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ContentsSitka ..................................................

Do your homework ..........................

Accomodations ................................

Fishing style & environment ............

Selecting a lodge & fishing guide ....

Other Considerations .......................

Climate .............................................

What to bring ...................................

Typical day ........................................

Sea sickness .....................................

Arrival & departure ..........................

Regulations for SE Alaska .................

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AnglingUnlimited.com

Location, Location, Location When planning your fishing trip to Alaska, the choices seem nearly as vast as the state’s landscape. Alaska has more ocean coastline than the other 49 United States combined. The total mileage of fishable rivers and streams is incalculable, the Yukon River alone flows for 2,300 miles. You can fish for pike in the Yukon River, sheefish on the Kobuk River, arctic char in the Brooks Range, or any of five species of salmon in rivers and saltwater throughout the state. You drop 2 pounds of lead down 300 feet for monstrous halibut or delicately cast a dry fly for arctic grayling. And, that’s just a small sampling.

As for travel, Sitka is little more than a 2-hour flight from Seattle. Remote destinations to the north and west could easily take a full day of travel from Seattle, cost over $1,000 round trip and include connections with float planes, four wheelers and/or boats. You can camp out with the bears in the bush or enjoy 5 star comforts including Internet, cable TV, fine dining, shopping, and cultural events. Planning a trip to Sitka presents one with a wonderful and dizzying array of options.

First Things FirstQuestion number one in planning your Alaska trip: freshwater, saltwater, or a bit of both? If you are committed to freshwater only or saltwater only, you’ve narrowed things down substantially. If you’re looking for a bit of both, the choices get a little harder for a few reasons. First, many of the very best rivers for salmon and trout are in western Alaska and not adjacent to great saltwater opportunities. The best saltwater fishing in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska isn’t next to the most productive rivers.

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Most lodges and guides specialize in either salt or freshwater. Some do both, but beware the old saying that the jack-of-all-trades is master of none. If you want to do both fresh and salt water, you might consider splitting your trip between two destinations and seek out specialists in each.

Angling Unlimited specializes in saltwater fishing. We know based on extensive research and three decades of experience that the most varied and exciting saltwater fishing in the North Pacific lives right in our backyard - the waters near Sitka. We’ve been fishing in Sitka for over 20 years and know these waters like our own backyard.

Angling Unlimited does offer rewarding fresh water junkets, but we view that as an adjunct to the great saltwater experience – the spice but not the meal. If freshwater is your passion, begin a specific search on fly-fishing, river fishing, and freshwater fishing in Alaska.

Do Your HomeworkFishing spots are not created equal and simply having Alaska on the address doesn’t guarantee great success. We did our homework before locating Angling Unlimited (AU) in Sitka. Tom Ohaus, founder of AU, fished saltwater salmon from central California to the Bering Sea as part of his duties as a freelance writer. We also tapped into the database collected by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) which provides a very good look at catch data and fishing results on a port by port basis on their website. It is well worth the effort to peruse that ADFG website.

Once on that page, you can click on ports throughout Alaska and get the most recent in season information. During the offseason, the reports aren’t current, but very useful comparative data can be accessed from that page by clicking, Harvest/Effort Statistics. Here you’ll get week by week average catch rates throughout the season for the past 5 years on a port by port basis for Chinook (king), Coho (silver), chum, and pink salmon. You’ll also get catch data for halibut.

The metric used by ADFG is “rod hours per fish.” This works well as a comparative measure, but not as an absolute measure. For instance, Sitka’s 5-year running average during June is five rod hours per king salmon, which is nearly twice as fast as any other port in Southeast Alaska. This is great comparative information, but Angling Unlimited would be out of business if we landed one king per five rod hours of fishing. We probably average closer to 1 king per rod hour or less in June.

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AccommodationsCatching fish is important to a good trip, but so are accommodations, which vary greatly from destination to destination. Coming to a good decision on what you and your party requires to be comfortable will narrow down your search, particularly when you travel with a group. We suggest you have a conversation regarding amenities and accommodations before you finalize a decision. Some people can handle, or even prefer, a rustic tent camp while others require more civilized accommodations to feel comfortable. If getting away from it all is a group goal, a remote lodge away from other people and services is the right pick. If you want to be able to visit a local bar at night, shop, tour museums, take a ride in a car, etc., you’ll want to stay in or near a town.

Angling Unlimited built our own Waterfront and Waterview Suites complete with well-stocked kitchens because our fishing starts early and most guests don’t want to wake up even earlier to wait for service at a hotel or restaurant. We provide cars for our guests who do want to go into town. For anyone who doesn’t want to pay the premium for a drink at a restaurant, bar, or hotel, you can make a visit to a local store and supply your own refrigerators. This is our business model and our guests love it.

Fishing Style and EnvironmentStyleAngling Unlimited specializes in saltwater fishing using hands on techniques. Our method for salmon is called “mooching.” Our guests want to learn how to present the bait, feel the bite, and hook their own fish. If you’d rather watch the captain set the gear in a downrigger clip, troll around, then crank in a fish after it hooks itself, that’s not us. Also, if you’d prefer wading waist deep in a river and casting a fly, that isn’t us either. We target king salmon and silver salmon in saltwater. We use high quality relatively light tackle. We also focus on halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. We also catch the occasional salmon shark, black cod, pacific cod, and blue shark.

EnvironmentIn planning your trip, think about your ideal fishing environment. On salt water the most basic choice generally is between open ocean or protected water. Our experience in Southeast Alaska is that open ocean fishing produces better catches on most days, but we also have protected waters that hold great promise if the ocean is rough or if our customers aren’t comfortable on the big water.

BoatThe boat you fish from will have a big impact on your comfort and safety. Fresh water boats and some

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saltwater boats offer little to no weather protection leaving you exposed to the elements all day. Angling Unlimited designed and built boats with heated cabins that provide a place for you to warm up and/or dry out when traveling from place to place. The size of the boat, the design, the ride, and how many anglers are onboard makes a big impact on your experience. Our 28 and 29-foot boats are very soft riding and are very seaworthy and safe. Unless a group requests fishing five or six anglers, we never fish more than four along with a deckhand and skipper.

All Angling Unlimited boats are equipped with the highest quality, state of the art electronics including radar, GPS, plotter, sounder, and VHF radio. Our investment in technology ensures your safety when underway by providing your captain with pinpoint navigational accuracy, detailed plot lines to avoid hazards to navigation, and the ability to see other vessels on the screen even in dense fog. Our electronics also deliver precise location and relocation capabilities for finding fish and returning to the hot spot. Our big screen fish finders paint a clear picture of the bottom and fish swimming under the boat. When your captain shouts, “Fish at 90 feet!” and you use the line counter on your reel to get your bait there – hold on tight – something good is about to happen.

Take Home CatchIn the planning phase, decide how important take home catch is for your trip. Most saltwater lodges and charters offer the opportunity to bring some of your catch home. Check ahead of time to find out what the regulations allow.

ProcessingAlso look into the cost and quality of fish processing.

At Angling Unlimited, there is no addition charge for processing. When you land a fish aboard one of our boats, it is immediately bled. Following bleeding, we remove the guts and gills from salmon and meticulously pack them on shaved ice. We filet halibut on the way in, rinse the filets thoroughly, and lay them out to drain. We process your fish at our facility, right on our dock. We cut the fish to your specifications and into manageable portions before freezing in order to provide excellent eating for months after you get home.

Quality take-home salmon, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod forms an important part of the value of the trip for many anglers for good reason. Most species caught in Alaska have a very high table value and provide healthy meals. That said, although Alaska is huge, it’s not limitless. Most people’s eyes are bigger than their freezers. Some restraint is advised in order to preserve these resources for future generations.

Selecting a Lodge and GuideThe sheer number of guides, outfitters, and lodges that pop up on an Internet search proves daunting. We all know that anyone can put a good website up with good photos and strong claims. You might feel like you get to know someone a bit better if you meet them at their booth at a sportsman show. Our experience at Angling Unlimited is that we’re the word of mouth business. A good word from a satisfied customer to a friend and we’ve got a booking. A bad word and we’re out of the running. If you don’t have friends to tap for information, where do you begin?

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Business ExperienceStart with experience – how many years has your prospective lodge or guide been in business? If someone has been in business for three decades, they should be able to provide plenty of references and testimonials. AU has been in the charter business for 25 years and the lodge/charter business in Sitka since 1993. We’ve grown from two boats to eight boats in that time. We’ve done it nearly 100% by word of mouth and repeat bookings. We’re happy to share references with anyone who asks.

Guide/Captain ExperienceNothing affects your days on the water more than your guide/captain. Some lodges have a lot of turnover in the guide department and others remain very steady. The average number of seasons our captains have been with AU is 14. This means you’ll be fishing with a captain who knows his way around the waters and comes up through the culture of our business and isn’t just a freelancer looking for the next place to hang his hat.

Our guides are service oriented, instructive, friendly and professional. They genuinely care about the outcome of each day for the people aboard their boat.

DeckhandsWe recommend that you consider the impacts of a deckhand when planning your trip. The deckhand takes care of a lot of little things that make the big difference to your day on the water like making sure you have a bait the moment you need a new one, netting fish, releasing fish, coaching the inexperienced anglers aboard, serving coffee, cookies, sandwiches, and making sure your fish are bled, gutted, and iced as they are landed. The deckhand also frees up the captain to concentrate on finding fish and locating the fastest action.

EquipmentThe quality of equipment provided says a lot about a lodge. Angling Unlimited uses G. Loomis rods and Shimano Tekota reels for salmon. The reels are maintained to a high standard with fresh line, well-lubricated mechanical systems, and smooth drags. If you find anything even slightly amiss with your reel, just tell us and we’ll get another one in your hands right away and fix the one you rejected. Generally speaking, our captains are a lot fussier about the gear than the customers. We also provide Islander single action mooching reels for those that like them. We use hand tied leaders with the sharpest Gamagatsu hooks. We don’t cut corners because our guests have travelled a long way to hook and, hopefully, land the fish of a lifetime. We get that.

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DemandAnother way to gauge a lodge or guide is how early they book up. The better places tend to fill up early. Generally speaking, you want to plan far in advance to book the most reputable, experienced lodges in order to get the best dates and the time slots that fit your schedule.

ReferencesIn the end, will you believe we’re really good at what we do just because we say so? Probably not, which gets us right back to word of mouth referrals and references.

Other ConsiderationsEco-ToursYou and your group will want to decide what activities are hoped for in addition to fishing. It’s our experience that most people want to see the wildlife while in Alaska. It’s also our experience that after three days of fishing, you’ll have seen an awful lot of it. Common sights on our trips include: bald eagles, sea lions, seals, sea otters, humpback whales, puffins, murres, marbled murrelets, Sitka black tail deer, and albatross to name a few. Less common, but always possible sightings include orcas, minke whales, brown bear, and Dall’s porpoise.

After FishingThe town of Sitka provides a number of non-fishing activities like museums, parks, shopping, restaurants, the Raptor Center, bars, a music festival, and hiking. You can also drive a car to the end of the road and cast flies at pink salmon from mid July through September. In Sitka, you fish in a salt water wilderness all day and come back to a quaint town each afternoon and evening.

Travel Time and CostBy minimizing travel time, you get more fishing time and take less vacation time to make your trip. Sitka has an airport served by Alaska Airlines, making it less expensive and faster to get to than many destinations. You take a short two-hour nonstop flight from Seattle. The more remote you go in Alaska, the more cost and time that goes into getting there. For the most part, you don’t gain on the saltwater fishing front by going farther afield. Regarding freshwater fishing, remote is often better.

Total PackageWhen adding up the cost of your trip, be sure to know what’s included and what isn’t. At Angling Unlimited your package includes fishing, lodging, bait, tackle, fish processing, breakfast fixings in your room, lunch aboard the boat, transportation to and from the airport, rain gear, a CD with photos from your trip, and a car for exploring Sitka. You can visit our rates & reservations page get all the details of what is and isn’t included in your trip.

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Fishing with KidsParents and grandparents who want to show the younger generation the fun of fishing in Alaska often ask us the right age for getting a kid started. Angling Unlimited has no minimum age requirement because what matters most is the individual kid. We’ve had 8 year olds hold up beautifully for three days and seen much older kids bail out after a day. Here are 10 steps to making an Alaskan trip work for that lucky kid.

Rule 1: Don’t try too hardWhen you bring a youngster, you might hope to ignite a similar fanaticism from the kid. You might even push for it and feel disappointed if you don’t get the right response. They need to move into it at their own pace.

Rule 2: It’s their experience Sharing an experience should never be confused with having the same experience. Expect a youngster to have some ups and downs, some need to sleep in the cabin, and to take some downtime, even if the fishing is white-hot. Always remember, this is their fishing experience. Focus on them and derive your pleasure from theirs.

Rule 3: Don’t Over TeachOne of the great things about fishing is that it’s so experimental. Give the kid some basics and let them conduct a little trial and error. Every once in a while check in with him or her to see if you can help with a little more instruction. Our captains and deckhands at Angling Unlimited have a lot of experience working with kids.

Rule 4: Know when to hold up, know when to fold upWhen you take your kids fishing, you’re their guide, too. Watch them closely. Study for clues like when they get bored, when they’re ready to give it up, when they need a little encouragement or a challenge. Although we don’t suggest keeping kids on the water when they are clearly finished, some kids do need to be pushed a little past their points of resistance. There’s a big difference between being done and quitting.

Rule 5: Action Trumps the TrophyMost kids have a limited attention span and positive reinforcement helps lengthen that span. It helps if you stay focused on the learning and less on the result. Also, pick fishing that offers action. When a king fanatic calls me to book a trip with kids, they’ll often want to bring them up for the best of king salmon fishing – the crème de la crème of the North Pacific. I almost always steer them toward silver salmon season – the action de la action of North Pacific fishing.

Lots of bites mean plenty of opportunity to learn how to feel the bite and how long to wait before trying to hook the fish. Also, a 10-pound silver is often as much fish as many younger kids want to handle. The satisfaction of hooking, fighting and landing their own fish gives kids great satisfaction. Handing off a big king when the kid is overcome by exhaustion can feel a bit like losing.

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Fishing with Kids cont.

Rule 6: RotationYou might think leaving the dock for 10 hours a day, from 5 p.m. until 3 p.m. for four days isn’t nearly enough fun for you, but some kids find it too much. We have families that come up with more people than they can put on the boat on any given day. They rotate the kids and adults in and out of the schedule. The hardcore fish every day, the non-converts take days off. This often helps keep the kids on the path of learning to love fishing as opposed to burning out.

Rule 7: Mal de mar (seasickness)Kids are more prone to seasickness than adults. Consult our Mal de Mar section for seasickness.

Rule 8: Strength: How big is your muscle?Many of the fish we catch in Alaska are overpowering to a younger kid, particularly halibut and big kings. For a kid to fish independently, he or she has to have enough upper body strength to hold the rod or the willingness to fish it out of a rod holder. We find most kids are willing to work themselves pretty hard when a big fish is on the line. Most will accept a little help, too. A lot of it has to do with motivation. Just how excited is that kid about fishing?

Rule 9: Comfort: Cold and wet equals miserableOne of the biggest turn-offs to kids fishing is getting too cold and wet. So, do for them what you do for yourself. Dress them warmly and in layers. They can also shed a layer if they’re warm. Angling Unlimited provides the raingear and boots. We also have protected cabins on our boats that are heated while we’re running. The rest is up to you – bring more clothes than you think you’ll need along with gloves and a warm hat. A warm kid is much more likely to be a happy camper.

Rule 10: RelaxThere are great benefits to the adults in taking kids fishing. The potential for bonding is terrific. And, if you put your own needs second and focus on the kids, you get to leave your attachments and stresses behind. What could be better?

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Fit and FeelThere are lots of ways to deliver these services. Some of the greatest fish catching guides in the world are nearly unbearable to fish with. Conversely, the nicest guide on earth will wear thin on your patience if he can’t lead you to the catch.

The final decision of who you book a trip with comes down to fit and feel. You want to make sure all the specifics you’re looking for are addressed, but you’ve got to have a good feel for who you plan to spend your time and money with. You’re going to be with your guide for a number of days. The hostesses and land crew will determine your comforts when you return from fishing. It’s important to like who you’re dealing with, so take your time in planning. Spend time on the phone with people. Line up your questions and make sure you get them answered.

ClimateDespite the vast territory of Alaska, some common denominators exist in the weather.

•Ittendstorainfairlyoften. •Itwillfeelanywherefromcooltocoldmuchofthetimetoanglerstravellingfromthelower48. •AwarmwindisararetreatincoastalAlaska.

In Sitka, you’ll find a maritime climate, meaning it’s heavily influenced by thousands of miles of ocean that moderates the temperatures and brings ample precipitation. It’s rare for the weather to be either very hot or very cold. Those of you arriving from warm summer climates may find it a bit chilly. You can expect temperatures in the mid-40’s to low-50’s in the morning and upper-50’s to low-70’s during the day. The sun may shine during your entire trip or it may rain much of the time. A mix of sun, rain, and clouds is most common for a multi-day visit.

Here are some interesting facts about Sitka weather, which typifies what you can expect in most of coastal Alaska:

•Thehightemperatureexceeds70degreesonly5dayseachyearonaverage. •Thehightemperatureisbelowfreezingonly13dayseachyearonaverage. •Annualaverageprecipitationis86.1inches. •Annualaveragenumberofdayswithprecipitationis232ofwhich19aredayswithsnow.

Month May June July August SeptemberAverage High Temperature 53.2 57.7 61 62.1 58.2Average Low Temperature 41.7 47.1 51.5 52.2 47.8Monthly Average Precipitation (inches) 4.38 3.28 3.85 6.3 11.16Record High 82 85 88 84 77Record Low 29 35 42 40 31Hours of Daylight 15.32 17.27 17.48 16.16 13.55

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What To Bring Dress in layers and bring at least one more layer than you think you need. The thermometer may say 60 degrees, but the combination of marine moisture and a light breeze will make it feel cooler, especially for people travelling in from warm summer weather in the lower 48. Synthetic fleece fabrics provide better warmth and comfort in wet weather than cotton clothes. Gloves are optional depending on how easily your hands get cold.

Raingear is essential in Sitka. It keeps you dry and helps as a windbreaker. Angling Unlimited provides raingear and boots for all our guests.

How much clothing you bring depends on your length of stay and your accommodations. Angling Unlimited provides laundry facilities so you can dry your clothes at the end of a wet day or do wash so you can pack lighter.

Alaska Airlines, Delta, and most others charge a fee for checked baggage, so pack your clothes in a carry-on bag. That way you can use your checked baggage allowance for your boxed fish on your return flight. You are allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. Visit Alaska Air and Delta for more information.

Bring a hat with a wide brim to keep the sun and/or rain off your face.

Essential Items

SunscreenDespite the rainy reputation, there are plenty of days of bright sunshine in Alaska. On a cloudless day in June or July the sun will beat on you from the time you start fishing until you finish. It will reflect off the water and the boat. You want to cover up with sunscreen, protective clothing and a hat.

Camera/VideoYou will want to document your trip - so bring a digital camera and plenty of storage. Now days most digital cameras take video, too. Angling Unlimited’s captain and deckhand carry a camera and will be documenting your trip as it unfolds. We’ll assemble your photos into a nice package on a thumb drive and you can share the good times with friends and family back home. It’s part of your package.

TackleThe tackle needs vary depending on your destination. Most fly fishermen travelling to western Alaska bring their own rods and reels. What you bring to a saltwater destination depends on what you plan to fish for and the quality of the gear provided by your guide or lodge. Angling Unlimited furnishes the finest quality tackle from G.Loomis, Shimano, and Penn, specifically designed for our style of fishing. We have left-handed reels, Islander Canadian-style single-action reels, and a few fly rods - you don’t need to bring a thing tackle-wise and you’ll be fishing with the finest. If you do have a favorite rod, reel, or combo, bring it along and we’ll help you get it all set up for catching.

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BaitYou can expect almost all lodges and guides to provide bait. At Angling Unlimited your bait, tackle, hooks, line, and sinker are part of the package.

Typical DayEarly RiseFishing is a sport that generally requires an early rise. This seems especially true of the saltwater destinations. From the beginning of our season through mid-August, your daily schedule at Angling Unlimited begins with a 4:15 a.m. wake-up call. At 4:50 a.m., you’ll board our van and take a short ride to our boats. After mid-August, the timetable moves to a 5:15 a.m. wake-up and 5:50 a.m. departure to account for the later sunrise.

Arrival at DockA well-run operation is prepared for the arrival of clients. When you arrive at Angling Unlimited’s dock, the boats will be ready to depart. Your snacks, beverages, and lunches will be aboard, as well as gear and bait. Running time varies from day to day and port to port. We typically run 30 to 90 minutes to the best fishing grounds. Our ride to the fishing grounds is typically through calm, protected waters. Other destinations make equally long runs, but it might feel even longer if it’s on a rough ocean.

On BoardYour degree of comfort depends both on sea conditions and on the set-up of the boat you fish aboard. Angling Unlimited’s heated cabins provide plenty of room for everyone to sit comfortably and warm while enroute. The cabins provide a dry and a secure place to store extra clothes, cameras, and video equipment. The boats cruise at about 22 to 24 knots and have private toilet facilities. Lunch, snacks, coffee and soft drinks are all provided.

Full DayThere are two basic models for fishing on the North Pacific. One is limit out and head home - your time on the water is determined by how quickly you fill the hold. The second model is full day, multi-species sport fishing. Angling Unlimited boats fish a full day. Our goal is not an early ride home. You can choose to catch and release fish and your day will typically be a mix of salmon, halibut, and bottom fishing. You’ve come a long way for one purpose: fishing. Why cut it short?

Return to the DockAgain, this is something that varies a great deal from operation to operation. At Angling Unlimited, you’ll generally be back at the dock around 3 p.m. If you’re amidst a red-hot bite after a slow morning, we put in the extra time.

At the DockSome charters operate off private docks and others leave from big marinas. At Angling Unlimited, you’ll land in a private marina where you’ll find our fish processing facility. We’ll be happy to unload your fish for photos at the dock and hang any large fish for a much-deserved glory shot. Our crew will immediately go to work filleting your fish to your specifications. We follow that by thoroughly rinsing the fish, vacuum sealing and flash freezing. You can return to your lodging immediately or stay to watch the fish processing.

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DinnerAt Angling Unlimited, you can select from a variety of restaurants in town (some deliver) or you can cook your own catch-of-the-day using your fully equipped kitchen and grill on the deck.

Mal de Mer (a nice name for Sea Sickness)Note: This section may seem overly long and daunting. We include this because seasickness unnecessarily keeps many people from enjoying ocean fishing. It’s our experience at Angling Unlimited that with proper preparation and medication, the overwhelming majority of people can enjoy even a rough day on the water without feeling sick. The key words here are preparation and medication.

The CauseSeasickness results from a conflict between sensory information being sent to your brain from your eyes, body position, and inner ear. This conflict does not occur on good old stable land where all inputs agree. However, when a boat begins rising, falling, and pitching on swell and chop, the inputs begin to vary. Next thing you know a headache comes on, you don’t feel good, and, if it goes to conclusion, you experience nausea.

The CureWe’ve been guiding on the North Pacific for three decades and cannot suggest too strongly that if you are prone to seasickness, go to your doctor and get medication. If you aren’t sure if you’re prone, get medication. Seasickness can ruin your trip, but it’s highly curable. Most over-the-counter medications have marginal value. Prescription medication is far more effective. Here are our top five cures in order of effectiveness. The first four are available only by prescription and you should visit your doctor before taking them. We are sharing our experience here, but we by no means claim to know what a safe cure is for any given individual. See your doctor.

ZofranA few guests have started showing up with this drug that is used to control nausea for chemotherapy patients. The reviews so far are that it’s the best cure available – no noticeable side effects, great results in preventing seasickness, and it even reverses the symptoms of seasickness after onset.

Promethazine (25 mg) and Ephedrine (25 mg)Better known as the “Coast Guard Cocktail” because that’s what’s given aboard their vessels. It’s highly effective, but ephedrine has become very hard to get. The general assumption is that ephedrine only serves to offset the drowsiness brought on by the promethazine and you can simply drink coffee or take No-Doze for the same effect. This is not our experience. Something about the combination of the two works best. We’ve seen drowsy people on promethazine alone that are also seasick. Very few people get sick when they take both. This will also reverse symptoms of seasickness when taken on the water, if you can hold it down for a half hour.

ScopaceThis is oral scopolamine, the same drug found in “the patch”. The difference is that you can take this pill an hour before fishing, then again later in the morning, and then stop until the next morning. You don’t have

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to wear a patch for three days and have the medication in your system all afternoon and evening. In many cases, Scopace appears to be more effective than the patch.

Transderm Scope (the patch)This is the most common cure prescribed for seasickness. Though not as bullet proof as promethazine and ephedrine or Zofran (according to the few people we talked with) or Scopace, this cure has made going to sea a lot more comfortable for millions of people. If you’ve tried it and it works - stick with it.

Over the Counter MedsDramamine and Bonine are widely used and provide relief for some sufferers of seasickness. If you have just a wee bit of difficulty with mal de mer, these over-the-counter meds may work. If you’re a serious suf-ferer of seasickness, talk to your doctor and get a prescription cure.

Prevention •Don’tdrinkheavilythenightbefore.Ahangoverwillhaveyouatleasthalfwaytoseasickness before you leave the dock. •Avoidgreasyandheavyfoods. •Whileaboard,avoidcrampedspaces,enginefumes(ourboatsdon’tproducenoticeablefumes), and strong odors. •Focuslong,lookatdistantobjectslikemountainsorthehorizon.Avoidclosefocuslikeuntyinga knot or tangle. Don’t look through binoculars or eye-pieces in cameras or videos. Don’t read. •Sitorstandfacingforwardwhentheboatistravellingsoyoucananticipatethemotion. •Getplentyoffreshairandavoidthebowforextendedperiodsoftimewhenfishinginorderto minimize movement.

Arrival and Departure The degree of service you get on arrival and departure is highly variable depending on the type of trip you book and who you book with. Make sure you get the details before booking.

Angling Unlimited’s guests typically arrive the day before their fishing starts and depart the day after fish-ing ends. An evening flight out of Sitka will get folks as far as Seattle just before midnight after a full day of fishing. When our arriving guests get off the Alaska Airlines or Delta jet in Sitka, they will find one of our smiling hostesses holding an Angling Unlimited sign. Our crew helps you claim your baggage and load it in our van. We then take you on a 15-minute ride to our lodging and get you checked-in. After checking in, we issue fishing licenses, as well as boots and rain gear. We’ll give you a detailed itinerary of your entire stay with us, including the fishing day. You’ll also get the keys to your car for touring around Sitka.

On the day you leave, your fish will be boxed and ready for shipping on the airlines. We’ll return you to the airport in our van. We’ll stand by, help load your fish boxes and baggage, and make sure you’re checked in and ready for your flight home.

GratuitiesTipping is optional, but most guests choose to reward those who gave their best to make your trip fun, productive, and memorable - your captain, deckhand, processor, and land personnel So bring a little extra

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cash. What is an appropriate tip? That depends on your level of satisfaction and your own comfort level with tipping. If you’re looking for a ballpark figure – think in the neighborhood of 10% of the charge for your trip. All good operators, Angling Unlimited included understand that gratuities are a personal choice – not a requirement. We take equally good care of all guests regardless of their tipping history.

Regulations - Sportfishing Regulations for Southeast Alaska

For updates, check our blog or regulations page for the latest news. Also, bear in mind that regulations can change during the season. The State of Alaska can liberalize or tighten regulations without notice. This happens infrequently but isn’t out of the question. Angling Unlimited, Inc. is not responsible for changes in regulations and cannot refund money as a result of changed bag limits. Please feel free to call at anytime to be updated on what’s happening with bag limits. Regulations listed below reflect 2016 seasons and limits.

SalmonKings: 2 per day in May & June. 1 per day the remainder of season. 6 annually.The bag and possession limit (resident and nonresident) for king salmon 28 inches or greater in length: Silvers: Resource stable and strong. Daily bag limit: 6. Annual limit: nonePink Salmon: Solid run forecast. Daily Bag limit: 6. Annual limit: noneChum salmon: Resource stable and strong. Daily Bag limit: 6. Annual limit: none

BottomfishHalibut: Resource is stable, with consistent regulations the last three years. Daily limit: 1. Reverse slot limit: Halibut must be either under 43 inches or over 80 inches to be retained. Annual limit: none

Lingcod: Daily bag limit: 1. Slot limit of 30 to 35 inches or 55+ Annual limit: 1 per seasonSeason: May 16 – end of season

Pelagic Rockfish (sea bass): Daily bag limit: 3 Annual limit: none

Non-Pelagic Rockfish (yelloweye, quillback, copper, etc.): Resource fragile. Daily bag limit: 1 per day, only one of which can be yelloweye. Annual limit: 1 yelloweye per year, no annual limit on other species.

Sablefish (black cod – not to be confused with black rockfish): Resource stable. Daily bag limit: 4.

OthersSalmon Shark: 1 per day - 2 annually.

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Thank you for reading!We hope you enjoyed our Tips for a Great Fishing Trip to Alaska and that it helps in your decision making process. If you would like to learn more about fishing in Sitka, our blog is a great resource of industry news, Angling Unlimited news, and other fun updates including recipes and contests.

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We look forward to seeing you in Sitka!

Tight lines,

© 2016 Angling Unlimited

Captain Chuck McNamee Captain Tom Ohaus

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