Living Alaska, The Fishing License

We Got Fish

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Have you ever dreamed of catching a 45-pound King Salmon and a 50-pound Halibut in the same day? Well not only is it possible but likely if you have the right guide and you depart from my hometown. I arrived by bicycle from San Francisco in July 2021. The Salmon season was off to a great start. I realized this by all the happy fishers in Ketchikan. They had a great year. I was happy because everybody was feeding me free salmon steaks. I love salmon, the only fish I like better is Halibut.

One of my co-workers gave me a few halibut steaks last August. He caught them locally the day before. I was a happy man. I would have been happier if I had caught them myself. I was new to the town and had other things that took precedence over fishing. For the diehard fisher, you might ask what could take precedence over fishing? For me that would have been finding an apartment, getting a job, and keeping the job to pay the rent. I figured I would have plenty of time to fish next year.

I am on track to meet my goal of catching the King and a big Halibut in the same day come next summer. If I keep my current job, I might even have enough money to buy a little boat for some local fishing without having to beg, borrow, or whine to get on a friend’s. I also will qualify for the Alaska Resident Fishing License next summer. I am doing…