Questions & Answers

What about transportation?

The great part about fishing in Petersburg, AK is that Alaska Airlines flies right into town. No extra flights or boat rides, just a commercial airline flight then a short 5 minute drive to your accommodations. Once you are here we will have a quick meeting about your week, and food waiting for your arrival. Also if you contact Viking Travel here in Petersburg they can get you a better rate on airfare. Just tell them you are fishing with Petersburg SportFishing.

Should I bring my fishing pole?

Unless you have a lucky rod that you can’t imagine fishing without, leave your rods, reels, and gear at home. We have it all here for you, and if you really want to try something out, we can help you do that. Although we just want to remind you that
there are tried and true fishing practices that work just about every time we go out. So if you veer away from these sometimes we don’t have as much success as we would like. If you are planning on going fly fishing, you will want to bring your
fly rod, flies, and waders.

Where do I get my fishing license?

When you get into town on Sunday night we will sit down with you and go through the licensing process. You will get it that night. Yup even a King Salmon tag too.

Do I need rain gear?

No way! We do have rain so you’ll need some but we have quite a few different sizes available for you to use. Remember to pack light, it will be worth it when you are flying home, and can’t imagine what you are going to do with the boxes of fish you
need to take on too.

What kinds of fish will be caught on our trips?

Most of our fishing will be focused on Halibut and Salmon. Depending what run is in season we have the opportunity to catch King, Silver, and Pink Salmon. There will also be run ins with Sand Sharks, Cod, Rays, Dolly Varden, and the unsightly Bull
Head or Sculpin.

The Fish

Halibut

Halibut are among the largest fish in the sea and the largest of all the flatfish. They can grow to more than 8 ft long and 700 lbs. Halibut weighing in at more than 100 pounds are often called “Whales”, “Soakers”, or even “Barn Doors”, while smaller
halibut, less than 20 pounds, are often called “Chickens”. The largest Alaskan halibut ever caught while sportfishing was 459 lbs. in Unalaska Bay.

Halibut is prized for its delicate sweet flavor, snow-white color and firm flaky meat. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein and minerals, low in sodium, fat and calories and contains a minimum of bones.

Chinook (King Salmon)

The King salmon or Chinook salmon is Alaska’s state fish and is the most important sport and commercial fish native to the Pacific coast of America. It is by far the largest of all Pacific salmon, with weights of a single fish commonly exceeding 45 pounds. A 126 pound King salmon taken in a fish trap off the coast of Petersburg, Alaska in 1949 is the largest on record. The largest sportfishing King or Chinook salmon was a 97-pound fish taken in the Kenai River in 1986 by Les Anderson.

In the ocean, the King salmon is a stout, deep-bodied fish with a bluish-green tint on the back which fades to a silvery color taking place on the sides and white on the belly.

Petersburg Sportfishing

Coho (Silver Salmon)

The Silver Salmon is a great sportfish because they bite and chase flies readily and are known as the most acrobatic of Pacific salmon when they are hooked. They can also be caught at a slow troll or at anchor.

They have silver sides, white belly and dark metallic blue/green colors on back. Average size of a silver is 8-15 pounds, but some have been caught around 20 pounds.

Pink Salmon (Humpy Salmon)

The male pink salmon, during spawning, boasts a distinctive hump on its back between the head and dorsal fin, hence the common name “humpy” or “humpback salmon”. Pink salmon are the most abundant of all the Pacific salmon. They are commonly sought after by sportfishermen because of their availability.

Pink salmon average 18-24 inches in length and 3-5 pounds, making them the smallest of all 5 North American species of Pacific salmon.

Petersburg Sportfishing

Chum (Dog Salmon)

The chum salmon’s spawning colors make it an interesting sight and many sportfishermen prefer them for their tendency to fight hard and because they will take a wide variety of lures and flies. On average, chum salmon reach a length of 24-31 inches and a weight of 6-12 pounds, with large fish from some stocks tipping the scales over 25 pounds.

Prawns (Shrimp)

Alaska’s Spot Shrimp are proudly hailed for their sweet delicate flavor and firm texture. Their robust size makes them the largest shrimp in Alaska. They are certainly a shrimp lover’s dream come true.

Specialized shrimp pots are placed, left to soak, and picked up later.

Petersburg Sportfishing

Dungeness Crab

Dungeness crab belong to the hardshell crab family. Its shell is light reddishbrown on back and sometimes has a purple splotch toward the front.

This crab species has a sweet, mild and slightly nutty taste with tender body meat and slightly firmer leg meat. Delicious and best of all they can be caught all year long.