Cruise and Fish the Alaskan Waters
The ocean view and scenes from the deck of a cruise ship is just fine for some. But others want to experience nature up close with the thrill of fishing the cold Alaskan waters. An industry in itself, many take advantage of extending their cruise vacations with a guided fishing tour.Alaska is one of the world's largest exporters of fish, with commercial fish sales reaching $1.7 billion in 2004. Sport-related fishing added an additional $640 million in 2003, one of the most important economic influences in Alaska. Many visitor take advantage of small boat fishing cruises or even private tours. The state boasts an assortment of abundant rivers, bays, and oceans with a wide variety of catch for the sports fisherman.
What Can I Catch?
Some fish your fellow cruise passengers may catch include:* King Salmon - The famed and delicious Alaskan King Salmon runs up to 80 pounds.
* Halibut - Pulling a "Barn Door" Halibut weighing 300 pounds or more from the Pacific is a real challenge for any sports fisherman.
* Ling Cod - Slender fish weighing in at 50 pounds, Lingcod are smart predators and tricky to catch. They have delicious flaky, white flesh, similar in taste to halibut.
* Rainbow trout, pink salmon, rockfish, sockeye, and other delicious game fish can also be found on in the offshore or fresh waters.
Guided
fishing cruise excursions help you maximize your catch by hooking you
up with experienced guides who are intimately familiar with the terrain
and know the best spots to fish. Now that you're off the cruise ship
and closer to the water, you won't just go home with nothing but the
story of "the big one that got away, or you saw from afar." If
you're not familiar with the techniques of reeling in 300-pound fish or
the wily smarts of a lingcod, your fishing guide will be a big help.Furthermore, your fishing cruise provides all the equipment you may need. Even if you owned the correct tackle for Alaskan fish, bringing it with you on vacation by plane, cruise ship or even car would be difficult. Most require only your personal fishing attire with everything else as a part of the package.
When to Travel
Although many fishing tours are available year-round, the peak season
is generally May through October, coinciding with the cruise season.
You may take the opportunity either before or after your cruise to
experience the fishing first hand.King Salmon usually run from June to July, while silver salmon are at their peak from August to October. Halibut peak from June to mid-September, while Dungeness Crab and Jumbo Shrimp are most available between May and September. Ling Cod and Rockfish are plentiful year-round.
One of the main concerns of visitors is what they will do with their catch once their vacation is over. You're not going to want to take it back on board your cruise ship, but most airlines allow travelers to bring up to 50 pounds of fish on board their flight home for no additional charge. You have your fish vacuum packed for only a few cents a bag, and an insulated box keeps the meat frozen for up to 30 hours of travel.