Alaska Fishing

Dr. Mary Travelbest’s Travel Guide to Alaska Fishing FAQ: How can I feel safe when I travel to a new place? I get an uneasy feeling when I visit somewhere I’ve never been before. Answer: Feeling safe and protected is part of why I have this podcast for independent travelers, and especially women who travel or want to travel. I researched through a survey of the listeners, and this is what you are most concerned about. The levels or steps of travel is what you should consider before you set out and it is part of your planning process. That is, you start at the first level of travel and work toward higher levels. Level one is for beginners and if that’s you, start there. Expect to practice and get more experience at the level where you are before you step into the next stage of travel. If you don’t feel safe, your trip won’t be what you expect, so follow good guidance and prepare ahead of time. Every trip will be different, so getting the experience before you travel and knowing the level needed for that trip is critical to you feeling safe. My next travel book will be focused on this, so stay tuned. Today’s Independent Special- Alaska Fishing and hiking for women I’ve been fishing in Alaska since 1993 and have been lucky to catch a 125 lb. halibut, several rockfish and enjoyed my independent travels around the outdoors as a hiker throughout the state. Alaska is a destination where you can find 3000 rivers, three million lakes and 6640 miles of coastline. So what about fishing and hiking in the area? They say “So many fish, so little time to enjoy.” The Division of Sport Fish allows for protection, maintenance and improving the sport fisheries. Where you begin depends on you. The easy starting place is to visit the coastal area in person and get to know the boats that arrive with plenty of fish. The best captains are those you like, have good recommendation and reputations. If time allows, get to know some of the captains by visiting the dock prior to booking. Here you will explore some of the ways that fish are frozen and shipped back home, too. So before you get on the boat, know what you want to do with your catch. You can cook them up at your local restaurant and eat them tonight, or freeze, pick up on the way to the airport and have them shipped frozen on your plane. Or you can ship them to arrive at a later date, when you’ll be home and they will be kept frozen until then. If you have a good captain for your fishing trip, you’ll likely catch fish. Now it’s up to you to decide how much do you want to bring home. You most likely will pay an extra fee to ship your boxes of frozen fish on the plane, however, that is a small fee compared to what you would pay to have it mailed home. Fish stays good in your freezer with the correct conditions for a year, and some say, indefinitely. You can easily pick up a fishing license before you head out on the water. Know the day/days you will be fishing and the fish which you will be catching, because the license could be different depending on the day and region. The rules on what fish you can catch and how much is the limit changes, so ask a lot of questions here. See the show notes for details on where to look. Both times we caught enough fish to pay for our trips, in fish that we ate back home, that is. So if you are planning a trip to Alaska, consider how much you plan to catch, and then how you will save them. My two favorites places to fish Alaska are Seward and Homer. Seward We had good fishing luck here on the Kenai with full day trips from Seward. When we brought a fish to the local restaurant, they were happy to cook and season the fish to our taste. What a delight that was. https://www.homeralaska.org/fishing/ Homer The Halibut Capital of the World, and you can catch all kinds of fish and views, too. This is at the very end of Highway 5, also called, the end of the road. https://www.homeralaska.org/fishing/ http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishing.matrix https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.when Hiking in Alaska makes me smile, Be sure to be ready for the state bird, the mosquito, to join the hike. Protect your skin from other things like poison ivy, too. Expect rain, so prepare to be wet and muddy during your hike. You also may see some exceptional rainbows. https://www.alltrails.com/us/alaska Today’s lesson learned-Seasick around the world I’ve been seasick many times, and these feelings ruin a good boat trip. All around the world, I have contributed to the fish food in the ocean. Don’t be like me. Don’t eat a big meal before you board the boat. Take a Dramamine or other seasickness remedy well ahead of boarding and give it time to work. Stay above board and look at the horizon to keep your equilibrium. Wear the special wristbands or patches behind your ear that prevent seasickness and nausea. https://www.space.com/spaceflight https://www.spacex.com/ Connect with Dr Travelbest Website Drmarytravelbest.com Mary Beth on Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram