Fishing
Halibut
The waters around Elfin Cove are rich with baitfish and other aquatic sea life that allow our halibut to grow large. We fish in waters that average 200ft and the tidal exchange is relatively calm. Our professional and seasoned captains work hard to find the best and calmest waters which has helped us build a reputation for consistently putting our clients on big fish. It’s not uncommon to catch many 100 pounders during your stay, and the lodge record is a 386 pound halibut!
Salmon
As salmon migrate from places like the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska they will pass through Icy Strait and Cross Sound where they will continue to feed on the abundant supply of baitfish. Our captains know the travel lanes the salmon take, and they know how to expertly fish these waters. Aboard our stable and comfortable boats you will troll for salmon depending on the conditions. Trolling with the use of downriggers is very common and quite effective.
The vast majority of waters we fish are relatively calm. In other areas you can get some tide swings up to 24 feet, but here in Elfin Cove the average tidal range is 8.6 feet. This means you are much less likely to experience sea sickness. We pride ourselves in fishing calm waters.
Our salmon season begins in May and lasts through September. King salmon average 20 pounds and weigh upwards of 60 pounds (the lodge record is 62 pounds!) Coho salmon, also called silvers, average 10 pounds and can weigh up to 20 pounds. We are confident you will agree Elfin Cove offers the best salmon fishing throughout Alaska.
Bottomfish
You’ll be happy to know that the waters we fish are heavily populated with a variety of bottom/rockfish, including world-class ling cod, monster yelloweye, sea bass, and a variety of other species. It is fairly common for our guests to catch a limit of salmon or halibut then spend a couple hours jigging for bottom fish. It is not uncommon to catch ling cod that is 3 or 4 feet long, a yelloweye that weighs over 10 pounds (the lodge record is 22 pounds!), and a limit of sea bass in a matter of hours. This makes an excellent way to end the day on the water.
