Main--------Anchorage--------Boarding/Cabin--------Ship/Dining/Entertainment------Hubbard Glacier
----Glacier Bay ----Skagway------Juneau------Ketchikan------Disembark/Vancouver----10 Tips
Juneau, Diamond Princess
Juneau. Day 5 – 6:30 am to 4 pm. This was a tough weather day in Juneau – especially for Dan’s fishing trip. We had high winds, rain and cold weather. Janean chose better than Dan for her port day. She had a pedicure on the ship and then stayed close to the pier for some light shopping on a very bad weather day. Dan opted for a 6-hour fishing charter with Alaska Trophy Fishing. Dan ignored the weather. He always wants to fish. His attitude is “just get me on the water and let’s fish!” That didn’t work so well in Juneau.
Click on photos to enlarge them.
Alaska Trophy Fishing specializes in fishing trips out of Juneau and offers 4, 6 and 8 hour fishing charters. They also offer a 2.5 hour whale watching excursion. They cater to cruise ship passengers and will make sure you get back to your ship on time. Dan saved about $50 by booking the 6-hour charter directly with Alaska Trophy Fishing. He booked the combo package chasing both salmon and halibut.
Dan was the solo fisher on the Sea Wolf with Captain John Seeley and his wife Laura. The weather gods conspired against us on this trip to Juneau. It was windy, cold and raining. John and Laura were happy to take this crazy little halibut chaiser out and a nasty day at sea. They did all they could, but due to the weather fishing was nearly impossible.
Captain Seeley worked every possible option, but we just couldn’t keep our lines in the water on this day of fishing. The winds and the waves were just not right for fishing.
Captain Seeley takes pride in delivering halibut to the boat. He asked Dan to return when the weather is more cooperative and offered a fuel-only cost on the return trip – he even offered a hide-a-bed to get us back for another shot at the halibut.
Dan hopes to take Captain John up on his offer. He is sure that if weather permits, there is no on better crew to help you get the fish into the boat. On a very tough day, Captain Seeley really did all he could to get us into fishable waters, but Poseidon ruled the day. Watch for a future report from the Sea Wolf with Captain John Seeley – we are confident he will deliver.
When you fish, you always want to CATCH, but it is called fishing for a reason! It is very possible to catch huge halibut and even have 2 or more fish hooked at the same time on the boat. But if it is slow, you are still likely to get a great view of humpback and orca whales or bears and other wildlife onshore. You could also get great views of the Mendenhall Glacier.
Cruise ships start sailing Alaska with great deals in May. The first spawning king salmon just happen to arrive at the same time. The spawn is followed by large chum, pink, silver and feeder king salmon. In June, Juneau's fishing offers limits of 4 king salmon per day. Bottom fishing is excellent all summer for halibut and rockfish.
Alaska Trophy Fishing offers personal service and great prices. They hope to give you a fishing experience that you can brag about to your buddies back home. Their fishing vessels are handicapped accessible and are comfortable. The fishing charter includes beverages, food (lunch on full day and snacks on 1/2 Day), rain gear and tackle. They will also help you arrange for processing and shipping of your fish. Princess and most other cruise lines do not allow you to bring your fish onboard after a fishing excursion.
We have 2 suggestions after this trip – first, check the weather reports for your travel dates. Rain and cold are OK, but high winds and high seas will make the fishing difficult. Second, ask for Captain John Seeley. If he is available, he’ll find your fish for you.
Alaska Trophy Fishing has a fish calendar on their website to help you plan your dates according to your fishing expectations.
Chinook (King) Salmon start running in May and run through June. They are mature salmon returning to spawn. They average 20-25 lbs. and arrive in large numbers. Around June 10, the daily catch limit on these fish is raised to 4 per person, with no annual limit. The feeder Chinook salmon arrive in late June and can stay through the end of August. They are not spawning – they are immature fish following baitfish and other salmon to the inside passage. They remain in the area as long as feed is available. These salmon aren't as numerous as mature spawning salmon and average less than 18 pounds. The largest king salmon can be 60 pounds – and even larger.
Chum (Dog), Coho (Silver), and Pink (Humpy) Salmon all arrive in big numbers for great fishing in June through August. Chum (June through mid-July) and Coho (July through August) can reach weights over 20 pounds. Pinks (mid-June through early-August) reach weights up to 10 pounds. Sockeyes (Red) Salmon are rare in the Juneau waters. All four of these types of salmon have a daily catch limit of 6 fish per person.
Rockfish and Halibut are plentiful throughout the season. Rockfish can weigh up to 25 pounds. Halibut vary from 20 pounds up to 200 pounds or more. The daily catch limit is 1 halibut and 5 rockfish per person.
You can book directly with Alaska Trophy Fishing at their website or email address:
Website http://www.alaskatrophyfishing.com/alaskatrophyfishing.html
Email: catchfish@alaskatrophyfishing.com
If fishing isn’t your idea of fun and if this is your first trip to Juneau, you will want to see the Mendenhall Glacier. In 2009, we took the Juneau Mendenhall Glacier tour. We booked directly with Kally Flynn at Juneau tours. Our cost was $27 each for the 2.5 hour excursion. This is the only glacier in the world that you can drive to. Kally Flynn with Juneau tours was very helpful and very informative about the tour they offer even before we left home. The exact tour time is set at check-in on the dock. All tours pick up in parking lot left of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. There is a row of booths at the Mt Roberts Tramway. This is where you will check in with the dock receipt that you print out upon purchase of your tour. The tour starts at historic downtown Juneau. You see the Governor Mansion, the Alaska state Capitol and the famous Red Dog Saloon. You will drive past the Gastineau Wildlife Refuge to Mendenhall Glacier. You have 45 minutes to explore the Mendenhall Glacier Park. There is an optional $3 entrance fee to visitor center. We finished with stop on Douglas Island for panoramic view of Juneau & the cruise ships – photo opportunities. At the end of the tour, our driver dropped us in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, centrally located between all the cruise ships. You can book this tour here: http://www.juneautours.org/index.html
And wouldn't you know it?? As the Diamond Princess sailed out of Juneau, the skies cleared and the winds died down. Oh well, we will be back for a better weather day!
Main--------Anchorage--------Boarding/Cabin--------Ship/Dining/Entertainment----Hubbard Glacier
----Glacier Bay ----Skagway------Juneau------Ketchikan------Disembark/Vancouver----10 Tips