By Dave Dolan
On June 14th, a group of anglers converged on Sitka, Alaska for the annual 18th Annual Let’s Talk Hookup/ Kingfisher Charters trip. The weather on arrival was very un-Alaskan, calm, blue skies and 75 degrees, real shorts and sandals conditions. The Kingfisher van was at the airport waiting for us. They loaded up our baggage, and I found that I would never have to carry it again while there.
Kingfisher Lodge is located a couple miles away from town and the harbor. It is situated on a hill overlooking the water. Each floor has two to a bedroom rooms with private bathroom, a large lounge area with flat screen satellite TV, full size refrigerator, couches, and a deck with a million dollar view of the water and the volcano- Mt. Edgecumbe. The daily housekeeping maintains the rooms in immaculate shape.
The three days of fishing start with about a 4:30 a.m. wake up. It really does not seem so early, as this time of year it is bright sun at 3 a.m. The hard part is going to sleep at night before 11 in the evening with late day light. A full breakfast is served in the dinning room before departing for the marina.
The Kingfisher fleet consists of aluminum cabin boats with heat. They comfortably fish four anglers. The equipment is all furnished and first rate. The captains are all veterans of several Alaska fishing seasons.
Fishing in Alaska has variable limits and size slots, depending on the area. This year, Sitka had a 2 Chinook (king) salmon, 1 halibut and 1 ling cod per day limit with size slots. Our boat, and
most all of the others had no problems catching their daily limits. There were also abundant catches of various rock cod.
Every fishing excursion seems to have a “star” of the trip. We certainly had one on this outing. Kingfisher veteran Gary White hit a home run with a 360 lb. halibut. This trophy measured 92 inches in length, and “taped” out at 430 pounds. It will probably stand as the all-time record halibut for the lodge. Way to go, Gary.
This was my first visit, and I can’t say enough about Kingfisher Charters.. The dinners were outstanding, prime rib, king crab and salmon were on the nightly menu. The staff was very friendly and helpful. If you wanted a trip into town, they were right there for you. What impressed me most was the fish handling operation. Everything is filleted to size and vacuum sealed. Your catch is frozen and packed in insulated boxes for the flight home. At the airport, the staff will even check in your catch for you. I know that many places can show you pictures of big fish they catch. But for a smooth, efficient operation, I’ve never seen such great work.
If you go to Kingfisher Charters, I recommend extending an extra night or two in Sitka. The town is rich in Alaska and early Russian history. The waterfront, Totem Pole park and St. Michaels Orthodox Russian church made enjoyable walking tours. If you really want a Southeast Alaska experience, and have the time, try this. I got on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry and spent 10 extra days in the Southeast pan handle. The Alaska ferry is the mode of travel for the locals. You will get into towns and scenery you will never see from a cruise ship.
Let’s Talk Hookup already has next year’s 19th Annual Kingfisher trip on schedule on the “Trips” page at www.letstalkhookup.com. The trip departs on Fathers Day June 19, 2016 and returns June 21, it is always a sellout, so book soon! You will not find a finer Southeast Alaska operation than what the Kingfisher Lodge has to offer. Cal- 800-727-6136 or www.kingfishercharters.com
