New to Fishing? How to Prepare for Your First Fishing Charter Trip (No Experience Needed)
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. What do I actually need to bring? What if I get seasick? Do I need my own gear? The good news is that preparing for your first trip is simpler than it might seem, and most of what you need comes down to a little planning ahead of time.
If your first trip happens to be in Southeast Alaska, there are a few extra things worth knowing. The weather here is famously unpredictable, rainforest conditions mean quick shifts from sun to rain to wind, often in the same day. The fish are different than what most first-timers expect, and logistics like float plane transfers and Alaska-specific fishing licenses aren't things you'll run into on a typical lake trip back home.
None of this should be intimidating. With the right preparation, first-time anglers land some of the best catches of their lives on their very first trip. 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.
What to Wear
Every first-time angler should plan to dress in layers. Conditions on the water are almost always cooler and windier than they look from shore, and once you're out fishing, you can't just head inside to warm up.
That's especially true in Southeast Alaska, where the weather doesn't just get cold, it changes on you. Ketchikan sits within the largest North American rainforest and the World's largest remaining intact temperate rainforest, averaging 140-160 inches of rain per year, so good rain gear is a must, and dressing in layers is a smart move if you want to enjoy the outdoors comfortably. Sportsman's Cove Lodge's own pre-trip guide echoes this, recommending base, insulation, and outer shell layers for fishing, along with a fleece or pullover for wet or windy days and a cap or beanie to block sun or wind.
Rain Gear & Footwear
Beyond layers, good rain gear and the right boots can be the difference between an amazing first trip and a miserable one. Wet, cold feet have a way of draining the fun out of a day on the water faster than almost anything else.
Anglers who've fished Southeast Alaska back this up consistently. One angler who fished out of Homer advised dressing warm and in layers, and definitely bringing rain gear along with fishing bibs and a jacket, since sea conditions can get rough given the region's unpredictable tidal patterns. The reassuring part for beginners: you typically don't need to buy any of this yourself. Sportsman's Cove provides boots, bibs, and jackets on-site in sizes ranging from small to 3XL (boots 6–15), so all you need to pack are boot inserts or gel insoles for comfort, and maybe a pair of wool or thermal socks for colder days.
Do You Need Your Own Gear?
One of the most common questions from first-timers and usually a relief to answer. On the vast majority of charters, the fishing gear is already covered. In most cases, when fishing with a guide or on a charter, the gear that's needed will be provided, though it's worth talking to your guide if you have a favorite rod you'd like to bring along.
That's exactly how it works at Sportsman's Cove: rods, reels, bait, and all fishing tackle are included as part of the trip. Combined with the provided boots, bibs, and jackets, first-timers can genuinely show up with zero fishing equipment and be fully outfitted for the water.
Sun Protection (Yes, Even Here)
Sun protection is easy to forget on a fishing trip, especially somewhere known for rain or cold weather. Glare off open water can be intense regardless of the temperature, and it's one of the most commonly overlooked packing items by first-timers.
Southeast Alaska is no exception, even with its reputation for gray skies. Guests are regularly advised to dress in layers, bring a jacket for the wind, and wear sunscreen even on overcast days. The Sportsman's Cove packing list includes sunglasses, sunscreen, and SPF lip balm for exactly this reason. The region's clear, "beautiful weather" days can be surprisingly bright and reflective off the water.
Get Licensed Before You Go
Nearly every fishing destination requires some kind of license, and it's one of the most overlooked steps for first-timers who are used to thinking of fishing gear as the main thing to plan for. It's generally necessary to buy a local fishing license for everyone in the group before a charter trip, and since some species may be off-limits or require a special tag, it's worth confirming exactly what's needed ahead of time.
Alaska's licensing requirements are more involved than many states'. Anglers need a state fishing license from the Department of Fish and Game plus a king salmon stamp if targeting kings purchased before the trip, not included with the lodge stay. Options run 3-day ($30), 7-day ($45), or annual ($100), and a printed copy is required, since certain species need notations written directly on the license itself.
Money & Trip Logistics
Beyond the fishing itself, first-timers should plan for a few practical logistics: cash, ID requirements, and any destination-specific travel steps that don't come up on a typical trip.
Remote destinations like Southeast Alaska raise the stakes on this a bit. Cash is worth having on hand in remote parts of Alaska, since you can't always count on the same conveniences for everyday purchases that you'd expect in the lower 48. Sportsman's Cove notes cash is useful for gratuities and incidentals in town (with a suggested tipping structure split between fleet and lodge staff), and flags two Alaska-specific details: a REAL ID is required for domestic flights, and because most guests reach the lodge by float plane, there are luggage weight limits worth planning around in advance.
Booking Ahead & Seasonal Timing
First-time anglers often assume they can figure out the "when" of their trip closer to the date but with a destination this popular, timing is one of the first things worth locking in, not one of the last. Sportsman's Cove Lodge only operates during a fixed summer season, so your trip needs to fall within that window rather than being scheduled around your calendar.
Within that season, different stretches still bring different species and conditions, so booking inside the summer window shapes what your trip will actually look like. Prime weeks, especially mid-summer, tend to fill up well ahead of time, and popular dates can be gone months in advance. Booking early doesn't just protect your preferred dates within the season; it also gives you a better shot at the exact experience you're picturing, whether that's chasing early-season kings or timing it around a specific week off work. If there's one piece of advice worth taking seriously before anything else on this list, it's this: figure out your dates early, since the season itself won't wait for you.
Wrapping Up
Preparing for your first fishing charter doesn't have to be complicated. A little planning around gear, licensing, and logistics goes a long way toward making sure you spend your time on the water actually enjoying it, instead of scrambling to catch up. And once you've got the basics covered, there's plenty more worth reading before you go. Head over to the Sportsman's Cove Lodge blog for deeper dives into topics like what you'll actually catch in Southeast Alaska, how your fish gets processed and shipped home, the best time of year to fish these waters, and what a typical day at the lodge really looks like. The more you know before you go, the more you'll get out of every minute once you're here.
Looking to book your trip now? Click the link below to get on the books!
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