About Sitka

Tucked at the foot of soaring, glacial-carved mountains on the west side of Baranof Island, the town is surrounded by nearly incomprehensible amounts of natural beauty. Set in the heart of the world’s largest temperate rainforest and encircled by the Pacific Ocean, islands, bays, and inlets, this is a magical place.

And, as you might have guessed, it boasts the best fishing and highest catch rate within thousands of miles.

Sitka was originally named Shee-Atika by Tlingit (pronounced ‘Klink-et’) natives, who called the area home for over 10,000 years. Russians arrived in 1799 and forcibly repelled the native population from the area by 1804, renaming the settlement New Archangel. By 1840, Bishop Innocent (Ivan Veniaminon) had St. Michael’s Cathedral built in downtown Sitka, and named the city the capital of the area during Russia’s reign. Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, just pennies per acre. Today, you’ll find plenty of reminders of the Tlingit and Russian histories throughout the community.

Why Sitka?

One of the highest catch rates in Alaska: What can we say? Here, you will catch more fish.
No downtime: Because the area boasts continuous migration from May to September, you won’t be waiting for bites.
Fish that are fun to catch: The area has plenty of ocean bright feeding salmon that bite all day long. These are better fighting fish and the best table fare.
Multiple species every single day: Catch salmon, halibut, and bottom fish in the same day.
Multiple hook ups: Schools feed closely here, so multiple hook ups are common.
Calmer waters: As we don’t have strong tidal currents, you can fish halibut anytime of the day.
Great weather: We fish inside and outside waters, so you’ll never lose a day’s fishing to weather.

Itinerary

Before packing for your adventure here in Sitka, Alaska, you’ll probably be wondering what to bring—we’ve got it covered. Because once you’re here, we have all the equipment and gear you need, in just the right size. Relax, have fun, and let us take care of the rest.

Less Is More

The less you bring, the more room you’ll have for fish on the way back. Since we have all the equipment and gear, you won’t need more than a carry on. Your gear will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Packing List

Gloves and hat
Warm, layered clothing
Lightweight jacket
Sweater or vest
Long underwear

We’ll ask for your size before you come, so your boots and rain gear will be expecting you.

Day in the Life

Each day looks the same on paper, but you’ll soon find out that no two days are identical in Sitka’s waters. That’s the adventure of it.

4:45 AM: Your wake up call starts the day off right. While you prep for 10 hours of fun, we’ll be making breakfast and getting the boats ready.

5:15 AM: Enjoy a home-cooked breakfast and as much hot coffee, tea, and juice as you can hold.

5:50 AM: Locked and loaded, we’ll head to the dock where the boats will be warmed up and ready to go.

6:00 AM: We’ll head out for a full day of fishing—and have a hardy lunch onboard, so we don’t have to stop.

3:30 PM: When we get back to the dock, we can snap pictures of the day’s catch before the crew processes the fish for seamless transport.

4:00 PM: Enjoy appetizers at the lodge, watch the sun go down over the Sitka Sound, and swap stories with new friends.

6:00 PM: Dinner is served. Our typical menu includes: fresh salmon, dungeness crab, prime rib, halibut, salads, homemade rolls, and a variety of vegetables. Finish it off with dessert and fresh coffee.

While in Sitka…

Alaska Raptor Center

Alaska’s foremost bald eagle hospital and educational center is located on a 17-acre campus bordering the Tongass National Forest and provides medical treatment to hundreds of injured birds each year.

Sheldon Jackson Museum

As the oldest museum in Alaska, it strives to collect, preserve and exhibit objects from across the territory. The museum is now on the National Register of Historical Places, and every native group in Alaska has artifacts on exhibit.

Russian Bishop’s House

One of four surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America, you can step back into history to imagine what life was like in Sitka during the Russian-American period.

Sheet’Ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Tribal Community House and Dancers

The Naa Kahídi Dancers share their oral history through songs, stories and dances that have been passed down, generation to generation, for thousands of years.

Southeast Alaska Indian Culture Center

Housed in the Sitka National Park, this visitor center lets you learn about Northwest Coast native art. Check out Sitka Tlingit community artists working and talk to them about their craft and culture.

New Archangel Dancers

The New Archangel Dancers are a group of women who perform authentic Russian and Ukrainian dances in full costume.

Isabel Miller Museum

Learn more about Sitka’s past in this museum, operated by the Sitka Historical Society—which has amassed one of the largest and most diverse collections in the area.