On a Ketchikan Crab Tour you can expect to catch dungeness crabs, wild pacific salmon, and Alaskan rockfish. Due to the comprehensive approach to this tour you could catch all of these species in one day!
Built for families visiting Ketchikan who are looking to experience Alaska in a safe and fun manner. Our expert captains derived this tour based on decades of experience in taking people fishing and crabbing in Alaska. Hence, we built this unique product to showcase the best of each species for you and your group.
Crabbing In Ketchikan
For those visiting Ketchikan on their Alaska cruise crabbing is absolutely one of the top choices by most! Firstly, you’ll get a private tour experience beyond the masses of cruise ship owned/ operated tours. Ketchikan Crab Tour brings you a hands-on experience like no other! Recognized as the most interactive and engaging tour in Ketchikan.
During the crabbing portion of the Ketchikan Crab tour you can expect to catch dungeness crabs, red rock crabs and even starfish! Talk about an absolute family fun experience. Indeed, pulling in your very own Alaska crab pot will depict all the amazing wildlife below. Built for all ages and experience levels your expert guide will assist you through each step of the way.
Alaska Wilderness: Family Crabbing Trips
Catching crabs in Ketchikan is not only fun but also makes for great photo opportunities. Picture yourself with your closest family and friends holding up wild Alaskan crabs with a backdrop of oceans, mountains and old growth forests.
The crab grounds are set back in beautiful bays and estuaries amongst the Alaska waterways. One feels the prehistoric-ness of the wilderness when approaching the crabbing grounds. Giant mountains surrounding the coves give you the seclusion to feel emerged in the Alaska wilderness.
Dungeness Crabs
Dungeness crabs are caught on the Ketchikan Crab Tour by setting a series of crab pots in their natural habitat, such as eelgrass, estuaries and bays. The ideal place for crabbing in Alaska combines all of these factors.
Red Rock Crabs
Red rock crabs inhabit waters from Kodiak Island, Alaska south to Baja, California and prefer similar areas to dungeness crabs. Intertidal zones, estuaries and bays are common grounds for finding red rock crabs. These species look slightly different then dungeness crabs and your guide will be sure to point out the different variations on the Ketchikan Crab Tour crabbing portion of your trip.
Starfish And Sea Stars
Sea stars or starfish in Alaska come in all kinds of shapes and colors! While dungeness crabs and red rock crabs make up the majority of what you can expect to catch on a crab tour in Ketchikan, sea stars are also common. Leather sea stars and purple/ orange sea stars often crawl into the crab pots. They are harmless to hold and make for a great photo opportunity.
Fishing Ketchikan – The Ketchikan Crab Tour
The fishing excursion portion of the Ketchikan Crab Tour is a necessity in order to allow the crab pots to soak and attract crabs. For instance, we set out to enjoy world class Ketchikan salmon fishing or high octane rockfish jigging in the meantime.
Salmon Fishing Ketchikan
Salmon fishing in Ketchikan takes place in nearshore waters close to downtown ports. Using electric down riggers and state of the art salmon equipment the lines will be set out. For example, we fish multiple depths with a variety of baits trolling along the scenic coastline.
As a result of a salmon strike, the rod tip flicks up and it’s off to the races. Guests will grab the rod to set the hook and fight the salmon to the boat. Using a steady retrieve to get the salmon close enough for the captain to net. Guests will be guided each step of the way with individual instructions to land your catch successfully.
What Kind Of Salmon Can We Catch In Ketchikan
The salmon run in Ketchikan takes place from May through September. King salmon fishing is best from May through July. Silver salmon fishing is best from late June through September. Lastly, pink salmon and chum salmon fishing is best from July through September.
Rockfish Fishing
Rockfish fishing in Ketchikan, Alaska is a fun and interactive way to catch these prominent bottom fish. There’s over 50 species of rockfish available to catch in Alaska! While we commonly catch ten to twenty varieties it’s always possible to catch a more rare rockfish like the China rockfish or Tiger rockfish.
Jigging for rockfish in protected water is another option on the Ketchikan Crab Tour while we let the crab pots soak. Furthermore, this fishery involves nonstop action of dropping and retrieving lines in order to catch the various species of rockfish. Perfect for all ages and experience levels.
What Kind Of Rockfish Can We Catch On The Ketchikan Crab Tour
There’s so many species of rockfish to catch in Ketchikan, Alaska. With that being said, the most common types of rockfish to catch include; copperhead, quailback, yelloweye, dusky, yellowtail, redstripe, darkers, and silvergray. Each species of rockfish has unique coloration and a preferred habitat. Enjoy fishing various depths and catching many different rockfish while fishing in Ketchikan.