Frequently asked questions about fishing the Kenai River.
Q: What is included in the price of a charter?
A: The charter price includes all the bait, tackle, and gear you’ll need, as well as the filleting of your catch.
Q: How far from Anchorage is Soldotna?
A: Soldotna is about 150 miles south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway.
Q: Where can I get lodging?
A: Soldotna has a lot of hotel and motels available.
Q: Do I need a fishing license?
A: Anyone aged 16 or older needs an Alaska State sport fishing license. For Alaska residents the cost is $24 annually. For non residents, license can be purchased for 1 day for $20.00; 3 days for $35.00; 7 days for $55.00 and two weeks for $80.00. A separate stamp is required for King Salmon fishing.
Q: Where can I buy a license?
A: They are available at Trust worthy hardware store in Soldotna and throughout Alaska and at a lot of the General Store and may also be ordered online through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: In addition to a fishing license, you will need to bring food and beverages. We recommend you wear warm, layered clothing and waterproof shoes, and bring raingear, hat, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, and seasickness remedies. You might want to bring a camera and binoculars, as well. A cooler is helpful for transporting your fish home at the end of the day
Q: Should I bring a cooler on the boat?
A: You won’t need to bring your fish cooler out on the boat – there will be time to get it as the fish are being filleted. You’re welcome to bring a small cooler for your lunch, if you’d like.
Q: How long is the fishing trip?
A: We offer half day trips that are 6 hours long or full day trips that are 12 hours long.
Q: Can I bring alcohol?
A: Although we do not allow hard liquor on board, you are welcome to enjoy a moderate amount of beer during your trip.
Q: Can I smoke?
A: You are welcome to enjoy a cigarette out on the deck.
Q: Can I bring my own rod and reel?
A: You are certainly free to bring your own gear, although we do supply gear as part of the trip.
Q: How can I pay?
A: For charters, we accept cash, checks, and VISA and MasterCard. We cannot accept Discover or American Express.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Trips canceled because of weather conditions will result in a complete refund of your deposit. Cancellations made 20 days or more prior to the trip result in a full refund. If the cancellation is made within the 20 days prior to the trip, your 50% deposit will be forfeited.
Q: Can we keep the fish we catch?
A: You decide whether or not to keep a fish you catch – we don’t choose your fish for you or make you keep fish you don’t want, unless that fish will not survive if it is released.
Q: What if I don’t want all my fish?
A: We ask that you release all fish that you don’t plan to eat. Sometimes people find out the cost of processing and shipping their fish then decide they don’t want it. Consider this as you’re out fishing and we’ll help you release the fish you don’t need.
Q: Do you “party fish”?
A: We do not party fish. It is illegal per Alaska State Law.
Q: Can I catch fish for my friend who’s sick?
A: Under Alaska law, the person who hooks the fish is the person who caught it. You can help someone reel up a fish, but they need to have hooked it or it will count against your catch limit.
Q: What is the catch limit for Salmon?
A: The catch limit for King or Chinook salmon, the limit is one per person per day and only two per season off The Kenai River.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
A: Our guide have been operating fishing charters on the Kenai River for 22 years and we started Gotta Fish Charters in 1995.
