What should I bring?

Be sure to bring your camera, video or phone to capture the fun and beauty of Sitka, Alaska. There is so much to be seen and experienced in Sitka. Common wildlife sightings include whales, eagles, sea otters, puffins, sea Lions, several varieties of sea birds and much more. Sometimes we even see brown bear and deer along the island shores. If you plan to bring home fish boxes (check out our recipes page), we recommend you limit your luggage to one carry-on per person. This allows you to check your fish box on the plane, at no additional charge. We recommend that you bring layered clothing so that you can adjust to the weather and you do not want to forget you camera because

Do we need a float plane or shuttle boat to get to your location?

No float planes are necessary to get into Sitka. When you book your trip with Alaskan Endeavor Charters, no-float plane is required. Alaska Airlines and Delta airlines (summer only) offers daily direct flight to Sitka from Seattle. Remote fishing lodges can be a disadvantage— especially compared to the ease of getting out on the ocean fishing here in Sitka. Nearly every hotel in Sitka is just a few minutes from the docks— we can be out and fishing in no time at all!

How much time fishing do we get each day??

At Alaskan Endeavor Charters, we carefully manage our time to ensure that you are getting a full day’s worth (8-10 hours) of fishing as well as the right kind of fishing—- e.g., targeting the species of fish you would like to catch. Additionally, all of the fish that you catch will be properly processed, portioned, flash frozen, boxed in airline-approved wet-lock boxes and will be ready for your scheduled departure so you can take all of your fish home as checked baggage and avoid costly shipping costs.

What type of fishing equipment do we need to bring?

The F/V Alaskan Endeavor is a 32-foot walkaround Almar Sounder with plenty of room to spread out for our favorite technique of mooching for salmon, but also an ample aft for trolling or soaking bait on anchor. Our guests appreciate the heated, enclosed cabin plus plenty of room to fish. The vessel is powered by twin Yamaha 250-hp four strokes and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and safety gear. Alaska Endeavor Charters’ fishing will always maintain the highest standards for success on the water. This includes outfitting the boat with quality gear that is technique specific for the fishery.

Mooching is our favorite method to fish salmon in the saltwater on these Sitka fishing charters. We use G•Loomis 1084 EX-6 Salmon/Steelhead Mooching rods with Shimano Tekotas for that setup. For halibut we have custom rods paired with Accurate Reels plus electric Tanacom 1000’s by Daiwa for assistance on those big flatfish.

Do we need to bring rain gear?

When you book your fishing trip with us, we supply everything. All you do is catch lots of fish, have a great time and leave everything else up to us!

How many people do you fish on each boat?

Most all charters and lodges will take out six anglers plus a captain and deck hand for a total of eight people. The F/V Alaskan Endeavor is a 32-foot walkaround Almar Sounder with plenty of room to spread out. We also offer a heated, enclosed cabin plus plenty of room to fish with comfortable seating inside and out for everyone.

How do you fish?

When you book with Alaskan Endeavor Charters, we will ensure that everyone fishes and everyone catches fish. Our preferred fishing method is called “mooching.” Mooching is an extremely effective (and fun) way to catch lots of fish because it provides everyone with lots of excitement and action. We offer light tackle fishing, mooching, trolling and jigging for salmon, halibut, ling cod and rockfish.

Do you offer discounts or web specials?

You will find that many charters and lodges that offer specials are for selected dates that are not prime fishing dates. Often these discounts are for fishing early or at the end of the season. We recommend that you build your trip around the experience you would like to have and/or the seafood you would like to savor. Here is more information on the best time of the year to fish for specific species. More information is also below. Finally, feel free to reach out to Captain Olan directly to talk about your options (free of charge, of course). Call or text Olan anytime at 907-738-2838 or reach out to us via webform here.

When is the best time to make your reservations for a prime fishing date?

Our “Prime” fishing season is from May 15th to September 15th. Prime fishing depends on what species you are targeting. For example:
King salmon are typically harvested July - September and Winter Kings are typically harvested October - March.
Coho salmon are typically harvested July - September.z
Alaska’s halibut fishing season typically opens in mid- March and runs through November or December.

Please contact us anytime with questions about choosing the prime fishing date for the species that you are hoping to catch. Contact Captain Olan directly via text or call at 907-738-2838, use or reach out to us via webform here., or email him at alaskanendeavorcharters@gmail.com.

Do we pay for our own fish processing?

All of your fish processing is included We take the handling and processing of your fish seriously. This process starts immediately once your fish is on board. It is properly bled, cleaned and iced. Next, the fish are taken to a professional processing facility that includes commercial grade vacuum sealers, 12’ stainless steel fillet tables and a walk-in blast freezer. Your fish is filleted and cut in portion sizes per your specification, thoroughly rinsed with fresh water and sealed in commercial grade 4 mil thick vacuum bags. Your fish is then flash frozen and packaged in insulated wet lock boxes per airline requirements. This careful handling and processing of your fish ensures you the highest in quality for your enjoyment.

 Testimonials

Captain Olan was a blast to fish with! My parents and I had never caught a king salmon before this trip to Alaska. However, not only did we all catch one- but we caught the full limit of salmon (and halibut, rockfish, ling and cod) day after day. Captain Olan was safe, fun, incredibly knowledgeable and a great teacher. We will be back next year. Five stars (and I wish there were six so I could give Olan one more for all the wildlife we learned about as we fished)!

-Sarah Earl, June 2023