New to Forum- Kayak Fisher from Alaska

[Kardinal_84]

So I was told about this page by another angler looking for some info on Alaska. Though I rarely travel, I make it a point to gather information from across the world to see if there is something I am missing here in Alaska.

Alaska...home to bahzillion kayakers...a couple bahzillon Anglers....and maybe a dozen serious kayak fisherman I am aware of. Just strange to me.

I saw a post with several members saying Alaska was a bucket list trip. I would have to agree! the fishing has been off the hook from the kayaks. So I will try and stop in from time to time. If you have any questions about Alaska, let me know! Be happy to help.

So I have a youtube channel with over 100 fishing videos...mainly from a kayak.

Here's my recommended playlist. First video is the 2014 Season Highlights. It's a tad long at 17minutes but its in chronological order so you can get a feel for the seasons. This covers about 75% of the fish I caught and most of the decent ones. The link is for the playylist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC950E5F744C2350B



I also have a website for kayak fishing southcentral Alaska. And despite some of teh URL's and email address, I am not a guide.

Here's my page! http://AlaskaKayakFisher.com

Look forward to reading all of the posts after work! Thanks in advance for letting me post here!

[ctfphoto]

Those snow capped mountains in the background are awesome!

What a spectacular place to fish.

Great video.

[wiredantz]

:notworthy:thanks for sharing added your channel


i can't tell what happened here? did you shoot that halibut with some kind of anchoring system to attach the bouy on the barn door? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nD6vSAOGuU8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[walrus]

I'll be up that way in May for two weeks. I'll have one free day on this trip to go off fishing. My choices to take this day will be at Copper River, Kenai, or Skagway. I'll also be in Fairbanks, but I'll only have a evening free there.

Which place would be my best choice, what would I be targeting at that time, and is there fishing kayak rentals including gear at any of these places?

If I could switch the Skagway stop, for a Ketchikan stop would that be a better opportunity?

Thanks

[Kardinal_84]

Thanks.

It's a harpoon roped off to a buoy. I've heard it's not legal in CA. Here's a a pic.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/26/940a400ee3451cefe47e839954b9f52a.jpg

If you get kayak fish magazine there's a one page write up in the 2015 buyers guide.

Works great!!

I'll Get back to Ya walrus!


AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

[YakHanded]

Welcome to the mad house man - if youre ever up in San Clemente/DP area lets fish! sick vids got to get up there at some point

[Rambo]

Great video and thanks for sharing. Welcome to the forum. That video just makes it more intriguing to want to go up to Alaska and fish. :you_rock:

[Kardinal_84]

I'll be up that way in May for two weeks. I'll have one free day on this trip to go off fishing. My choices to take this day will be at Copper River, Kenai, or Skagway. I'll also be in Fairbanks, but I'll only have a evening free there.

Which place would be my best choice, what would I be targeting at that time, and is there fishing kayak rentals including gear at any of these places?

If I could switch the Skagway stop, for a Ketchikan stop would that be a better opportunity?

Thanks

Well that's a tough one. Been contemplating it since I got it. I think the only fair answer is...I dunno.

So here's how I reached that conclusion... As likely is the case anywhere, fishing is weather dependent. Frankly if I had to pick the location in advance, things like secondary activity and typical weather conditions would be more of a factor than "how's the fishing." Anyone of the places at the right time and place can result in a once in a life time day.

So first, I know nothing about skagway.

Ketchikan seems like the best spot for variety. Let's just say its on my bucket list ahead of a lot more exotic locations. THE man in Ketchikan is Howard McKim. He doesn't do much fish guiding anymore, more eco tourism stuff. But he would know a lot about that area.

Copper River. The first of the salmon run will be coming in but seems a tad early for any decent results. This would be a road side fishery mainly for sockeyes and maybe a shot at kings. Can't say I fish that way much...especially in May.

Kenai...Well this place I know a bit about. Went K-12 in Kenai. Kardinal_84 is a reference to the Kenai Kardinal (High School, and yeah we can't spell) class of 1984.

May is going to be a great time for shallow water halibut and possible feeder king salmon in Lower Cook Inlet or Kachemak Bay. Lower Kenai River will be shut down for King Salmon. Upper and Middle for Trout spawning protection.

What do you mean when you say you have a "day". Do you have to decide in advance?

Well sorry I can't be of much help. Alaska is so dang big that its sort of like saying "Hey, you live in Canada? I'm headed there, where's the best fishing?" But I am more than willing to help.

So if you could answer those questions. Also are you looking to charter? Kayak fish? Anything fish? C&R or release in grease kinda guy? I'm definitely the latter.

If you can get out, it should be a great time of year for you.

[MattRabasco]

Hey Kardinal, My name is Matt. I fish off La Jolla usually but have a cabin in Talkeetna. I have a Tarpon 140 that I use out of Resurrection Bay usually. A few years ago we killed the silvers at Fox Island, and a few halis too. I will be in Alaska this year from mid July to Mid Aug. and have the Yurt reserved at Lowell point for a week. If you are up for a kayak fish I would be up for it also, i usually am going solo. I have always wanted to fish around Deep Creek/Cook inlet. I have been checking out your videos for a few years now. Drop me a line if you want to hook up and go fish out of the yaks! Super cool footage of Kodiak.

Thanks, Matt

[walrus]

Thanks,

Good answer, Alaska is huge and I know I was missing King Salmon season by a few days. I was hoping something else we normally don't catch down here would be in full season somewhere I'd be.

Based on what you said, I think I'll try, Ketchikan. I'll have to make some changes to get there, but, I was leaning that way while doing research on my own and you confirmed it.

Again thanks, this is my first trip (but I hope not last) to your corner of the world.

Walrus.

This time I was looking for rental kayak and a short relaxing solo trip, I'm usually a C&R guy, but some fish are so good they get release into the grease. I hope to get back with more time tospend around the inside passage.

[grey zone]

Hi Rudy this is Randal, welcome to the site. Too funny, cabins in Alaska are popular.

[Aquahunter]

I'm so thrilled to see another kayak fishermen from Alaska, my future wife and I wanted to move up there and we'll be looking at lands to buy to build our cabin, would love to do some serious halibuts fishing!

[Kardinal_84]

Hey Randal! Thanks for turning me on to this site!

I'm surprised how many folks here have a connection to Alaska! That's awesome.

Matt, Mid July to August will likely have me fishing resurrection bay at least a few times. I have to admit, for filling the freezer my focus this year will be on halibut so I will likely be fishing Cook Inlet quite a bit. I do want to explore some of the water off Caines Head...I'd like to explore the ledge around 700 to 800 ft down...for a drop or two. Pray that I don't hit an arrowtooth or P-cod. I will likely try and hit the Silver derby there too for the heck of it.

We had a great time at Fox Island a few years back in May but the fishing was a tad slow. Scenery and whales were pretty cool. Here's a photo album of that trip.

https://plus.google.com/photos/110896815686143282688/albums/5882194770162294657?authkey=CIyxsff9ud7E0QE

Very nice forums folks. I'll definitely add it to my normal rounds. Let's fish!