Fishing Trips in Ketchikan: Our Top 15

1.Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour from Ketchikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 747 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $249Our pick

Board the 107-foot Aleutian Ballad in downtown Ketchikan for a three-hour cruise through protected Inside Passage waters. Captains David and Ron, Big D, and the crew explain commercial fishing, haul king crab pots, and let you see sea life up close. Hot drinks and rain gear are provided.

“We had an awesome experience on a rainfree day in Ketchikan. Very smoothe boat and the two gentlemen were excellent speakers with great stories. You are in for a splendid surprise on this one!”

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2.Private Fishing Charter in Ketchikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 367 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $900

Spend about five hours on a private Ketchikan boat with guides such as Joey or Alex, targeting salmon and halibut in protected waters. Gear, snacks, water, and soda are included. You meet near your cruise ship, but fishing licenses, king stamps, and gratuity cost extra.

“We felt good about our trip because Captain Mike had 5 Stars, but when we got to the dock it wasn’t Captain Mike it was someone else. Our Captain that day was very kind with great manners but he did not know where the fish was located that day. We did try three different places he thought maybe they were located. For the money we paid this wasn’t good. I’m thinking, maybe Captain Mike didn’t care enough about us catching to share this information with the captain who took us out that day. Just not sure to be honest. But for sure, their excuse of TIDE issues just wasn’t the…”

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3.Ketchikan salmon and halibut fishing charter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 363 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $700

Meet your Alaska King Charter captain at the Ketchikan cruise dock, then fish for salmon and halibut from a private boat for four to six hours. Gear, bait, drinks, and dock pickup are included. Your captain may also point out eagles, whales, and other wildlife.

“We had a great time fishing with Reggie! It was late in the season, so we were warned well in advance of our trip we might not catch much of anything. We decided to go out anyway, and we are glad we did! We hooked a few halibut, dog sharks, and rockfish in 4 hours. Reggie was a great guide for our trip and helped us learn about the area he calls home. We definitely recommend this experience!”

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4.Ketchikan Alaska Fishing and Wilderness Dining

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $435

Fish the Tongass National Forest aboard a 24-foot skiff with a licensed guide such as James, Kate, David, or Tim. Your catch becomes lunch in a remote camp: saffron fish stew, sourdough with garlic aioli, rhubarb-blueberry crisp, and hot drinks.

“Great experience! Good for kids of all ages. They take you to to areas where they know you’ll catch smaller rockfish for the meal. When we caught several of those our guide gave us the option to keep doing that or head out for bigger fish. We chose the latter and caught 4 halibut. The meal was fantastic”

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5.Ketchikan Salmon Fishing Charters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $615

Spend four hours on a private Ketchikan boat targeting King, Coho, Pink, and Chum salmon. Captains such as Schuyler, Danny, TJ, and Joshua handle the fishing, while gear, snacks, and drinks are provided. Shuttle service from select locations can simplify a cruise-day schedule.

“Best guided fishing excursion. The staff was attentive from booking through drop off back at the ship. The guide, Schuyler, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He made our fishing experience that much better. Highly recommend.”

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6.Half-Day Private Halibut Fishing in Ketchikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $900

Set out from Ketchikan’s cruise docks for about five hours of private halibut fishing with The Alaska Catch. Captains such as Jacob, Jimmy Kases, Alex, and Dylan Hodge are known for clear instruction and finding fish. You may also catch cod, salmon, or other flatfish.

“Our captain Jacob was awesome! He was very friendly and professional. There was a group of 5 of us and he helped all of us catch a halibut and then went to a different area and we caught Salmon too! It was a very fun day! We will definitely use Jacob again next time we are in Alaska!”

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7.Half-Day Private Salmon Fishing in Ketchikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $750

Fish Southeast Alaska’s calm waters on a private four-hour trip with The Alaska Catch. Your guide handles the boat and fishing plan while you target salmon, watch for wildlife, and enjoy pickup at your cruise ship ramp or Thomas Basin Harbor.

“Chris was fantastic! Brought his boat right next to our cruise ship for pick up. He knew where to go to help us catch our limits! Highly recommend him for anyone who wants to catch there limits and have a really great time doing so.”

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8.Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $700

Join Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters for a private five-hour outing with your own group. Captains such as Tony, Lukas, and Grayson help beginners fish for salmon, halibut, cod, and rockfish, while the route may include whales, sea lions, eagles, and totem poles.

“Absolutely amazing experience! I had the best time on this charter. The captain really knows his stuff—tons of fishing experience and insider knowledge. He took us to all the right spots and had all the tricks to help us reel in a great catch.”

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9.Alaskan Halibut Fishing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $476

Join Baranof Fishing Excursions in Ketchikan for about five hours of bottom fishing at depths of 200 to 400 feet or more. Captain Andrew may put you over halibut, Pacific cod, rockfish, and other species. Pickup is near your cruise ship, and gear, boots, rainwear, snacks, and water are included.

“Had to deal with a little rain, but the tour operator provides rain gear. We had four fishermen and on our 5 hour trip we caught 10 halibut, 12 pacific cod, and 2 rockfish. Captain Andrew is very personable and takes the fishing seriously. Could not ask for more on a cruise ship fishing trip.”

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10.Ketchikan Fishing Charter (salmon)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $395

Spend about four hours salmon fishing from a 28-foot boat with Captain Nolan, a roomy cabin, a comfortable fishing platform, and an enclosed marine toilet. Fish for king, coho, chum, pink, and occasional sockeye salmon, with rain gear supplied and private transport from the cruise docks.

“Nolan was awesome and super funny! He was very knowledgeable about salmon fishing and the area in general. He made our experience one of a kind! We caught around 20 salmon and had a great time reeling them in.”

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11.Ketchikan Authentic Alaska Fishing Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $453

Spend five hours fishing from Ketchikan for salmon, rockfish, cod, or lingcod, depending on the day. Your guide chooses the best action, with Brant and Andrew named in guest feedback. Pickup is available near your cruise ship, and gear, rainwear, boots, and a snack are included.

“We were picked up right off the ship on time, short drive to get on the boat! We caught fish just shortly after dropping our lines in the water! Brant was an excellent guide! Very nice and knowledgeable. Wish we could have fished a while longer!”

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12.Ketchikan Halibut Hunt Fishing Adventure & Wildlife – Top Rated

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $700

Join Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters for a private four-hour trip from Berth 3. Captain Grayson can guide your group toward halibut, cod, rockfish, and sharks while you watch for whales, eagles, and seals. Tackle, bait, water, and snacks are included, but you’ll need a fishing license.

“Captain Grayson was great! We only had 4 of us on the boat. Captain guided us on how to catch Halibut. We caught halibut and several types of Rockfish. Only kept the ones we were allowed to take home. There are some beautiful fish in Alaska”

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13.Ketchikan Halibut Fishing Charters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $715

Spend about four hours on a private Ketchikan fishing boat with your own captain and group. Gear, water, snacks, and soda are included. Fish for halibut, salmon, and rockfish while enjoying Southeast Alaska scenery. A shuttle may be available from select locations, but licenses and fish processing cost extra.

“Fantastic time! It was just my husband and I and our charter captain! The captain was great! Caught 2 halibut off the rip and then even some rock fish and salmon but it isn’t in season yet so we couldn’t keep those!”

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14.Ketchikan salmon fishing adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $750

Meet Captain Kevin or another Alaska King Charter guide near Ketchikan’s cruise docks for a private six-hour fishing trip. Rods, reels, tackle, bait, soft drinks, and dock pickup are included. Licenses, tags, taxes, and $200 fish processing cost extra.

“We had Kevin as our captain, who was amazing and fully of local knowledge. When we started out a little slow due to the tidal waters going out, you could see his frustration to the slow start. We soon hauled in 10 Silver Salmon and 2 Rock Fish. We caught 2x that amount, but those Silver's are slippery! We also had a Bald Eagle flying no more than 10 feet off the deck of the boat. Incredible day on the water! Highly Recommend this outfit and ask for Kevin!! Stay away from the Cruise Line tours - book on your own for a personalized and more exciting experience!”

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15.Private Ketchikan Halibut and Salmon Fishing Charter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $685

Meet your captain near the Ketchikan cruise dock, walk about five minutes to the boat, and fish Alaska waters for salmon and halibut. Captains including Mike, Kevin, Jeremiah, Justin, and William have led successful trips, with gear supplied. Licenses and a King Salmon Stamp cost extra.

“Our fishing trip was worth every penny. The booking was really simple and their communication throughout the process was outstanding. Captin Mike was amazing - very knowledgable, funny and just an overall great guy. We caught our limit in about 2 hours and had an absolute blast.”

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