Salmon Trolling on a Commercial Fishing Boat (3 days)

Just a quick word up front: like many others, this offer grew out of pure personal interest. Working on an Alaskan fishing boat was a big dream of mine, the founder of murkl.com. That's why, for me, this offer is one of the highlights on the platform. I was lucky enough to meet Geoff Petersen, an experienced skipper who has been fishing these waters since he was three years old. Together we managed to make this adventure possible for (almost) anyone. This makes murkl.com the only provider of salmon trolling in Alaska, because apart from Geoff and his »Ocean Wave«, there is no other skipper who lets adventure seekers on board his own boat.

The starting point for the salmon trolling is Elfin Cove, a truly quirky little fishing village. There are no tourists and no cars here, as it sits on an island off the coast. It can only be reached by boat or floatplane. The »Ocean Wave« is 14 meters (46 feet) long and equipped with a galley, kitchen and bunks. State-of-the-art safety and fishing equipment is on board as well. Right after the welcome, you slip into your survival suit to try it out and receive all the relevant instructions. When trolling, four to six long lines are let down into the water, each carrying many short fishing lines with hooks. The boat keeps moving slowly the whole time you're fishing. While you cruise past breathtaking scenery, the lines are hauled in one by one and the fish are brought »on board«. Once the lines are back in the water, it's time to gut the salmon and put them on ice.

In addition to skipper Geoff, there is another fisherman on board as a deckhand. His job is to make sure the amount of fish brought on board is enough to make the trip pay off. Along the way, he's happy to show you his work and of course appreciates your help. Please keep in mind that he is responsible first and foremost for the catch, and only second for being your »teacher« – it is a commercial fishing boat, after all. But one thing is certain: if you manage to bring in a bigger catch than Geoff and his deckhand would have made on their own, it definitely won't be to your disadvantage … Either way, you get to reserve the best fish of the catch for yourselves, whether to take home or as sushi in between.

A fishing day starts very early, usually at 4:00 a.m. There's a lot to experience before you drop anchor in a cozy bay in the evening. You'll be there when the fish is sold to one of the big tenders, and besides fish you'll see plenty of other animals such as whales, sea lions and sea otters. Amid all these impressions, Geoff spoils you around the clock, because he's not only your skipper but also your cook, your guide – and one of the best cocktail mixers around. As an old sea dog, he enjoys connecting with people this way and showing them his world.

On this 3-day version, you fly by floatplane to Elfin Cove on the morning of the first day and board around noon. You'll spend the next two days on the Ocean Wave. If you're interested, you're welcome to book a longer trip as well – just let us know.

Variations, such as a different duration, other fishing techniques, etc., are possible on request.