Departing Ketchikan Hotels, Airports, and Your Fish
Leaving the Lodge and/or Leaving Ketchikan
You will depart Sportsman's Cove Lodge the evening of your last day of fishing. The floatplane will pick you and your fish up around 4:30 p.m. If you are departing Ketchikan that evening, you will be delivered to the airport dock for immediate check-in and departure. If you are spending the night in Ketchikan, the floatplane will deliver you to the Ketchikan "waterfront" terminal where a hotel courtesy van or taxi will take you to your hotel.
If you are staying overnight in Ketchikan, your fish will be stored free of charge in our airport freezer. Fish boxes will be delivered to the airport terminal for pick up 2 hours before your departing flight.
Ketchikan Airport Ferry; Ketchikan Water Taxi
Getting from your Ketchikan hotel to the Airport: Upon checking into your hotel, please tell the front desk about your airport transportation needs. We recommend getting to the airport at least 90 minutes prior to your flight. Remember to account for the 5-minute ferry ride to the airport – if you miss the ferry, you will have to wait a half-hour for the next one! Also, it may take extra time to identify your fish boxes and to go through the security procedures.
Option #1
When checking into your hotel, ask the desk clerk if they have a courtesy ride to the airport. If they do, the courtesy van will only take you to the ferry landing. From there you will have to transport your bags down the ferry ramp and onto the ferry. (Carts are available) This is not recommended if you have physical limitations of any sort.
Option #2
Call Rich at Tongass Water Taxi (907-209-TAXI or 907-225-TAXI) and arrange to have him pick you up at any waterfront location. He will drop you off at the Airport dock and will assist you with bags up the ramp and into the airport. This is a unique way to get to and from any waterfront location around Ketchikan.
(* Not recommended for rainy/windy days!)
What To Do With Your Fish
We prepare, vacuum-pack and freeze your fish. We add a layer of foil bubble wrap as extra insulation in our waxed boxes. For shipping we include frozen gel-packs. The boxes are fastened with nylon banding straps for shipping. Each fish box should weigh slightly less than 50 pounds and will be labeled with your name, address, phone number and flight number. Aero Services will make your fish boxes available to you at the airport terminal 2 hours prior to your scheduled departure.
Don't Want to Worry About Your Fish?
FedEx them home! Let us know and we will arrange to have your fish sent directly from the Lodge to your home via FedEx. (Extra charges apply)
Long Layover in Seattle?
If you have a layover that is in excess of 3 hours or you are spending the night, we recommend checking your fish only as far as Seattle. Upon arriving in Seattle, claim your fish boxes from baggage claim and store them at "Ken’s Baggage and Frozen Food". They are located just a few steps from Alaska Airlines Baggage Claim — between carousel 12 & 13. Ken's rates are usually $14.00 per 50 lb. box. To contact them call 206-433-5333 or visit www.kensbaggage.com.
