Alaska trip 6/28/2021 part two. Long w/many pictures. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Mahigeer · 07-09-2021, 05:14 PM

Thank you gents for your kind comments.

The SOF is not on this board to defend themselves, so I keep it short.
But the fact is that I made my reservation based on their picking the date.
Last year we got there on July 20th, and the Coho salmon fishing was great.
Boy, am I going to let them know when I see them at the end of the month at East Cape.
I don’t care to be on the show or not, it is just better to fish with friends.

I have been looking at Seward. A boat name Puffin sounds promising. It is a small “cattle boat”. They point out that captain is not the only person with comfortable seat. I guess the 3” foam bench seats have been a problem. They have different outings at different dates. Halibut only, or halibut and salmon, etc.

So far I have not found the same all-inclusive package operations in Seward. I have to fly to Anchorage then rent a car to drive to Seward. Currently I could not find a car available. Some trucks for $2500.00 for a week was available. WOW. I found a hotel at walking distance to the boat ramp. Therefore, the car will be sitting most of the day, all week. There is a train operation, which I have to check out, but how do I transport all the luggage and hopefully box(s) of fish to the train station and the airport?

Lastly, the puffin makes large fillets of the fish on board, but there is a place almost next to hotel, that vacuum packs and freezes the fillets. I have to see if they will store my catch for a whole week.
Lastly, I have to trust the fish processing place not to cheat me of my halibut fillets.

At Anglers Inn, I have come to know them and feel comfortable about handling my fish.
However, (and there are always however), I have not heard about my big fish being shipped to me. No call from the manager either yet. Even though I called the part-owner of the operation yesterday.

If anybody here has information about the inclusive packages at Seward, please let me know. Thanks.

katchfish · 07-09-2021, 06:34 PM

Epic adventure!

Thanks for sharing👍🏻

Mahigeer · 07-10-2021, 05:47 AM

Glad you liked it.

JohnMckroidJr · 07-10-2021, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

I have been looking at Seward. A boat name Puffin sounds promising. It is a small “cattle boat”. They point out that captain is not the only person with comfortable seat. I guess the 3” foam bench seats have been a problem. They have different outings at different dates. Halibut only, or halibut and salmon, etc.

So far I have not found the same all-inclusive package operations in Seward. I have to fly to Anchorage then rent a car to drive to Seward. Currently I could not find a car available. Some trucks for $2500.00 for a week was available. WOW. I found a hotel at walking distance to the boat ramp. Therefore, the car will be sitting most of the day, all week. There is a train operation, which I have to check out, but how do I transport all the luggage and hopefully box(s) of fish to the train station and the airport?

Lastly, the puffin makes large fillets of the fish on board, but there is a place almost next to hotel, that vacuum packs and freezes the fillets. I have to see if they will store my catch for a whole week.
Lastly, I have to trust the fish processing place not to cheat me of my halibut fillets.

At Anglers Inn, I have come to know them and feel comfortable about handling my fish.
However, (and there are always however), I have not heard about my big fish being shipped to me. No call from the manager either yet. Even though I called the part-owner of the operation yesterday.

If anybody here has information about the inclusive packages at Seward, please let me know. Thanks.

Ten yrs ago while working on marine pilotage I spent a month in Anchorage. The road from Anchorage to Seward is good. Seward to Los Angeles is a 61 hour drive or skip Canada and use the Alaska Marine Highway from Bellingham, WA. Alaska is expensive, but amazingly the two Costcos in Anchorage had the same prices as the lower 48.

Mahigeer · 07-11-2021, 07:07 AM

Thanks for your input and tips.

MrPukaShell · 07-13-2021, 03:39 PM

What a trip congrats on the big halibut. Thanks for taking the time to share

Mahigeer · 07-13-2021, 06:45 PM

Thanks Robert.

I am back to Baja with the crew of Stoked On Fishing at the end of month.

Fishing the East Cape.

Report to follow.

SoCalEDC · 07-16-2021, 11:52 AM

Great report. Sorry to hear about the negative experience with the other passengers and your rod leash. That big halibut you got at the end was something to see. I look forward to the baja report in a few weeks.

P.S just out of curiosity how is the larger fish packaged for shipping? Do you have to purchase and/or ship a cooler to alaska for them to fill and ship to you? What is the approximate yield of a fish that size in %?

Mahigeer · 07-16-2021, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the encouragement to do more reports like this.

The fish handling is an important part of these trips, so this is as good as any time to go into detail on that for everyone who wants to know.

The after catch: Usually once we are at the dock, the captain makes big fillet of the fish. It gets put in a large tub and it is transported to the lodge. There the skin is removed and it is cut to smaller portion. I think they remove some bones too. Then fillets are vacuum packed and fast frozen. The fish gets divided into four and put in boxes. The last day the special boxes with some insulation are labeled with angler’s name and transported to the airport. Each not weighing more than 50 lbs.

All this is included in the package price.

Upon checking-in with the Alaska Airlines staff, they charge the appropriate fee and put a tag on the box. Angler gets a receipt for each box.
The fish travels with you to the final destination, providing you are staying overnight before the final destination.

Last year, I was not sure I could fit my luggage and a box of fish in Camry which my wife drives. Thus, I asked them to ship it. Big mistake. After sending to the wrong city, it went back to the lodge and finally arrived in LA. It was still frozen, so I was relieved.

This year, I was taking with me two boxes already before the Saturday catch and the big fish. The manger told me they could have it ready before I leave, but it could have been (3) more boxes. He said he could ship it. So far I have not received it. The excuse is the lack of phone signal at the lodge to call me. Yet he texted me to tell me the signal issue!!!!

There is a chart that estimates various weight of Pacific halibut. If the length is 72”, the live weight should be approximately 196 lbs. The dressed weight (all none edible sections removed) should be approximately 147 lbs. The big fish would be processed same as the smaller ones.
According to the manager (if I heard right) there should be another 28 lbs. in addition to the big fish.

Here is a post I made after last year’s trip:

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...aska+trip+part

I hope I answered the question.

07-16-2021, 11:52 AM	#8
SoCalEDC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 608	Great report. Sorry to hear about the negative experience with the other passengers and your rod leash. That big halibut you got at the end was something to see. I look forward to the baja report in a few weeks. P.S just out of curiosity how is the larger fish packaged for shipping? Do you have to purchase and/or ship a cooler to alaska for them to fill and ship to you? What is the approximate yield of a fish that size in %? __________________ IG: @blackflag_fishing Youtube: Blackflag Fishing 2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD 2020 Hobie Outback SOLD 2021 Stealth Fisha 500 #StealthTribe

07-09-2021, 05:14 PM	#1
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Thank you gents for your kind comments. The SOF is not on this board to defend themselves, so I keep it short. But the fact is that I made my reservation based on their picking the date. Last year we got there on July 20th, and the Coho salmon fishing was great. Boy, am I going to let them know when I see them at the end of the month at East Cape. I don’t care to be on the show or not, it is just better to fish with friends. I have been looking at Seward. A boat name Puffin sounds promising. It is a small “cattle boat”. They point out that captain is not the only person with comfortable seat. I guess the 3” foam bench seats have been a problem. They have different outings at different dates. Halibut only, or halibut and salmon, etc. So far I have not found the same all-inclusive package operations in Seward. I have to fly to Anchorage then rent a car to drive to Seward. Currently I could not find a car available. Some trucks for $2500.00 for a week was available. WOW. I found a hotel at walking distance to the boat ramp. Therefore, the car will be sitting most of the day, all week. There is a train operation, which I have to check out, but how do I transport all the luggage and hopefully box(s) of fish to the train station and the airport? Lastly, the puffin makes large fillets of the fish on board, but there is a place almost next to hotel, that vacuum packs and freezes the fillets. I have to see if they will store my catch for a whole week. Lastly, I have to trust the fish processing place not to cheat me of my halibut fillets. At Anglers Inn, I have come to know them and feel comfortable about handling my fish. However, (and there are always however), I have not heard about my big fish being shipped to me. No call from the manager either yet. Even though I called the part-owner of the operation yesterday. If anybody here has information about the inclusive packages at Seward, please let me know. Thanks.

07-09-2021, 06:34 PM	#2
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 846	Epic adventure! Thanks for sharing👍🏻

07-10-2021, 05:47 AM	#3
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Glad you liked it.

07-11-2021, 07:07 AM	#5
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Thanks for your input and tips.

07-13-2021, 03:39 PM	#6
MrPukaShell Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ventura COunty Posts: 521	What a trip congrats on the big halibut. Thanks for taking the time to share

07-13-2021, 06:45 PM	#7
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Thanks Robert. I am back to Baja with the crew of Stoked On Fishing at the end of month. Fishing the East Cape. Report to follow.

07-16-2021, 05:18 PM	#9
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Thanks for the encouragement to do more reports like this. The fish handling is an important part of these trips, so this is as good as any time to go into detail on that for everyone who wants to know. The after catch: Usually once we are at the dock, the captain makes big fillet of the fish. It gets put in a large tub and it is transported to the lodge. There the skin is removed and it is cut to smaller portion. I think they remove some bones too. Then fillets are vacuum packed and fast frozen. The fish gets divided into four and put in boxes. The last day the special boxes with some insulation are labeled with angler’s name and transported to the airport. Each not weighing more than 50 lbs. All this is included in the package price. Upon checking-in with the Alaska Airlines staff, they charge the appropriate fee and put a tag on the box. Angler gets a receipt for each box. The fish travels with you to the final destination, providing you are staying overnight before the final destination. Last year, I was not sure I could fit my luggage and a box of fish in Camry which my wife drives. Thus, I asked them to ship it. Big mistake. After sending to the wrong city, it went back to the lodge and finally arrived in LA. It was still frozen, so I was relieved. This year, I was taking with me two boxes already before the Saturday catch and the big fish. The manger told me they could have it ready before I leave, but it could have been (3) more boxes. He said he could ship it. So far I have not received it. The excuse is the lack of phone signal at the lodge to call me. Yet he texted me to tell me the signal issue!!!! There is a chart that estimates various weight of Pacific halibut. If the length is 72”, the live weight should be approximately 196 lbs. The dressed weight (all none edible sections removed) should be approximately 147 lbs. The big fish would be processed same as the smaller ones. According to the manager (if I heard right) there should be another 28 lbs. in addition to the big fish. Here is a post I made after last year’s trip: http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...aska+trip+part I hope I answered the question.