YAKUTAT FISHING FAQ’S
2022 Fishing Regulations
Halibut – IPHC Regulatory Area 3A (Yakutat)– two-fish bag limit with one fish of any size and a second fish less than or equal to 28 inches, All Wednesdays and only two Tuesdays (26 July and 2 August) closed to retention of Pacific halibut, one trip per vessel and one trip per permit per day.
King salmon residents – limits 3 king salmon 28” or more in length with retention limit of 3
– non resident 1 per day 28” or more – king salmon season limit 4 king salmon … upon landing and retaining the fishernam must write the species, date of catch and location on their license
Ling cod – no size limit All residents 1 per day … non residents 1 per day no size limit. Non resident annual limit of 2 fish
Palegic rock fish – 5 per day no annual limit
Non Palegic Rick fishing is closed
How Can i Reserve a Trip And Hold The Dates i choose.
The booking calendar is good reference to note available dates per each boat. Please scan those dates your looking at and send booking request.
We will verify the openings and reach out to you with booking ideas and deposit request email that will confirm the dates and ideas for your days out with us.
What Personal Items Should I Bring?
We typically fish a good distance from the marina and returning to dock for something that is not deemed as an emergency is something that we typically don’t do.Here are some items you will not want to forget:
- Camera, batteries, memory card
- Sunscreen
- Motion sensitivity medication
- Any other personal medications
What Type of Clothes Should I Bring?
Summer time in Alaska can be down right chilly, especially in the morning on the water. Please bring the following items on your fishing trip:
Rain gear
Layered clothing
Hat for both rain and shine
Rubber boots and/or soft soled shoes
Do i Need A Fishing License?
Yes, you need a valid fishing license. You can purchase these online following THIS LINK. Please make sure that you have purchased this license the day before the charter. If you want some advice on king stamps call before your tirp to see how the bite is for your trips.
Can I Bring Alcohol?
We allow beer and wine on board but please do not bring hard liquor on board. Save the celebration for when we get back to dry land.
What Is Your Policy On Drugs and Marijuana?
Charter boats are regulated by Federal US law. This law does not allow us to have any illegal drugs, including Marijuana on board. Our captains have been directed to return immediatly to the dock if he suspects any illegal drugs are on board.
What Should I Do Prior To The Trip?
To insure a good trip make sure you are well rested.
Don’t drink to much before the night before, especially if you are prone to motion sickness. If you do get motion sickness please take your medication prior to boarding.
What Can I Not Bring On Board?
We want all of our fishermen to have the best time possible and be comfortable. Things that you should NOT bring are:
Illegal Drugs including Marijuana
Hard Liquor
Any type of Firearm
Electronics Including Computers & Games
Hard Soled Shoes
How Far Out Of Yakutat Do You Fish?
It depends on water and weather conditions and most importantly where the fish are! The majority of our trips are 20-40 minutes…we pride ourselves on giveing you fishing time and not a boat ride.
How Deep Of Waters Will We Be Fishing?
Yakutat Bay has a Reef that runs the width of the opening so we can choose shallow too deep depending the conditions. The majority of our favorite fishing grounds are between 80 and 180 feet using 24-32 0z. weights for easy retrieval of fish.
What Species Of Fish Will We Catch?
We often are known for LARGE halibut averages on our boats. We generally target one GOOD one and then move on to other species. (a 26 inch second halibut is not time well spent) We have a great reef that produces excellent habitat for Ling Cod and Rock fish. Salmon species are abundant in correct/timing of the season in Yakutat bay
Do You Provide All The Gear & Bait?
Yakutat Charters will provide all the fishing tackle and set ups for ANYTHING that swims and is legal to harvest:)
You will need to bring your own weather gear. Rain gear boots and gloves are recommended.
Do You Fillet And Pack Our Fish For Us?
Yakutat Charters does not pack your fish…we are to focused on maintaining the boats and gear and allow others to do the packaging and Freezing of your fish. Depending where you stay or choose we can recommend excellent shore side processing for your catch.
Can We Halibut Fish & Salmon Fish In The Same Day?
Between all the captains for Yakutat Charters i think we would all agree that KING fishing is their favorite. However WE know it is your trip and we can target what ever you like with the time allowed. 7-4pm is the usual trip and most groups target Halibut 1st and then move on to other fisheries, Like Salmon if the timing is correct. Remember Kings in May June- Silvers in August September. Lings are good to fish but not a automatic some days and Rock fish are the fastest action we see most days.
How Do We Ship Our Catch Home?
It is highly recommended to take your fish as Luggage on your flight home with you. It is cheap as extra bag and will arrive with your flight home. Some processors can make other wise arrangements to ship your fish via commercial air service when asked ahead of time to your departure.
Do You Offer Lodging?
Yakutat Charters is just that…Charter boat Company…We spend our time/effort/ monies providing the best platforms for you to go out fishing with. When you decide to come to Yakutat we have a host of recommendations that we can make based on YOUR preferences and types of amenities liked/needed or sometimes not. Happy to help arrange your ideas and point you to your best options.
What Do We Need To Bring?
Bring a Fishing liscence Rain Gear and your lunch and drinks for the day. Remember you can only buy liscenses ONLINE starting in 2020. Here is a link.
What If The Weather Is To Bad To Fish?
There are those days….When NOBODY unties from the harbor. In that event we will try to reschedule your trip while your hear or provide a refund on your trip. However we also have a great depth of knowledge to areas that are more protected and still abundant with primary species of Halibut to catch. So if its rainy and little windy we still fish for YOU as we know you’ve put a lot on the line when you booked the trip and came so far.
Why come to Yakutat?
We are located ON the migration path for Halibut. Right out our door…20 minutes from the harbor is the largest migration of Halibut occurring in the WORLD. Our management area 3A has the highest allocation of commercial and sport caught fish on the coast,,wait whole northern and southern coast California to Russia…wait..it is actually the most abundant allocation on the planet. FOR REAL. Right out our harbor. With no other fishing communities on either side of Yakutat for hundreds of miles and our small fleet of 15 charter boats for the whole community we are living the dream as charter boat operators. Not to mention the largest average catch in the state from a charter boats comes from this very same area. Yakutat used to be in competition with Gustavus comunitity that operates in what is known as Glacier Bay. From year to year one or the other would land the “largest average catch per charters in the STATE!” They have large ole breeders there with small fleet that favored there landing choices of fish. However since 2015 the regulations will not allow the harvest like Yakutat has. We remain in a 2 halibut area. One of ANY size and one small fish. Since we do so well with our 1 we often do not target the small and move to other available fisheries near by. Ling cod is open ALL season, rock fish are plentiful most days (when on the bite) and Salmon swim our reefs and coastlines on fairly predictable run timings making multi species catches a common part of most all trips. Now let just through in that we Also have the World Famous Situk (see-tuk) river and it MANY runs of fish the we are mostly know for. With easy access and self guided fishing were are a well know Steel-head destination and Epic silver runs all along this coastline that air services can access minutes from yakutat. IF your a fishermen…its more of question or WHY are we not going to Yakutat.
What is the best way to get to Yakutat
Yakutat has DAILY commercial Jets that stop twice a day. One heading up from Seattle in the morning and one Heading down from anchorage in the afternoon. Many of our morning guest arrivals are fishing by afternoon and Many of our morning trips are wrapped up and heading for the evening jet. YOU CAN NOT get easier access to a more productive remote fishing destination.
When is the best time to go ocean fishing in Yakutat?
The general best catches (Full limit on all species) happen in mid June thru mid July. However some of the bigger caught fish happen in the later part of the season. Perhaps as they migrate back out to the deep from the near coastal waters. With Stee head in the spring and Silvers Salmon in the fall in the Situk… we book and ocean fish as early as April and as late as 1st of October and do well then too:)
What is the best Tides to fish in Yakutat.
Unlike Cook inlet that has Massive tides and you generally need to fish the slack part of the tide. We actually look forward to the tides. It moves our bait sent, keeps the lines right, and holds the vessels on our keyed in spots. Generally i prefer the incoming tide because it often matches the coastal current and everything flows the same way. There are times and spots that fish better on outgoings and or incoming but we can adjust for that and use it to our advantage.
Can we go to the Hubbard with your boats.
Yakutat charters has LOTS of experiance and loves to take groups to see the Hubbard. It is alwasy a amazing trip! Often Captains will get you up to the face of the Glacier where you can experiance the Full effects of Calving ice and feel the majisty and wonder that is like no place other on earth. Very special spot. Plan for a 5 hour trip and bring warm gear and camera (s).
How often do you catch a Trophy fish like a 100# Halibut.
For most groups there will be often 1 a day or 4-5 a week for most boats in Yakutat near or over 100#. Making sure your that lucky one is up to the winds of fate, but your odds in Yakutat are better then Vegas.
What are the fishing conditions over all and do you drift fish or anchor?
As a fleet here in Yakutat we anchor fish. The tides are generally mild and the depths often between 80-180 ft depth wise. So not a lot of lead weight and not a deep retrieve like so many other port around Alaska. When conditions are favorable there is little need to move the boat to find fish..they will come to the boat in their time.
What other fish do you target?
Yakutat has a wonderful reef that runs the opening of Yakutat bay. This geography was left hear by Glaciers years ago and has created a multitude of habitats. Ling cod, Rock fish such as yellow eye are around but generally in deeper areas, Alaska black Rock fish is the most abundant and China, Copper and other non- pelagic rock fish form a large part of what available. Halibut and salmon runs that are timed throughout the summer months are the real winners. The Kings will be mostly around the MAY,JUNE early JULY while Silvers will be generally mid August till mid September in the ocean forum
Does Yakutat Charters take care of the fish and process it for us.
The Captains for Yakutat charters All have commercial experience and many with years of hands on knowledge in the Sea Food harvest sector. Best practices and care are given to Each fish and bled out to by the gills and tail on larger halibut too remove blood from both ends of the fish and held at temp with ocean water in holds to prevent fast blood coagulation and wash the fish for landing. Yakutat has a number of Processors on shore that will fillet /pack and freeze your fish in preparation for you trip home. This is not provided with our boat service as we do not have the time or space to accommodate all our guest such as the Lodges can provide. As a Charter Boat Company we focus on the fishing, boats, tackle and trips parts of YOUR visit and that time and energy shows in our trips.
Should or could i bring my own tackle and set ups?
While we provide ALL gear and baits. It is often the best part of the trip to let you set up with one of your favorites. We have heard and seen a LOT over the years and some things just are fun to do. (What we do not need is a lot of YOUR advice on how to do Our part:)) Lots of things work and some don’t…we can help you set up appropriate and make solid recommendations on tackle and choice of gear. Best stories come out of those who try!~
How many people do you put on a boat?
Generally we have 4-6 guest on our Ocean boats and will accommodate larger groups with more boats or less ppl if you want a PRIVATE tour. 4 is the minimum to leave the harbor in peak booking weeks. We can go out with 3 in the shoulder seasons with smaller boats like the 26ft Sea Otter filling the need. Call or check if you have specific group size like 1 or 2ppl or bigger group needs and we will strive to make a trip come together. With multiple vessels at hand we are rarely tied to the dock cause we could not make a trip work.
Do all your boats have a head on them?
Our larger boats do have a head on them for comfort and practicality. But not all the boats will have the space to accommodate the sit down luxury.
We want all of our fishermen to have the best time possible and be comfortable. Things that you should NOT bring are:
The Situk River:)….Clean you river wader boots FULL of gravels and mud at the dock or before getting on to the boats.
NO CLEATED OR CORKED BOOTS!!
Illegal Drugs including Marijuana
Hard Liquor
Any type of Firearms
Hard Soled Shoes
