Current News from Alaska Far West Fish Camp

Come see us at the winter shows - TX and NV

2011-01-13T14:33:00.001-08:00

And we eat well too!

It's time to start thinking of a fishing trip this summer - beats looking at snow! We have booths at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo starting Jan. 14, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo starting Feb. 3 and the Austin Rodeo which starts March 11. We'll also be at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation convention in Reno March 3 - 6.

We are booking trips now but do have some great times available - as of this posting anyway. The only decision to make is what kind of salmon you want to fish for: kings are there when we arrive in mid June and go well into July. The silvers start showing up around the end of June/first of July and go through August. Halibut, ling cod and rock fish are always around.

This year, you may have heard that charter fishing operations in SE Alaska must have halibut permits in order to take people out fishing for halibut. Not to worry, we have 5 permits due to our history of operating since 1995.

Come on up! Give us a call or send an email. We'd love to talk to you about possibilities.

Trip of a Lifetime

2010-08-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

My dad, brothers and I had a trip of a lifetime.

The salmon came in the night before we arrived, so we caught plenty of fish, had beautiful weather, and think that this is the best time we have ever had, just the boys.

Will was a great skipper, and the most impressive thing is that you feel like you are home from the moment you get to the camp. It is a perfect intimate setting that is all about family, memories and fishing. All three elements were top notch. I have never been on a trip like this before, but believe that the bar has been set so high, that I would only go with Alaska Far West if I ever get the chance again.

Thank you sooooo much Pete, Tony, Will, Ed, Roy, Krystine, Samantha. I hope we get the chance to come again and re-live the experience.

My first trip to Alaska

2010-07-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Please convey my sincere thanks to [the crew] for an excellent fishing adventure July 5 - 9, 2010. This was my first trip to Alaska and to a fishing camp. The fishing was great (see pictures) and the Alaska Far West services were first class. Your staff really made the trip enjoyable from the moment we boarded the float plane in Ketchikan to our departure with box loads of fish.

As a fishing novice, I appreciated the help and support from your fishing captains (Billy and Will) for setting up the fishing rods, baiting the hooks, netting the catch and cleaning the fish. More than that though, I appreciated the constant support and encouragement.

The accommodations and food were great and the Alaska scenery was spectacular! Again, many thanks to everyone at AFW for a wonderful trip and loads of great memories.

Mike from San Diego

A new season

2010-07-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a while but we got started June 17. Big tides slowed salmon fishing for a while but it seems to be back on track now.

First time guests Bill and Mike from Delaware sent these pictures from their June 23 - 27 trip.

"Mike and I had a really great time. We recognize the salmon fishing was still slow, but we also enjoyed the great fishing for other species, and the great wild Alaskan experience.

Also, everyone at AFW was extremely attentive to our needs, and really fun to be with.

Thanks to all for a wonderful time with Alaska Far West."

Eagle grabbing dinner.

A few early silvers showed up along with the kings we expect in June. Everyone enjoys the Alaska spot prawns for appetizers. We pull the pots every day.

And we can still keep a few yellow eyes!

2010 is around the corner!

2009-11-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

We have started booking for the 2010 season. We have already welcomed a lot of returning guests before we start our show season in Las Vegas December 3. We have some great times still available in June, July and August so don't hesitate to call or send an e-mail.

We will be in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo center Dec. 3 - 13 during the National Finals Rodeo.
January 27 - 31 we'll be at the Washington Sportsmen's show at the Puyallup Fairgrounds in Washington.
February 11 - 14 we 'd love to see you at the Midessa boat and rv show in Midland/Odessa TX.
March 4 - 7 is the Rocky Mt Elk Foundation convention in Reno NV.
March 12 - 27 we hope to return to Rodeo Austin in Austin, TX.

In the meantime, we are in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This is the place to be during the cold, wet, gray winters at home. Please see our boats at www.paradisesportfishing.com. We are enjoying low to mid 80's weather, light breezes and good fishing.

Let's go fishing -- now in Cabo and next summer in Alaska!!

Fishing from a kayak!?!

2009-07-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Great shrimp shish-ka-bobs!

Nice kings still around!

There is more than one way to catch fish! A couple of brave souls fishing from kayaks near camp - and successfully!

Fishing and weather are still good. Come on up!!

Oops - forgot a couple of pictures

2009-07-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Lots of happy fisher men and women. Nice kings are still around as well as halibut.

Still a little time left to come to Alaska!

2009-07-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

This could be you with your boxes of fillets on your way home from Alaska, ready for your home freezer and the next barbecue with friends and family. Fly out from Ketchikan on this beautiful, fast and comfortable Caravan amphibian plane.

King fishing has been good this year and the silvers are plentiful. Add in some nice halibut, rock fish and ling cod and you have a wonderful variety, all close by our camp. No long rides to the fishing areas.

We still have some limited space available in late July and the first half of August so don't delay and then kick yourself later for not giving yourself this great experience!

more pictures

2009-07-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Just sent to me: the bears are still down on the beach. Kings are still around. Didn't know halibut could read! We're trying out a few kayaks this summer - we've seen some beautiful spots close by!

New Season - great fishing!

2009-07-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

The guys had a great trip going north; good water, good weather and a great crew to help. Our first guests arrived June 18 and found king fishing in full swing. King salmon up to 35-40 pounds were waiting for us as well as nice ling cod and halibut.

Notice the calm water, not unusual in our area since we don't need to go out into the ocean unless we/you want to. Note the boxes of frozen, vacuum packed fillets all ready for the flight home to what could be YOUR freezer!

We still have some limited space available for the 2009 season and hope to see you in SE Alaska soon!

Fantastic trip

2008-08-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

"I would just like to thank you and the crew for a fantastic trip. We knew we would have fun no matter what the conditions were but we did not have any idea of the magnitude. We will be back. Pete was especially friendly and open. Will is definitely a keeper..... Thank you again for allowing us to share your piece of paradise."

- first time guests, a couple from Colorado, August 1 - 4

Had a great time

2008-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

From a father and son on their second visit:

"Wanted to let you know that my son and I had a great time on our fishing trip August 7 - 10. The weather was perfect, the seas were calm, the fish were biting (T.. caught a 100 lb. halibut!), the food was great, and the staff was terrific! It was truly the trip of a lifetime! Thanks for inviting us back."

from northern Caifornia. Thanks for the good word - we always appreciate knowing we're doing a good job for you.

Lots of huge silvers

2008-08-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

Pete called me yesterday while they were out fishing. He said the silver fishing is the best he's seen in a long time - and the biggest silvers in years. They pulled one in while he was on the phone and he said it looked like a king. Silver salmon in the mid to high teens is great fun. This is what I'm looking forward to when I get there later this month - big feisty silvers; my cup of salmon fishing!

Kings bite, silvers showing up

2008-07-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

The guys tell me they are pretty much still limiting on kings. The biggest I've heard of to date is around 40 - 42 pounds; not too shabby!

I talked to Pete yesterday and he said they started seeing silvers about a week ago, right on schedule, and in the last day or so they have shown up in large numbers. This makes things more fun for sure! Love that silver action.

Even with a few weather difficulties (welcome to SE Alaska), everyone has been having a great time. One group of first-timers reported that they'd never been salt water fishing before (only midwest lakes) and were blown away by the variety of fish and the action.

Comments from first guests of 2008

2008-06-25T06:26:00.001-07:00

"Just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the excellent trip we just had in Alaska. Pete, Tony and the crew were excellent! Mike and I have been talking about your camp for the past few years and it was everything we told our two friends about and more. Even with the change in regulations, it was most excellent. My other two friends were very impressed and are still talking about it." - Chuck from Arizona

Alaska Airlines baggage policy change

2008-06-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well it was just a matter of time, but Alaska Airlines is changing their checked baggage policy to go along with others who already started. As of July 1 you will be charged $25.00 for the second checked bag. If you travel before July 1 or booked your ticket before May 1, the old policy is still in effect: no charge for the second bag.

Why is this important? Most people take home 2 boxes of filleted, frozen and vacuum packed fish. We have always suggested people check these as their baggage. We strongly recommend you try very hard to bring your clothes in a carry-on bag as the 3rd checked bag for an individual will be an addtional $100.00!!!

Hmmmmmm. Do you suppose this is their way of offsetting part of the rapidly increasing fuel costs without having to call it a fuel surcharge?

Think warm, think Cabo, think summer!!

2008-01-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

It's still very much winter here. I'm looking out at the snow on the ground thinking it's time to go first to Cabo San Lucas to do some warm weather fishing on Vaquero or Cabolicious (our 35'Cabo Yachts charter boats), then plan for summer fishing in Alaska. Our Cabo website, paradisesportfishing.com, is undergoing a major change so keep an eye on it.

Pete and Tony just finished the Puyallup sportsmen's show yesterday. Just about the only times available for 2008 Alaska are in August, but check with us as things change around sometimes. A few dates in June and July are not "cast in stone" yet.

Great Trip!

2007-08-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

We got back from Alaska Far West on August 14 and are just now getting time to write.

What a time!! The fishing was excellent as usual. The halibut were sized perfectly this year. I don't know how Pete and Tony and Jeremy know how them get them just the right size. They were between 60 and 92 lbs and a number of them caught on the lighter 30 lb tackle. The yellow eye were magnificent this year, as a group some of the largest we have seen, and this author was personally lucky enough to catch 2 ling cod between 30" and 35" over the course of the trip. The silvers were very nice sized, and we even caught 3 or 4 late-season Kings.

Thank you Pete & Joanie for supporting our troops

Anticipation

Coffee Shop talk

The crew did a great job. The only problem was Saul's cooking; we all gained too much weight. What a chef!!!! Excellent job. If you think maintaining or losing weight is in your plan while at Dall Island, think again. We hope he chooses to return next year.

This man is thoroughly dangerous to your waistline

We had two new guests in our group this year and they both agreed it was one of the finest trips they had taken.

Sonny and the Halibut

As far from the Arabian Gulf as you can get

Revenge after a 30 minute, 92 lb battle

We also had a rare treat this year. The group below is not "ZZ Top." They have been dubbed "Billy and the Drifters." Their new hit single "The Kiagani Drift" might climb the charts—maybe Tony's halibut weight chart? Honestly, the only real talent they have, besides a sense of humor, is Sonny (on the left ). He went from foghorn to falsetto in an instant when he hooked into that 85 lb halibut on a salmon rig.

Billie and the Drifters

After 12 years of fishing with Alaska Far West, Pete, Tony and the rest of the crew, the place never ceases to excite and amaze us. We are already looking forward to next year.

2 stars

Side trip to a back country lake - see Pacific Airways

Misty Fjords

Goats on the mountain

Fishing Augst 17 - 20, 2007

2007-08-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

"I had such a Great Time I'm ready to go again. This was the best fishing I have ever experienced. The weather was wonderful, even better than I'm used to going out the Golden Gate. I'm attaching a picture of the Sunday Morning Sunrise taken from the stern of the "Tinker Toy". It's just beautiful.

THANKS AGAIN for a Wonderful Trip."

first time guest from California

A great time

2007-08-22T11:50:00.001-07:00

"Just wanted to once again Thank You for a great time. The crew was great and the chef was awesome. The people we were with were a lot of fun and we both fit in OK. We are planning on coming again next August hopefully with the same people .... Tell Pete that we enjoyed being on his boat. Ed and Will were great deck hands..... We couldn't have asked for better weather. Please tell all the crew that they all did a great job and was a pleasure meeting all of them." -- from a Nevada couple 8/13-17/07

Had A Great Time

2007-08-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with the gang up North. Capt. Tony showed us a great time and the oldest daughter, age 9, caught the big fish of the trip (again) at 39 pounds. Youngest daughter held her own with a nice 25 pounder, and Mom was happy with a 25 and 30. As for me, I was just glad to see the girls having a good time. As I told Tony, "may as well corrupt them with something you can live with". PS; the cook is great as long as you're not on a diet.

Joe from Washington State, visiting with his mother and 2 young daughters July 25 - 28.

Note: The kids did catch their own fish!!