Alaska - just the name conjures up grand images in any outdoorsman's mind. From the barren far north to the rainforests of the south, Alaska offers a huge variety of outdoor recreation. There is an endless array of outdoor things to do, but let's focus on the greatest of them all- kayak fishing. Alaska is where kayak fishing began. Natives took to the sea in their kayaks made of skins, hunting and fishing for survival. Western explorers kept notes on these strange single person boats, soon realizing their versatility at sea. In skilled hands, these kayaks could handle almost any conditions. A good thing when you're throwing a hand spear into a whale. Times have obviously changed, but I'd like to think that some of that original spirit is alive and well today. You can feel it when you glide across the water in your kayak, anxious for the day ahead.
On the island protected waterway of southeast Alaska's Inside Passage lies the small town of Ketchikan, which is known as the salmon capital of the world. There are hundreds of islands throughout this area which attract five species of salmon, as well as large halibut and an endless attack of rockfish. Humpbacks, Orcas, sea lions, and thousands of bald eagles cruise through the area. It adds another element to your day when you have to watch out for bears during your lunch stop. This is rainforest area with about 13 feet of rain per year. Wet, very slippery, and extremely thick forests come right to the waters edge. Tidal fluctuations can be as great as 25 feet. The kayak is the perfect vessel for this terrain.
Most fishing is done close to shore and with so many islands there is endless shoreline to follow. There is no surf, no swell, and a lifetime worth of fishing spots. Throw in daylight from 3AM to 11PM and you have a kayak fishing paradise. There is excellent kayak fishing for halibut, salmon, rockfish, and ling cod. Mild temps allow for year round fishing, as well as crabbing and shrimping from kayaks.
King and Coho are the primary salmon targeted, with Pinks and Chums also readily available. Sockeye are in the area but are not often caught on line as they are mostly filter feeders on smaller marine life. Mooching with a cut plug herring or trolling a flasher followed by a herring are the main ways salmon are targeted from a kayak. A good tactic is to troll a flasher to a favorite spot, then mooch the area thoroughly. A full size flasher feels somewhat like a small anchor behind a kayak, so they're usually not trolled for extended periods. However, their effectiveness can't be denied.
For mooching, a 2 oz red or yellow banana weight is tied in line about 30 inches above the hooks. There are two hooks, which are 2/0 or 3/0 red hooks snelled about 2 inches apart. The hooks need to be needle sharp, and the pole needs to be very sensitive at the tip with a fairly strong backbone to set the hooks. Salmon often hit lightly, and you need to feel every tiny bump through your pole. This type of fishing from a kayak is very technique intensive and therefore very rewarding when it pays off. Fighting a large Coho on light tackle from a kayak is quite exciting, as they often make repeated leaps out of the water.
For halibut relatively light gear is used, and either large herring, salmon heads, or large plastic glow in the dark grubs seem to draw them in like magnets. Using large baits will keep the rockfish off so you can concentrate on halibut. These are fished at depths from 30 to 300 feet in the summer. Hooking up on a large Alaskan halibut from a kayak is an adrenaline pumping experience that words cannot describe. These fish are so strong its hard to believe, and the real adventure begins when you get one up to the side of your kayak. Large halibut need to be completely unconscious (dead) before bringing one on board. They are known for going ballistic out of nowhere after being brought on deck.
Though halibut are huge, strong fish they do not need to be overpowered with heavy tackle. It is a common misconception that large reels, stiff poles, thick line, heavy weights, and huge hooks are needed for these fish. This is not the case. Use light gear and enjoy the ride. Halibut can be persuaded to do what you want if you know the technique. A hundred pound halibut can be landed on 10 or 15 pound line, but it has to be finessed, and not cranked straight up like the heavy gear folks like to do.
Set your drag light, and let the fish run and run, then gain a small amount of line back. Then it will run some more. Then you gain some more line. This will go on and on for awhile. Slowly you persuade the body of the fish to be vertical in the water, facing up toward the kayak. In this position it has no leverage to use its muscle against you. But beware, when you finally get the fish to the surface and it makes eye contact with you, it will go absolutely crazy to get away. Most fish that are lost are lost at this point. Always keep your drag set light so it can run instead of snapping line. It may need to be brought to the surface several times before it is tired enough to attempt the dispatch, which is done via a bat, cutting the gills and bleeding it, or by a .22 caliber hand gun. Cutting the gills and letting it bleed out in the water is the preferred kayak method, but never forget the power of the fish you are dealing with. Halibut fishing from a kayak is a game of finesse and patience, not a game of power and muscle.
The circle of life in southeast Alaska is so in your face it cannot be ignored. Nothing goes to waste here. It is very common to have bald eagles come down and pick up rockfish that were just put back in the water, only feet from the kayak. All fish remains are picked up by eagles right in the back yard. This is a place where a person can take to the water and feel like a person is supposed to feel – like a part of this planet and its never ending chain of life and death.
We have no freeways, overpasses, traffic jams, smog, crowded parking, or crowded fishing areas. There is hundreds and hundreds of miles of wilderness that would take generations to explore. This is a place where you will feel small and insignificant in comparison to what is around you. It's a place that never stops amazing me, no matter how much I'm out there. It's a place that clears the mind and puts priorities in line. If you're after an awesome experience, this is the place. Ketchikan is only a 1.5 hour flight from Seattle.
Renew your spirit. Come kayak fishing- Alaska style!
www.yakfishalaska.com
Ketchikan Kayak Fishing