Frequently Asked Questions

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The best way to book your ideal charter on Automatic is to contact us directly. Call or text 907.204.8184 or email us at automaticsportfishingak@gmail.com. Charter fishing is a personal business that works best when we know what you want out of a charter.

To reserve a day, Automatic Sport Fishing Alaska requires a credit card on file. You will be charged a Deposit of $500.00 in lieu of your reservation. On the day of your fishing trip you may pay the remainder of your balance with a credit card or cash. We have a 72 hour cancellation policy. Cancellations within 72 hours of a scheduled charter will result in penalty of your deposit. 

The boat is located in Bar Harbor, Kethikan, AK. The captain will move the boat to a pick up location that will be a short walk from your cruise ship berth.

We will meet you at your cruise ship dock. The captain will be holding a sign with you name on it. In town guest will meet at a  agreed upon location. 

Automatic is a 25' LOA Raider. The boat has a  enclosed cabin, and spacious back deck providing plenty of comfortable seating and fishing room for everyone. Automatic is equipped with a clean and functional marine porta potty.

• USCG Licensed captain
• 25' LOA Raider, cabin cruiser boat
• new top-of-the-line fishing gear
• Bait & Tackle
• Safety equipment
• some rain gear
• water, soda and snacks
• Delivery of catch to fish processor 

• Sport fishing license 
• King salmon stamp
• Fish processing
• processing fee and sales tax
• Gratuities  

Some fish you might catch on our offshore trips are:

• Halibut 
• Salmon (King, Silver, Pink, Chum)
•  Ling Cod
• Rock fish (Dusky, Black, Widow, Yellow Tail)

Please see our photo gallery in the Recent Catch section of the website.

yes, a fishing license is required. Anyone 16 and older will need to purchase a one-day sport fishing license at $25. If you are fishing for king salmon you will also need a King stamp at $15 each. you will need to have the fishing license on you while you are fishing. click the link to purchase your fishing license and print for a physical copy. (mandatory)  https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishing.main

The current fishing regulations for Ketchikan, Alaska charter fishing for 2024 can be found here.https://www.adfg.alaska.gov

Unit 2C southeast fishing regulations chance every year. The best way to keep up on the updates are to visit the Alaska Fish and Game website or ask your guide upon booking your fishing trip.

A Quick guide to this question (non-resident)

• Halibut - one per license up to 40" until July 15. From July 15 through the end of year the size limit will reduce to 36"
• King Salmon- one per license starting on June 15. must be 28" or larger.
• Ling cod- One Daily, 2 annually. Size Limit  30"-35" or 55" and greater.
• Coho/Pink salmon- 6 daily per license. size limit 16" or greater.
• Rock fish- 5 daily per license of any size. must be (Pelagic)
•  black cod- 4 per license. no size limit
• pacific cod- open limit

We try to keep our customers as comfortable as possible but the weather is out of our control. To our standards, the water usually isn't "rough". The ocean affects people differently, however, motion sickness sometimes happens. If you're unsure whether you may be susceptible to seasickness, it's best to err on the side of caution and take medication such as Dramamine or Bonine

Clients need to bring food and beverages of their choice, a printed out fishing license. If you are planning on fishing for king salmon you will need to add a king stamp to your license. Some other things you should bring are sunwear, rain gear including water proof shoes, rain jacket and warm layers. and most importantly a positive attitude. Please refrain from bringing glass bottles and spray-on sunscreen. We will have extra water, snacks, soda, sunscreen and some rain gear on the boat. 

We always recommend being prepared with layers and rain gear. you can always shed layers if you get too warm. Alaska is a rain forest climate and can change suddenly. 

Yes, here is what you need to know

We provide the transportation of your fish to a 3rd party processing facility. The processor will fillet, vacuum seal and freeze your catch. You will choose a date to FedEx ship your fish to your home. If you are staying in Ketchikan for several days then you have the option for the processor  to hold your fish for you until your departure date. Cost range from $10 to $12 a pound, that price would included everything from ocean to table.

Unfortunately, catching fish is not an absolute certainty. Generally, longer charters have better odds of catching quality fish. The only guarantee we can make is that we will try our very best to put you on the fish.

Automatic is licensed for a maximum of 6 customers, no exceptions. Although we do recommend 4 guest for maximum comfort.