Private Fishing Charter Ketchikan Alaska
Ketchikan sits at the center of some of the most productive saltwater fishing in Southeast Alaska, and a private charter puts your group on the water without sharing deck space with strangers. The options here range from compact 24-foot cabin cruisers suited to small groups to larger 30-foot vessels built for full-day multi-species trips. Prices, durations, target species, and boat sizes vary meaningfully across operators — the details below cover what each option actually includes.
Boat Options and Pricing by Operator
Exclusive Alaska runs three distinct private charter configurations, all priced as a flat rate per boat with a maximum of 6 passengers. The 24-foot cabin cruiser books at $1,700 for a five-hour trip, $1,800 for six hours, and $2,100 for eight hours. The same vessel is offered in a rockfish and cod configuration without halibut as a single five-hour charter at $1,600. The 30-foot cabin cruiser runs 5, 6, or 8 hour charters starting at $1,900 per boat, with the six-hour option at $2,200, and includes a wilderness dining experience.
The Alaska Catch runs private charters on two vessels, a 24-foot and a 32-foot boat, in four-, five-, six-, and eight-hour configurations, plus a three-hour wildlife viewing option. Rates are not published through the booking system for these trips and are quoted on request, so use the booking link for current pricing rather than budgeting from a headline figure. All trips are private and cap at 6 passengers.
Go Fish Ketchikan offers salmon charters priced at $265 per person, with trips running either 4 or 6 hours of actual fishing time. The operator has over 30 years of chartering experience in Alaska. Freshly caught fish are iced immediately on board, and fish processing — filleting, flash freezing, or smoking — can be arranged through Clover Pass Resort, which also handles Federal Express shipping to your home address.
Ketchikan Fishing Trips runs a private salmon excursion at a flat $1,400 per boat for three hours or $1,550 for four, designed specifically around cruise ship schedules. The trip includes all fishing gear, tackle, and bait, and guarantees return to the dock before ship departure. Fastest boats are used to reach fishing grounds efficiently within the compressed timeframe.
Fathom Charter Fishing offers a 5-hour crabbing and fishing combination charter at $1,800 per boat for up to 5 guests. Fishing gear is provided. Guests must purchase their Alaska fishing license directly from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game prior to the charter.
Seasonal Timing
June 15 through August 15 is the peak of the salmon run, and multiple operators — including Exclusive Alaska and The Alaska Catch — note this window as the period with the best chance of catching multiple species in a single outing. Booking early for this stretch is practical advice, particularly for groups of 5 or 6 filling a boat.
What's Typically Not Included
Across all operators listed here, Alaska fishing licenses are not included in charter prices and must be purchased separately. Guests can purchase licenses in advance at store.adfg.alaska.gov. Guide gratuity is also not included by any operator. Fish processing and shipping are separate costs where offered — Go Fish Ketchikan notes that processing costs vary based on the total weight of the catch.
