If you've never held a rod in your life and you're staring down your first charter trip, take a breath: you're in good company. Booking your first fishing charter is exciting and if you've never fished before, it's normal to have a few questions. Here's what you need to know to get ready, from the basics every beginner should pack, to the details specific to fishing Southeast Alaska's waters.

Many guests don't realize how much they're investing in an Alaska fishing trip until something unexpected happens. A quality travel insurance policy can cover trip cancellations or interruptions, emergency medical care, evacuation, baggage delays, and missed connections, particularly important when traveling to Southeast Alaska.