Ketchikan Crab Tour offers a unique approach for cruise ship guests visiting Alaska. An opportunity to embark on an exclusive Alaskan adventure awaits. Enjoy whale watching, wildlife viewing, crabbing, fishing and eagle viewing. All this and more takes place directly from downtown cruise ship ports in Ketchikan. Adventure begins when Ketchikan Crab Tour captains pick your private group up directly from the cruise ship docks. From there you’ll board the top of the line Alaska charter boats for an unparalleled Alaska excursion.
Whale Watching And Wildlife Viewing In Ketchikan
Ketchikan Crab Tour whisks you away from the busy downtown area with a beautiful scenic boat ride. This portion of the trip illustrates an Alaska wildlife safari that will have your group on the lookout for whales, sea lions, harbor seals, eagles and more. As we depart the tongass narrows we often see humpback whales in the opening of Nichols Passage. This area is a quick 10-15 minute boat ride from the downtown docks. Additionally, these areas are frequent with orca sightings, harbor seals and feeding eagles.
Besides, you can expect to see more than whales, be on the lookout for sea lions and harbor seals near the shore. Your private boat will allow you the time and flexibility to peruse the shoreline where lush kelp beds harbor diversified wildlife. Checkout the intertidal zone where you’ll see starfish feeding on clams and oysters. In addition, the amazing intertidal zone amasses schools of herring, a common bait fish in Alaska. Consequently, there could be schools of salmon and rockfish feeding on the concentrated herring fish.
Crabbing In Ketchikan
Following the scenic whale watching and wildlife viewing portion of the trip it’s now time to embark on the most interactive portion of the trip! Experience what it’s like to drop your very own crab pot in Ketchikan, Alaska. Your private group will be guided step by step by our experienced captains. Meaning each member will have the experience to bait and set an Alakan crab pot.
Set Your Own Crab Pot In Alaska
First, you’ll arrange the crab pots and buoy line in preparation to set. Not to worry as your guide will be hands-on assisting you safely through the entire process. Marking each buoy with your name, address and date of birth along with the vessel’s registration numbers. Now it’s time to bait your crab pot.
Bait The Crab Pot
Secondly, bait your crab pot with packaged fresh crab bait that your guide prepared prior to the Ketchikan crab excursion. Crab bait is held in a mesh bag that consists of cod, herring or salmon. Next you’ll clip the bag inside the crab pot so it’s hanging down vertically when the crab trap settles on the ocean floor.
Set The Crab Pot
Thirdly, it’s time to set your pot when the captain says to drop. Strategically maneuvering the boat will have you ready to set each crab pot in the richest areas of Ketchikan. Lastly, it’s lines away as you release the crab pot from the side of the boat and throw your crab buoy out to soak.
Fishing As The Crab Pot Soaks
Next up, it’s time to go on an Alaskan fishing adventure! Such as fishing for salmon and rockfish as we give time for the crabs to enter the crab pots. A perfect way to spend time wildlife viewing and fishing with your closest family and friends. Enjoy catching each Alaska fish species in calm waters only to return to your crab pots about two hours later.
Pull Up Alaska Crab Pots
See what treasures you can pull from the depths! Additionally, the group can assist each other in pulling up the line to retrieve the Alaskan crab pots. Captains can assist as well to help each crab pot securely to the deck.
Pictures With Alaskan Crabs
Lastly, it’s picture time throughout! Each participant will enjoy plenty of photographic opportunities throughout the process. Moreover, the captain will illustrate what kind of crabs are in each pot, along with males and females and how to tell the difference. Your guide will also secure the crabs in a safe manner for each member of the group to hold for an awesome family picture in Alaska!
For these reasons, it’s known to most as one of the greatest and most interactive tours in Ketchikan. Thus the opportunity to check all the boxes with this comprehensive all inclusive Ketchikan tour.
Cruise Ship Family Fishing Trips In Ketchikan
The Ketchikan Crab Tour fishing portion of the trip caters to families visiting Ketchikan. Best for all ages and experience levels. Hence, each member gets to enjoy catching Alaska fish species like salmon and rockfish with expert guides in calm waters. All the while allowing your crab pot to soak for maximized catches.
Worried about someone getting seasick on your trip? Not to worry on this customized Ketchikan fishing tour. We avoid the rough open waters and enjoy the serenity of calm waters and fish action. Also enjoy the abundance of wildlife including eagles, whales and seals frequenting the local areas.
Ketchikan Salmon Fishing
Salmon fishing tours in Ketchikan are a great option for cruise ship guests visiting Alaska. For one, Ketchikan is the, “Salmon Capital Of The World.” There’s no better place to take a fishing excursion than in the epicenter for Alaska salmon fishing. Below is a list of factors that make salmon fishing in Ketchikan so enjoyable for the entire family.
- Cruise ship guests visiting Ketchikan, Alaska are able to enjoy a scenic boat ride to the best salmon fishing grounds. Be on the lookout for whales and wildlife as you depart the cruise ship ports. Enjoy a quick boat ride to reach the optimal areas for salmon fishing in Ketchikan. Coinciding with the crabbing areas these salmon fishing grounds are a short boat ride from your cruise ship.
- Salmon running in to spawn follow the land to get to their home streams. Consequently, there’s always an area to salmon fish in Ketchikan while simultaneously avoiding rough waters. For these reasons, salmon fishing in Ketchikan is perfect for families and children. Not to mention, the areas for salmon fishing in Ketchikan are unparalleled in their beauty.
- Depending on the time of year you book your salmon fishing excursion in Ketchikan will dictate what species of wild Pacific salmon you may catch. King salmon, silver salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon and even sockeye salmon are all available to catch. Certainly, the most common salmon caught are king salmon, silver salmon and pink salmon.
- King salmon fishing in Ketchikan, Alaska is best from June through August.
- Silver salmon fishing in Ketchikan is best from late June through September.
- Pink salmon fishing in Ketchikan is best from July through September.
Rockfish Jigging On The Ketchikan Crab Tour
Depending on the time of year and conditions there will be an opportunity to jig for rockfish. This tried and true method of fishing is great for families and kids. Due in part to the nonstop action that keeps the entire group engaged throughout. As a result, catching fish one after another and dropping lines continuously keeps everyone smiling. Due to decades of experience in this fishery as one of the reasons your veteran captains choose this style of fishing in Ketchikan.
Catching! Not Fishing
- Who doesn’t enjoy catching lots of fish? Well, the answer is everyone enjoys catching! The age old saying of it’s fishing and not catching doesn’t translate as closely to rockfish jigging in Ketchikan, Alaska. Furthermore, with over 50 species of rockfish available it’s no wonder the rocky outcroppings are competitive for these species.
- Jigging for rockfish in Ketchikan is a great way to enjoy calm waters and abundant catches.
- The diversity of rockfish species will leave you amazed with the color variations and adaptations of each species.
- Fast action means everyone gets to take part and enjoy more catching and less fishing.
- Metal, jigs, small flies and rigged herring will be used to catch various species of rockfish.
- Rockfish jigging is hands down a fan favorite for families wanting to enjoy an Alaska fishing experience on their Ketchikan cruise ship stop.
Ketchikan Eagle Viewing And Feeding
On the Ketchikan Crab Tour we take you up close and personal for an eagle viewing experience you won’t soon forget. Have your cameras ready for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Your private group will end the day by visiting one of the local eagle nests. Where we attempt to feed the eagles herring or one of the day’s fresh catches.
See firsthand the majestic American bald eagle swooping down to grab fish from the water. It’s a sight to be astonished by as the eagles spiral down to pluck fish from the water with speed and accuracy.
It’s best to video this portion of the tour as pictures can make it hard to time the entire process.
Tour Note: The tour takes each group to these nearby eagles’ nests. Please be advised the eagles are wild animals and don’t feed on command. There may be a tour where you have multiple eagles feeding. Contrarily some tours the eagles may simply not be feeding or engaged in feeding behavior.
