# Seward-Fishing.com — Complete Reference Guide (llms-full.txt) URL: https://seward-fishing.com/ Canonical Locality: Seward Small Boat Harbor, 1300 4th Ave, Seward, AK 99664 Coordinates: 60.1195° N, 149.4386° W --- ## 1. Seward Small Boat Harbor Float-to-Parking & Gangway Directory Source: City of Seward GIS (`Docks/FeatureServer/24` & `ParkingLots/FeatureServer/50`) and Municipal Harbor Diagram. Shoreside orientation only; always confirm exact slip assignment with the vessel captain the evening before departure. | Float | Basin Section | Best Parking Lot | Primary Gangway / Ramp | Free City Shuttle Stop | Key Landmarks | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Float A | South Basin | South Lot / South Uplands | South Ramp & G Connector | South Harbor St / KEFJ | Near South Boat Launch & Mariner's Memorial | | Float B | Central-South | Center Lot / South Lot | B Float Main Ramp | Harbormaster Office Stop | Silver Salmon Derby Weigh Booth & Fish Cleaning | | Float C | Central Basin | Center Parking Lot | Central Boardwalk Gangway | Harbormaster Office Stop | Directly below Harbormaster Office (1300 4th Ave) | | Float D | Central Basin | Center Parking Lot | Central Gangway via G | Harbormaster Office Stop | Mid-basin charter and mooring finger | | Float E | Deep Main Basin | Center Parking Lot | Central Gangway via G | Harbormaster Office Stop | Long finger extending to main channel | | Float F | North-Central | Center or North Lot | North-Central Gangway | Harbormaster / North Stop | Reserved berths & outer pumpout station | | Float G | Main Spine | Center or North Lot | Multiple Ramps (B to J) | Harbormaster or North Stop | Shore-parallel connector spine linking Floats A–L | | Float H | North Basin | North Parking Lot | J Dock / North Gangway | North Harbor St Stop | West of J Dock near Harbor 360 Hotel | | Float J | North Charter Hub | North Parking Lot | J Dock Main Ramp | North Harbor St Stop | J Dock Fish Cleaning & Weigh Station; major charter hub | | Float K | North Basin | North Parking Lot | J/L North Gangway | North Harbor St Stop | East of J Dock in North Basin | | Float L | Northeast Basin | North Parking Lot | North Gangway near Lift | North Harbor St / RR Depot | Adjacent to 50-Ton Travel Lift | | Floats M, N, O, P, Q | South/Breakwater | South Uplands / South Lot | South West Ramps | South Harbor St Stop | Q Float has fish cleaning & no-token sewage pumpout | | Float S | Southwest Launch | South Lot | South Boat Launch Ramp | South Harbor St Stop | Borders South Boat Launch | | T Dock & Fuel Float | East Working Basin | Shoreside / Dock St | East Dock St Access | East Harbor / Cruise Transfer | Crane, Fuel Float & Northeast Boat Launch | | Float X | East Basin | Shoreside & Northeast Lot | X Float East Gangway | East Harbor / X Float Rd | Loading zone, military section & kayak launch nearby | | Float Z | Southeast Breakwater | Shoreside Lot / Z Float Rd | Z Float South Ramp | East Harbor / Z Float Rd | USCGC Mustang berth & outer breakwater | --- ## 2. 12-Month Seward & Resurrection Bay Target Species Run Matrix Always verify in-season bag limits, size slots, and emergency orders with ADF&G (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/). - **Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis):** - Peak Months: June, July, August (Strong in May and September). - Typical Depth & Habitat: 120–400 ft over offshore gravel/boulder banks, Montague Strait, and outer coast pinnacles. - Typical Size: 15–45 lb eating-size average, with 80–150+ lb trophy potential on full-day outer coast trips. - **Silver / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch):** - Peak Months: July, August, early September. - Typical Depth & Habitat: Surface to 90 ft along Resurrection Bay kelp lines, Caines Head, Pony Cove, and point rips. - Typical Size: 8–16 lbs; headline species of the August Seward Silver Salmon Derby. - **King / Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha):** - Peak Months: May, June, early July (feeder Kings present year-round). - Typical Depth & Habitat: 40–160 ft trolling along rugged points and bait balls; requires ADF&G King Salmon Stamp. - **North Pacific Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus):** - Season: Strictly closed until **July 1** in Resurrection Bay / North Gulf Coast waters for nest-guarding conservation. Peak in July and August. - Typical Depth & Habitat: 60–250 ft rocky reefs and high-relief pinnacles. - **Black & Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes melanops / ruberrimus):** - Peak Months: May through September (available spring through fall). - Typical Depth & Habitat: Pelagic Black Rockfish school over 40–120 ft reefs; demersal Yelloweye inhabit 180–350 ft ledges. --- ## 3. Vessel Classes in Seward: 6-Pack vs. Multi-Passenger 1. **Uninspected 6-Pack Vessels (Max 6 Paying Passengers):** - Typical Hull: 28–36 ft heavy-gauge welded aluminum walkaround or cabin cruiser with twin outboards or diesels. - Advantages: Faster cruising speed (24–32 knots) to outer Gulf and Montague Island grounds; all 6 rods fish at once; ideal for private groups of 4–6. 2. **USCG-Inspected Multi-Passenger Vessels (7 to 22+ Passengers):** - Typical Hull: 42–60 ft twin-hull catamaran or wide-beam monohull. - Advantages: Spacious heated cabin, full walkaround rails, multiple deckhands, lower per-person shared-seat cost, and keeps groups of 7+ on a single boat. --- ## 4. Cruise Ship, Alaska Railroad & Highway Arrival Logistics - **Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic:** Departs Anchorage 6:45 AM, arrives Seward ~11:15 AM, departs Seward 6:00 PM. Same-day train riders **cannot** make 5:30–6:00 AM full-day charter departures; book an overnight stay in Seward or an afternoon half-day trip. - **Seward Cruise Ship Terminal:** Located 0.4 miles east of North Harbor. Disembarkation typically occurs 7:30–9:30 AM. Book a post-cruise hotel night in Seward for next-morning 6:00 AM full-day charters, or arrange a midday half-day Resurrection Bay trip. - **Seward Highway (AK-9) Drive:** 125 miles south of Anchorage (~2.5 to 3 hours via Turnagain Arm). --- ## 5. Fillet Yield & 50-Lb Airline Fish Box Math - **Whole-to-Boneless Fillet Recovery Rates:** - Pacific Halibut: ~48%–52% of whole round weight. - Silver / King Salmon: ~50%–55% of whole round weight (pin-boned fillets). - Rockfish & Lingcod: ~40%–44% of whole round weight. - **Airline Checked Fish Box Rules:** - Standard insulated wax-coated wet-lock box holds **~42–44 lbs of flash-frozen vacuum-sealed fillets** plus ~6–8 lbs of box/liner/gel-pack tare weight to stay under the strict **50.0 lb airline checked baggage limit** out of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). --- ## 6. DIY Shore & Family Fishing Trailheads in Seward 1. **Lowell Point State Recreation Site:** 2 miles south of the harbor; cast spoons/spinners from slate cobble beach for Coho (Aug–Sep) and Pink salmon (Jul–Aug). 2. **Waterfall Creek:** Along Lowell Point Road; freshwater cascade attracts staging salmon. 3. **Spring Creek / Fourth of July Beach:** East side of Resurrection Bay via Nash Road or water taxi; braided gravel fan. 4. **Resurrection River (Open Reaches Only):** Check ADF&G regulation markers around highway bridges carefully before fishing. 5. **Seward Lagoon Youth Fishery:** Designated youth-only hatchery terminal fishery dates for anglers under 16. --- ## 7. 71st Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby (August 2026) - **Dates:** August 8 – August 16, 2026. - **Core Eligibility Rules:** 1. Purchase your derby ticket **before** your line hits the water (online by 9:00 AM daily or in person by 1:00 PM at the Derby Booth). 2. Only Coho (Silver) salmon weighing **3.00 lbs or more** are eligible. 3. Fish must be hooked in the mouth (**no snag marks**). 4. All voyages must start and end in Resurrection Bay. 5. Weighed fish become Derby property to support salmon restoration, with a $5 angler buy-back option at the scale. --- ## 8. Named-Vessel & Harbor Berth Verification Directory (Updated November 2, 2026) City of Seward harbor rules allow seasonal or daily berth reassignment; published slips below reflect operator boarding instructions and public records, not permanent moorage guarantees. ### Critical Harbor Verification Principles 1. **Merged Identity at B-27:** **Current Affair Charters** and **Inn & Out Charters** are the same operation under **Capt. John Moline** (phone `(907) 362-1694`, `PO Box 2336`, boarding at **B-27**). Displayed as **Current Affair Charters** with *Inn & Out Charters* as the legacy name. 2. **Three Separate Location Types:** - **Office / Check-In Location:** Where guests pay or check in (e.g., Puffin Fishing Charters' business office at `1321 Fourth Avenue`, or The Fish House store). - **Boarding Float / Ramp:** Which harbor float or gangway guests walk down (e.g., ProFish-n-Sea's `B-Dock check-in area`, or `J-Dock`). - **Actual Vessel Slip:** The numbered stall (e.g., `B-27`, `C-10`, `E-18`, `F-47`). 3. **Non-Fishing & Out-of-Harbor Separation:** - **Seward Ocean Excursions** (`M-1, M-3, M-5, M-7`) expressly prohibits guests from fishing. - **Closer to the Wild** (`B-47`) runs wildlife photography tours rather than fishing charters. - **Miller's Landing** operates certain departures from **Lowell Point** (3 miles south of the Small Boat Harbor). ### Tier 1: Published Slip Assignments (Verify Morning Berth with Captain) - **Pure Alaska Company** — Slip **A-21** (Operator-published) - **Latitude 60 Marine** — Vessel ***Keep It Reel*** — Slip **B-11** (Operator-published) - **Current Affair Charters** (*legacy: Inn & Out Charters*, Capt. John Moline) — Slip **B-27** (Operator-published) - **Crackerjack Sportfishing** — Vessel ***Crackerjack*** — Slip **C-10** (Published boarding instructions) - **Gray Light Sportfishing** — Slip **C-19** (2026 charter listing; operator confirmation needed) - **Chieko Charters** — **Slip 3 (Historical C-3)** (Current listing omits dock letter; confirm float letter) - **Alaska Northern Outfitters** — Vessel ***Sea Quest*** — Slip **E-8** (Operator boarding directions) - **Crackerjack Sportfishing** — Vessel ***Crackerjack Voyager*** — Slip **E-18** (Published boarding instructions) - **Alaska Saltwater Charters** — Vessel ***Florette C*** — Slip **E-28** (Earlier ADF&G document; reconfirm for 2026/2027) - **Alaska Coastal Explorer** — Vessel ***Hope*** — Slip **F-47** (General FAQ lists F-47; half-day salmon page mentions **E-42** — flagged for confirmation) - **Fish Seward Alaska** — Slip **K-2** (Operator-published) - **Outer Coast Alaska** — Slip **K-24** (2026 visitor account; operator confirmation needed) ### Tier 2: Known Float / Boarding Area (Individual Vessel Slips Undisclosed) - **J-Dock Fishing Co.** — Vessels: ***Outer Limits***, ***Predator***, ***Tailwatcher*** (`Float J / J-Dock`) - **ProFish-n-Sea Charters** — Vessels: ***Pursuit***, ***Striker***, ***ProFish*** (`Float B / B-Dock check-in area`) - **Seward Fishing Club** — Vessel: ***Rainisong*** (`Float J / J-Dock area`) - **Crazy Ray's Adventures** — Vessel: ***Sound Crazy*** (`Float J / J-Dock check-in`) ### Tier 3: Multi-Vessel Harbor Fleets (Specific Berths Pending Verification) - **Puffin Fishing Charters** — Vessels: ***Tenacious***, ***Sorceress***, ***Huntress***, ***Offshore Hunter*** (Note: `1321 Fourth Avenue` is the business office, not vessel moorage) - **The Fish House** — Vessels: ***Perseverance***, ***Servant***, ***Revelation***, ***Harvester / Relentless*** - **Aurora Charters** — Vessels: ***Polaris***, ***Orion***, ***Aurora***, ***Emerald Fjord*** - **Blue Ice Charters** — Vessels: ***Snowbird***, ***Salty Loot***, ***Yanichka*** - **Saltwater Safari** — Vessels: ***Legend***, ***Legacy***, ***Renegade***