Alaska friends, advise me, please.

Next year my wife and I plus another couple will be travelling to Alaska for two weeks around the end of July and early August. This is primarily a sightseeing and hiking trip but, of course, we want to fish some also. We will be staying in Anchorage, Soldotna, and Homer. I have been charged with finding a guide for some salmon fishing. Does anyone have any recommendations for those areas? You can PM if you want. Also, do you suppose you need to book way far in advance? Thanks for any comments.

Chris

What do you want to fish for? catch and release or take a box of fillets back with you?  You will be coming at the peak of the season so you will have to book early....like yesterday.... 

The rivers outside of trout are too unpredictable with the runs.  I'd consider a ocean charter out of Seward or Homer.  That time frame, salmon, halibut, and ling cod would be available. 

can get you names depending on your interest. 

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We probably don't want to be hauling a bunch of fish back to Oregon but maybe enough to eat during our trip. So, catch and release mainly. I'd be up for anything, personally. My wife is enamored with salmon now that she has caught a few and I've been showing her pictures of how big they can get on the Kenai River.

My wife is saying to get something near Homer since we have those lodgings already booked. So, maybe recommend an ocean charter or two from Homer?

Thanks.

Driftwood charters, but there are tons of different ones, with different price ranges. Multi day trips, usually for multiple species. one day trips for just halibut, maybe some salmon on a one day trip, possibly some rock fish. Maybe ling cod. One day, you can catch enough fish to last a year for 5 people depending on the fish you catch, some days you can be lucky to get your two chicken halibut that is fishing for you. Google and do your research. Check out the Alaska super site, forums. There are so many different kinds of fishing you can do. A guided trip is worth the price they ask for. But you could just go to the store and buy the fish at a cheaper price. Sounds like you are looking for the journey, experience of actually catching a fish. Good luck!

Elbycharters.com Capt Dan and his dad Bob are awesome, they won't take you out for chickens and during that time of year chances are pretty good that they will get you a big king too. I've know Dan for 11 years now and hands down he's the best guide I know. Tell him kayak Chris refered you.

+1 for driftwood charters  also highly recommend Brooks alaska adventures.  he is a king catching machine and his specialty is huge shallow water halibut 

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+1 for driftwood charters  also highly recommend Brooks alaska adventures.  he is a king catching machine and his specialty is huge shallow water halibut 

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Josh Brooks is the best fisherman I know. I even used to tell people that when I was chartering in Homer. I'd like to go on a catch and release trip with him.

One more suggestion...mail up your drysuit and boots and I'm willing to loan or take you out on the kayaks.   That time of year it will likely be a halibut trip or drift the Kenai River for reds, cohos and trout. 

we had a good return of kings on the Kenai this year.  first in 5 or 6 years  but keep in mind, even in the best years, it's 15 to 20 rod hours of fishing per king kept. 

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Drifting the kenai is something I was thinking about. Will be camping right at the mouth over labor day.

I don't want to hijack the thread but it's a lot of fun, but I will say at least for me, it's a lot scarier than fishing the ocean.  not too bad if you are just gravel bar hopping .

not all kayaking but I think most of the top ones are...
Kenai River Fishing: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIdopvl1g-WMepLwMQ9OsxDOc_I--J1R

hmm...getting an error message  you can go to http://www.youtube.com/guidesak and look up my playlist for Kenai river...

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Thanks, guys. We are starting to make some calls and figuring out how to process and ship the catch.
We will probably take an ocean charter from Homer and skip the Kenai. I'll get a two week license and bring a pack rod for some trouting along the way also (once I decipher the regs.).

Processing and shipping the Homer fish is easy. Two main choices. Coal Point (http://www.welovefish.com/seafood-processing.htm) is the most commonly used since it is right at the harbor. A Fisherman's Resort (http://www.afishermansresort.com/fish_processing.htm) is another good processor. Or, at least they were when I spent my summers in Homer. They also have nice rooms in their resort. Both places will process fish, freeze, and ship them to arrive when you want them. It isn't cheap, but it is easy.

Thanks. My wife just talked to Coal Point yesterday to learn the details. That's probably what we would do and we are leaning towards a halibut trip since we will be coming home to the beginning of salmon season here anyway.

"Alaska on the fly" is another excellent charter.  Orlando is an awesome guy and if he is all booked up he would know who to go to.  I would take up Rudy's offer if you are looking for trout, just kick to the mouth of Skilak lake and have a ball with some monster trout! 

OK, thanks a million guys. We have booked a halibut trip with Brooks about a year from now. I'll probably pick your brains on trout fishing next year when it's about time for the trip.

Chris