What Happens to Your Fish After You Catch It
- Sportsmans Cove Lodge
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
You fought it, you landed it, you took the photo. But then what?
For a lot of first time guests, the journey of their catch from the boat to their dinner table back home is something they do not need to think much about. At Sportsman's Cove Lodge, that process is as dialed in as the fishing itself and understanding it ahead of time means you can relax on departure day knowing every pound of that halibut, salmon, and anything else you caught, is accounted for.
Here is exactly what happens.
From the Boat to the Dock
When the boats come in at the end of the day, the first stop is fish photos on the dock. This is one of the best moments of the day. The crew lines up the catch, the cameras come out, and everyone gets a chance to hold up what they worked for. That is, if they can actually lift their catches!
The processing table is right there at the east end of the fish shed, just steps from where the photos are taken, so the transition from celebration to processing is quick and seamless to maintain freshness.
Within roughly 30 minutes to an hour of arriving back at the lodge, your fish is on the table and the crew gets to work.
The Processing
Guests are welcome to watch the filleting process up close, and many actually do! There is something satisfying about seeing a 60lb+ halibut broken down by someone who has done it hundreds of times. Clean, efficient, and nothing wasted. The standard cut is a 4oz steak fillet, but if you have a preferred size or style, let the crew know and they will accommodate where they can.
Once filleted, every piece of fish is vacuum sealed and flash frozen on site. That combination is what keeps your catch in peak condition from the moment it leaves the processing table to the moment it hits your pan at home, whether that is two days later or two months.
How It Gets Packed
This is where a lot of guests have questions, and rightfully so. You are flying home with a box of frozen fish and you want to know it is going to make it.
Your catch is packed in wax boxes with a liner and sealed with ice packs, not dry ice. The boxes are then banded for secure transport. Sportsman's Cove packs in 25lb and 50lb increments, which lines up directly with standard checked baggage allowance — up to 50lbs for $35 to $45 per bag. It is one of the more straightforward parts of the whole operation, and the lodge has it down to a system.
Getting It Home
On your departure day, a SeaWind Aviation crew member pulls your fish boxes directly from the lodge freezer and meets you at bag check at Ketchikan International Airport. You do not track it down, coordinate a handoff, or stand around wondering if it made the float plane. It is handled.
From there your boxes check like standard luggage and fly home with you alongside your other suitcases. No third party shippers, no hoping it shows up on your doorstep a week later. Your fish travels the same route you do.
A note on third party shipping. It is technically available through preferred vendors, but the lodge generally discourages it due to the number of complications that tend to arise in transit. Flying it home with you is simpler, more reliable, and honestly more satisfying. But again, if needed, we'll work with you and other vendors to make it happen! Especially because we know people come in from all over to experience this!
One More Option Worth Knowing About
If you want to take a portion of your catch home in more ways than one, the lodge offers a smoked salmon upgrade on site. Choose from lemon pepper, Cajun, or original at $12 per pound. It is a great way to bring home something ready to serve, and it tends to disappear faster than you expect once you get home. We've even heard of people cracking it open at the airport...although we don't recommend this as others around you will become jealous and ask for a bite. Maybe.
The whole process, from the dock to your checked bag at the airport, is designed to be completely hands off for the guest. You caught it. We take care of the rest.
Are you ready to experience the joy of Alaska and a fishing trip unlike any other?
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