Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Two Rednecks Go To Kodiak

Some final photos. It was truly a great trip. Lots of laughter and memories that will last forever.

Guess the name of this rock.



What is this?



Coast Guard reprezintin'



Otters were plentiful.



The face of an embarrassed 15 year old boy when your burp shakes the restaurant walls.



Doubled up!



Chiniak Highway.



Mark and Tyler.



Dinner. 2 days ago this thing was swimming. Tonight it is chili lime caper halibut.

Looks like a great trip Paul, thanks for taking us along.

How much of that Halibut did you pack home?

We checked 200 pounds of fish, most of which was halibut. We also left about 75 pounds of fish with Andy.

Almost forgot to mention a nice little bonus. 357 Federal brass has been impossible to find. A little sporting goods store on the Island had 3 bags marked at pre-stupidity prices.

"Big Red's"

Big Rays. Used to be Macs when I was stationed there.

Cool beans. Glad you had a good trip.

Looks like a great trip dranrab luap.

What did it cost you to check that much fish if you don't mind me asking?

And congrats on a great trip, looks like a good time.

With American, the first checked bag is 30 bucks, the second is 40 bucks. We bought $25 igloo coolers for shipping. The third checked bag jumped up to $150. As long as it is frozen, it's good to go.

Those salmon berries are pretty good eating.

A couple tips for packing fish home... some may have changed due to all the current problems... Alaska Air does not charge first class for extra bags. Look for first class on your return. Do not waste space in your coolers with ice, the mass will stay plenty frozen for a full day and then some. Fish boxes with mylar bubble pack are very effective. Alaska charges for extra bags OR oversize OR overweight bags, but only one charge per bag. You might as well make them 70#...

On Alaska Air out of Kodiak, AK, you used to (2015) be able to check two 50# boxes for $20 (IIRC).
Our charter boat took all fish to Island Seafoods for processing.
I had one box of fish that sat on the baggage scale and would fluctuate between 50.00 and flicker to 50.01, then back to 50.00.
They knew their stuff! LOL!

The last time up, my b-i-l and me knew we could leave with 200 pounds of fish. When Island Seafood got through processing our fish, we had 195 pounds!
I had them stuff 5 pounds of smoked salmon in the lite box and mark it!

NOTE:
We fished Fri, Sat and Sun. Then laid over Monday. The extra day gave Island Seafood time to process our fish and be certain it was well frozen prior to shipping.*

* - we picked it up and checked it as baggage

I haven't been to Kodiak in seven years. I'm sure a bit has changed.

I would give just about anything to make a trip to Kodiak and have the freedom to fish with a local like this group did!
We always went with a charter and stayed at the Best Western. It's a short stroll from the Best Western to the harbor each day.

I thought I'd add this "tidbit" of info too!
First time I went to Kodiak (2010), the kid booked me on America Airlines DFW to ANC.
Then booked me on Ravn Air ANC to ADQ.
All connections went well with no problems.
When I went back in 2012, I did the same thing!
WRONG!
We got fogged in on Kodiak for 6 extra days!
Ravn got us to ANC finally, but we had missed our AA flight!
Therefore, there was a $500 "rebook" fee from ANC to DFW!
Forewarned, when we went up on 2015, I booked Alaska Air the entire route. No more "rebook" fees due to unexpected delays!

Revenge is dish best served cold...

I just use the waxed fish boxes with a plastic bag liner.
Flown a couple hundred pounds of mixed Reds/Kings from King Salmon AK to Tampa FL every year for about the last 20.

Worse case, a few filets on top a box might be getting soft enough to be able to bend them a little. I think it's pretty cold in those baggage compartments on the planes.

Just have a freezer cold and ready at your destination!

Costs go about like Sitka Deer exsplained.

Note: My boxes of fish come out of a -30 freezer just before I head to the airport.
Results would differ with barely frozen fish.

That halibut looks killer.