is the processing of our fish handled?
Your captain will fillet your fish on the boat at the end of the day, and then it will be taken back to either your lodge or Peps Packing for vacuum packing and freezing. Peps Packing also offers fishing smoking, try the smoked halibut it is great!.
What is the cost of additional fish packaging and boxes?
Additional fish boxes are $10 each, and vacuum packing is $1.65 lb and fish smoking is $5.75 lb. Prices are subject to change based on the discretion of the individual business owner. If you plan on taking home more than 2 boxes of fish per person, inquire about the rates with your captain on the first day of the trip.
How do I get my fish back home?
You can either take your fish with you as luggage on the airlines, or you can have it shipped home with FedEx. It is cheaper and more reliable to take with you on your plane, but that does not always work with individual vacation plans.
How long will my fish last once it is vacuum packaged?
It is recommended that you eat your vacuum packed fish within one year.
Coming to Alaska – Now What?
When is the best time to come fishing in Alaska?
It really depends on what you want to fish for. Halibut fishing is great all season long. May through Sept. King salmon is good late may through June, and Silvers are good late July through August. Check out our Alaska Fishing Season Guide here.
How do I get to Gustavus, Alaska?
Alaska Airlines will fly you to Juneau out of Seattle, and during June through early September Alaska Airlines makes one flight a day into Gustavus. Otherwise you must fly a small commuter airline out of Juneau to Gustavus, Alaska.
How do I get to Gustavus, Alaska from Juneau?
Alaska Airlines has one flight per day from June through September from Juneau to Gustavus. My personal favorite is to land in Juneau then take a small commuter plane over to Gustavus. This covers getting you to Gustavus, but also acts as a sight seeing trip as these planes fly closer to the water than the jets, or they fly just over the tops of the local mountains!
What airport should we plan to fly to / from?
There Is only one airport in Gustavus, AK.
What is the airport code for Gustavus, Alaska?
GST is the airport code
What do I bring on my fishing trip to Alaska?
Bring lots of warm clothes, waterproof boots if you have them, rain gear, sunglasses, hats, gloves, sunscreen, camera, extra snacks to munch on while fishing, and lots of energy! Check out our Alaska Fishing Supply List to learn more about what to bring to Alaska.
What about weather & bugs, is there a good time of the year to avoid these?
The weather is pretty hard to predict in Alaska, but generally June and July are pretty nice and August can be great, but also starting to see the change of seasons towards the end of August. There are very few if any bugs when out fishing on the boats. In and around town, they are not bad, but a simple bug repellent does the trick.
Do I need to bring my own fishing equipment?
Black Rock Charters will provide you with everything you need on your fishing trip to catch all the fish you can stand. But if you have a favorite rod or reel you want to use, feel free to bring it up and use it on your trip.
Can I bring my own fishing equipment?
Yes
What about fishing equipment when not on charters?
Your lodge may have some rods and reels you can use to fish the rivers, otherwise you can bring your own. Most people who bring their own gear wish they had not, since the boats and lodges have everything you need.
Do I need a car?
No you don’t need a car, but there are rental cars available if you would like to have your own transportation. Otherwise your lodge will be able to transport you wherever you need to go.
Black Rock Charters – The business questions
Do you have references I can contact about their Fishing Experience with Black Rock Charters?
Yes, please Contact Black Rock Charters and we will send a list of references
When is the best time to book our trip with Black Rock Charters?
The earlier the better, if you have specific dates you want to try and lock down, you better get them early. I have people book as early as September for the next season.
By when do we need to book our trip?
You can book your trip as late as the day before if availability allows. If you want to ensure your dates the sooner you book, the better chance you will have to get the dates you want. Call anytime for availability Toll Free: 1-888-843-1834
Do I need to bring my own fishing equipment?
Black Rock Charters will provide you with everything you need on your fishing trip to catch all the fish you can stand. But if you have a favorite rod or reel you want to use, feel free to bring it up and use it on your trip.
What if I am coming by myself, do you accommodate individuals?
Yes singles are welcome also. We do not go out for just one person, we have a 2 person minimum. So you can either pay for 2 and go out, or you can let us try to pair you up with other fisherman when spots are available.
Can I go on the boat if I don't fish?
You may come along on the boat if you don’t fish, We generally charge a whale watching fee for the day.
Can my group go on the boat if we don't fish?
You can just hire the boat for a sightseeing trip or whale watching trip if that’s what your interested in doing.
How many people can fish in your boats?
6 people is the most we can legally take by Coast Guard Rules.
What if I have a group larger than 6, can we be accommodated?
Absolutely, we have 3 boats and we can take up to 18 people, if your group is larger than that, then we will get the best captains available to accommodate the rest of your group. Often the boats are fishing the same areas so you can see your friends off and on throughout the day.
Have you done corporate retreats to Alaska?
Yes, corporate retreats to Alaska are very common. You need to contact us well in advance so we can ensure lodging, meeting facilities and boats are available. Book your Corporate Retreat to Alaska.
Other things to do while in Gustavus, Alaska
What else is there to do in Gustavus, Alaska?
There is plenty of sight seeing, hiking, stream fishing, kayaking, flight tours over Glacier Bay, wildlife viewing, and tour boats that run up into Glacier Bay to see the Glaciers.
What sight seeing options are available?
There is a daily Tour Boat to go into Glacier Bay, and we can provide tours locally if you would like to just go see some sights and wildlife
Do you offer Alaska whale watching tours?
Yes, we offer whale watching tours, we often see humpback whales and orca killer whales every day!
General information about Gustavus, Alaska
How much daylight can I expect in the summer?
15 – 18 hours of light depending on what time of year your fishing. However, even “night” is more like dusk.
What will the weather be like in Alaska?
The weather is so unpredictable. We can wet rainy weather around 45 – 50 degrees, but we can also have sunny beautiful days with temps. in the mid 80s so pack for everything. See our What to bring to Alaska list here.
Are there places to buy groceries, toiletries, pack of gum, etc.?
There is a local Grocery store to buy snacks and essentials; there is also a liquor store in town as well if you want to pick up anything for your vacation.
What kind of clothes should I bring?
Bring clothes for cold rainy weather, but also pack for sunshine and warmth. We get it all.
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