Far Away from KIpawa - Ketchikan, Alaska July 22- July 30

[Nancy]

I have relatives in Ketchikan. So this is my third trip up over the years. The first time I was up Ketchikan was a sleepy little Alaskan fishing village. The next time I was up the cruise ships were just starting and it was starting to see more commercialization. Now, the cruise ships are a major industry. And not necessarily to all the local people's liking. Yes, it has provided a way of life to many, but is getting to the place where it is overwhelming. Since this was not my first trip, I told my cousins that I really didn't want to do the touristy things. Been there, done that. I just wanted to do some halibut fishing and see the family. I had reservations on the ferry to go up the inside passage. This has been one of my bucket list items. But wouldn't you know it, the workers went on strike 2 days before I was set to leave on the ferry. First time in 40 years they have had a strike. Just my luck. I guess it will give me an excuse to go back up and knock off that bucket list item.

The night before I left on this trip, I discovered my good camera wasn't focusing properly, so all these pictures were taken with my phone. Also, normally, the weather in Ketchikan in July is usually pretty nice, but the whole week I was there it was rainy and overcast, so I didn't get many good scenery pics.

Anyway, my cousin's wife is quite the fisherwoman. We definitely did our share of halibut fishing. My cousin, Dan, went out with us the first day. I was lucky that I struck gold the first day. I landed a 144 pound halibut. That will definitely go down as my fish of a lifetime.

While we were fishing, this whale was playing around and presented us with a show.

My captain for most of the week, Barb, cousin Dan's wife.


The marina had a sea lion that was always hanging around looking for scraps. He was a lot of fun to watch.


Here is a rock full of sea lions on one of our trips out.


We had another great day with a 60 pound halibut, a smaller, more normal size probably in the 34 inch range. Barb and Dan had set some crab pots earlier and Barb and I hauled them in for an outstanding crab dinner.



Here is a couple of my cousins and spouses. It seems like I couldn't get everyone together at the same time. My cousins are on each end with their spouses.




Hopefully, I won't wait another twenty years before I go back to see everyone. It was truly a great trip.
But I still miss the Kipawa area. 

[Greg]

Wow Nancy!  Fantastic trip!  A place definitely on my bucket list... Awesome that you have family there.   And the pics are great - phone or camera!

SUPER JEALOUS!

[RHYBAK]

Yes, A beautiful place.
It was one of our stops when we did the Alaskan Cruise.

Here we have seagulls, there they have Bald Eagles.
Not a seagull in sight.

Great looking catches.
Tasty I bet ?

[puckster_guy]

 A more then worthy alternative to Kipawa. I wanna do that trip sometime.

[Ozzy30]

Congratulations on a wonderful trip.

[Oarin]

Holy Halibut!!! That's a huge fish! Thanks for the great report. I'm sure John was smiling down on you when you were fighting the monster fish.

[Jay Thomas]

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for a great trip report and great pics. When I saw the pic of the large Halibut, it reminded me of one of the episodes of the TV show Port Protection where John (one of the main characters) caught a large Halibut (well over 100 pounds). Watching John fillet that Halibut was awesome.

Jay

[T-Bone]

Thanks for the report Nancy...quite a trip. Dare a say, certainly worth skipping a year of Kipawa (area) to hang out in Alaska for a week. I'd make that trade in a minute! A little different cost profile in comparison though. Awesome fish....

[Captain Hali]

 Hi Nancy,
I am absolutely green with envy. I've had had to cancel my annual trip to to Ketchikan, more specifically Knudson Cove in Clover Pass, the past 2 years due to health reasons. That 144 lbs., Hali you caught surpasses my best by 67lbs. What general area did you catch her in? What bait or Jig? How deep were you fishing? Must have been quit the thrill and struggle to bring that one up to the surface. I don't see any bullet or harpoon holes in it, so did you bring it on board alive? 

[Nancy]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, @RHYBAK , the halibut was absolutely delicious. Personally, I am way more fond of it than salmon. It is a good thing as the salmon were not hitting when I was up there. The charter guys were having to travel quite a ways to put their clients on fish. Yes, the eagles are very, very common. From my neck of the woods, I liken then to crows, and yes for you sea gulls. Just that common.

@Jay Thomas , the people who know what they are doing when it comes to fileting a halibut make it look like an art.

@Captain Hali , LOL, I really have no idea where I was at. There are so many islands up there, it is so easy for a newbie like me to get turned around. I can only tell you it was NW of Ketchikan. I can't imagine someone moving up there and thinking they could navigate the area without navionics. The size of that fish hit home with me when my cousin who has been up there his whole life and now close to 60 said he has only caught about 5 fish of that caliber. We were fishing about 275-300 feet deep. That is a long ways to bring a fish of that size up, because like any good fish it would make a few runs and strip line and as I was getting wore out, I got it within sight of the boat, and you got it, away it went again. They actually shot it to get it in the boat.  My cousins wife likes to have the big ones dead before she brings them on board as they can do damage to equipment and humans on the boat. Oh, it's ironic that you mention Clover Pass. The daughter of the couple on the left of the picture of my relatives is married to the family who has that lodge. I didn't get to meet her as she was out to the lodge all week. It is a small world.

[bucknbull]

Awesome pictures Nancy !
Thanks for sharing your adventures

[Hodgey1]

Awesome pictures Nancy !
Thanks for sharing your adventures

Wow, that one huge fish! Great photos Nancy and I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. What did you do with all that meat?

[limacharley]

Great trip report Nancy.
My daughter graduates from the Univ of Ottawa next spring and the wife and I want to take our 2 kids on an Alaskan cruise.
Would love to take them halibut fishing.
Would you care to PM me your fisherwoman's contacts?

[Nancy]

@Hodgey1 , I took a cooler up with it full of Pa fresh sweet corn and brought home a cooler full of fish. They also sent me down an insulated fish box. I am sure Dan and Barb are enjoying some of that halibut also.

[GregL]

Oh wow! Great Trip!! Definitely on my bucket list!! Thanks for the great report!