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Planning for 2025 Alaska salmon fishing

2.1K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  TxFig  
#1 ·
People may have heard me go on and on about my salmon fishing trips to Alaska. NOW is the time of year to begin planning the trip (have to get things like a lodge/airbnb, offshore guide, etc. reserved now). I am starting the plans for next year's trip - and would like to go with 5 other people (because that is how many fit nicely in the raft).

Cost - typically I will arrange the lodging, boat rental, offshore trip, rental car, & planned dinners out. Plus make a trip to the grocery store once we're there for the food during the stay. Those charges usually come to ~$2200/person. What this does not include is your airfare (since everyone has their own airline vouchers, etc), or other personal expenses (your fishing license, fishing gear, etc). Depending on the make up of the actual group - we could possibly cut a few things (the guided offshore trip for halibut, for example) to help cut costs a bit more.
Note that I am NOT making money on this - the actual cost will be what we actually spend. I will be paying my equal share along with everyone else.


Looking at flying up on Tue, July 22 and coming back the next Tue, July 29 (but we can/may push those dates back a day or 2 depending on bookings). That is the traditional PEAK of the sockeye salmon run (almost guaranteed to bring back 50+ pounds of filets). If the offshore trip is good, that may be closer to 100lbs of filets.

If you want to go, start thinking about it now. I'll need some deposit money shortly after Christmas to confirm who is serious about going. But for now, just reply with a "I'm in" or "I want to go" to help me get an idea of how many.
(yes, can be couples - this is not just a "men's trip")

Piece of advice - don't wait until you're an old man like me to make this trip. It's worth the vacation time away from work.
🤣
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Yes, Seward is better.
I would love to go but my wife would die if I go without her.
We plan to make a trip next year. I skipped this year due to the reported record snowfall.
I like the Kenai river and other rivers when the water is low and the rock bars are showing.
Much easier to fish. You can still fill a truck with them when the water is high but not as comfortable or safe to fish.
 
#6 ·
Seward Alaska was mentioned above. This is the best Halibut fishing in my opinion and largest Halibut.
The boat trip and the sights are amazing while out there.
But, look up the Kenai Fjords boat trip to see the glaciers. Great price and incredible views. That way you
get your alaska cruise for 1 day and don't get stuck on a boat for 10 days.
 
#10 ·
I am very interested. I assume the halibut fishing is for large halibut with heavy tackle. Is the salmon fishing regular tackle or fly fishing? Is it possible to stay a day or two longer? Thanks for offering to undertake scheduling and ram rodding this adventure!
The halibut trip will be booking a boat out of Seward - probably on the weekend (so we can avoid the biggest part of the crowds on the river). They will have the gear we need. They will also clean and package the fish we catch on that day.

For the salmon fishing you will want a rod that can be broken down and packed in your suitcase. MOST people use a 8 or 9 weight fly rod, but that is absolutely not necessary. Any spinning reel / rod combo that you can use for speckled trout or redfish in the bay is perfectly usable for landing sockeye salmon. I have my spinning reel loaded with 30# braid and 30# mono or flouro for the leader.


How do you prep the fish for transport back? Bring it back yourself or freeze and ship?
There are fish cleaning stations in the river where we can filet the meat off the bones. We bring the filets back to the AirBnB where we cut them down into serving size portions & vacuum seal it (I have a portable vacuum sealer as well as the lodge I'm looking at has one). The lodge I'm looking at also has deep freezers to store the fish until we're ready to go home.

The local grocery store (Fred Meyers, ala Kroger) in Soldotna has airline approved ice chests that are the perfect size for holding right at 50lbs of filets (usually the weight limit for a checked bag). On our departure day we will line up everyone's ice chest and divide all of the fish equally, then tape the ice chests closed and head to the airport. I've done it this way several years now and the fish is still frozen solid when we arrive back at our final destination (for me, College Station).
 
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#11 ·
Those who have said you are interested, please email me your cell phone & GMAIL address. I have a shared google folder that has all sorts of information on the trip - itinerary, packing list, list of others who are going, etc.