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Planning
Your Trip
Planning a Fishing Charter?
After speaking with many clients over the years, we’ve found that people
booking trips on Alaskan fishing charters typically don't have the best
idea of what to expect nor how to gear up. Inevitably, there are some
people who book a trip (perhaps at last minute) without having a good
idea of what they're getting into. Reading this information should prevent
another fisherman (or woman) from showing up unprepared for the conditions
Alaskan oceans present.
Apparel
Alaskan weather can change extremely fast and many times we go from
sunglasses and t-shirts to sweatshirts and raingear within the matter
of an hour or two. The best tactic—be prepared. We most likely won’t
have room for a full suitcase but try to arm your self for the changes.
Wearing a couple of layers topped with good raingear is a great way
to do this. Yes, many times you will be able to just get away with a
t-shirt but we want you to be comfortable under any circumstances. We
have extra raingear and sunscreen lotion aboard our boat for these occasions
or if you happen to come unprepared.
As for footwear, there’s no replacement for a pair of Extra-Tuffs (which
are knee-high rubber boots) but just about any ankle high waterproof
boot will do the trick. We will do our best to keep you warm and dry
while fishing with us.
The Seas
We spend most of our time fishing in calm water. Occasionally, it does
get rough though and this is something you’ll want to consider. Rough
water is especially true if you are fishing in the open Gulf of Alaska.
Generally with the Gulf you can expect some groundswells and this surging
action is usually what gives people that queasy feeling. If you do have
a tendency to get sick, start your treatment (Dramamine, the patch,
etc.) the night before your trip. We never recommend taking medication
at the onset of seasickness (just trust us on this one)… by then, its
too late!
Whole Boat Charters
A common situation that we face onboard is having mixed groups of people.
At times, groups hope for similar outcomes with their experience on
the charter and at other times, the parties involved have different
objectives. For instance, mom, dad, and daughter are on the boat for
their first fishing trip looking for a good time and to catch a few
fish, while Frank, Bob, and Eddie are on their twentieth trip and want
to travel halfway to Kodiak to slay the big ones. There’s certainly
many times when this group can be happy together—sometimes the best
fishing is to be found in calm areas and everything is great. Other
times, however, things are not so ideal. When you introduce a variable,
such as moderate winds into the equation, things can change. Now we’re
faced with the dilemma of either not putting Frank, Bob, and Eddie on
the best ‘head hunting’ spot and giving mom, dad, and daughter more
of a nautical experience than they had bargained for or keeping in calm,
steady water and not hooking into as many ‘barndoor’ fish. Unless you're
fairly durable and easy going, it’s in your best interest to book the
entire boat for your group. In doing this, the trip may prove to be
more enjoyable and it definitely increases the Captain’s ability to
individually customize the trip for your liking.
When comparing the difference between ‘6-pack’ charters and ‘cattle
boats’ many distinctions arise. A ‘cattle boat’ carries 12 clients aboard
on any given day out; with the increased number of people there is a
greater limit of fish to fill… therefore the fishermen have less time
to individually fish and a decreased ability to selectively pick and
choose which fish to take home. We pride ourselves in delivering a quality
‘6-pack’ show, having very satisfied clients with the greatest potential
for customizing, lifetime fishing vacations.
Fun—It’s is All in
the Attitude
Contrary to what a lot of advertising leads you to believe, fish don't
typically jump into the boat! Besides, Captain Trevor claims that fish
‘can’t jump’… they just swim up until they run out of water!! Yes, make
no mistake Alaska does have amazing fishing. There are times when two
and three big fish come up simultaneously and the limit is filled by
noon. This is not the norm however. On most trips you can expect to
exert some physical effort and work for nice fish, which does take patience.
It's not uncommon to have only a couple ‘keepers’ in the boat by noon
and then fill the limit out by early afternoon—dynamics can and do change
rapidly, both with weather and the bite.
Nothing is more aggravating than a fisherman who gives up an hour into
the day because ‘there are no fish here.’ Persistence pays off and keeping
a good attitude is vital—it’s proven that fish can feel bad vibes!
Our Captains choose to do this for a living because of the love in catching
fish and experiencing the thrill that it brings to others when we put
them on fish. Capt. Mark claims that the reason we are charter fishermen
is to support our fishing addiction. Roll with the punches and rest
assured you will walk away with a big smile at the end of your trip.
Should I Keep this
Halibut?
We want everyone to go home with quality fish that provides you with
as many pounds possible. Here are some dilemmas though, that seem to
be more frequent as time goes on. One scenario is for us to drop down
on a spot, early in the day, and have everyone hook into 15-25 pound
fish. Early on these fish don’t seem too appealing. However fishing
is fishing and we’ve seen people throw back small fish all morning and
then wish that they could buy them back in the afternoon when they’re
at a stalemate with the ocean. Another scenario is where some in a party
choose to keep smaller fish only later on to watch their friends catch
much larger fish. In order to set your self up for a win-win scenario,
we recommend boating a chunky 25+ pound'er as your first fish and then
head hunting for the ‘barn-door.’ The fish are all fair game till the
skipper tells you its time to “clean up”… feel free to participate in
the riveting action, as much as your body allows. At clean up time,
it’s time to boat your last fish, head back to the harbor, and recap
on the day’s fun.
Back in the harbor
So, you had a nice day and now you have lots of fillets to bring back
home—this is a great situation. It's a shame to see vacationers not
spend the extra money to get their fish vacuum packed; we know first
hand that fillets don’t keep as well when taken care of any other way.
This is why we recommend using one of the businesses on the Spit that
provides a one-stop shop for your convenience after fishing—vacuum packing,
freezing, and shipping. Do realize that it’s not cheap and please remember
to consider this cost into your trip if you plan to ship that fish back
to the lower 48. Some people choose to bring a couple of coolers to
escort their vacuum packed, frozen fish home, which helps to defer shipping
expenses. Whatever your choice, know that we’ll take great care of you
through this entire process. We understand how important it is for you
to get your proud, priceless Alaskan fish home in top-notch, premium
condition and we’ll assist you in every way possible!
Final Thoughts
Make no mistake; the halibut fishing in South-central Alaska is nothing
short of fabulous. Before you book a trip, we urge you to define your
goals. Keep in mind that although a charter fishing trip seems expensive
the first time, the reward of having your freezer stocked with “YOUR
HALIBUT” tends to be priceless. Not to mention ‘commercially caught’
supermarket price is anywhere from $10.00 to $21.00 per pound. Not all
charters and captains are the same and many specialize and attract different
types of people. Do yourself a favor; do the research carefully before
you book your fishing charter. We recommend you talk to your skipper
before booking a trip. If you decide you’re up for slipping away from
the main stream, experiencing amazing sites, having the opportunity
to catch remarkable creatures, spending a day with our knowledgeable,
fun-loving captain and deck hand, and maybe even winning the Homer Halibut
Derby, plan your journey to include a stay in Homer and spend a day
or more with us. We assure you won’t find captains like ours who are
hardcore fish and fun fanatics, having 3 weigh-in derby contenders and
a third place fish in the July fourth tournament during the 2005 summer,
yet sensitive to each person’s needs—enjoying taking the young to seasoned
out alike. Over the years, we’ve had a number of people tell us they’re
on a once in a lifetime fishing adventure; needless to say, we’ve proven
them wrong and we’ve seen them time and time again! We know that many
times the enhanced quality of our Ivory Queen fishing trips serves as
the grand highlight of our client’s Alaskan vacations!
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