We love this place everyone makes you feel like home this is our 5th year here and meet the same…read moregreat people year after year

We had a blast. Easily one of the top summer trips we have experienced! If you are able to get…read morean opening at Shelter Cove, take it and expect to catch a ton of fish, be treated like royalty and experience a beautiful island.

I have been to 22 fishing lodges between Central America, all around the USA and Canada and there…read moreare none that compare with EL Cap. Snuggled into an endless remote thick Pine Forest at the water's edge in the aptly named Sea Otter Bay where hundreds of cute little faces faces stop smacking clams with a rock on their chests and smile at you as you power by. Is this place easy to get to? Not exactly. Flying is not high on my list for an enjoyable day and if God wanted men to fly why is parking at the airport such a pain in the ass? No matter, as each flight was smooth as a puppy's tummy. Yes, it's a bit of a schlep but then so was Victoria Falls and Base Camp on Everest and all three had a serious grand pay off. Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. But first you have to secure a reservation long in advance preferrably for a group of four. The Lodge is limited to only 20 lucky peeps. It's like trying to snag two seats at Hayato for Kaiseki Dinner in LA. Start trying three years in advance. So at El Cap regulars book the same week year after year and then eventually bequeath that coveted reservation to their children. Everything you'll need for your fully guided fishing adventure is provided. All you need is your Undies and a tooth brush. Newbies, be determined and persistent and with luck you're booked and for what you are about to receive the price point is more than fair. I flew from John Wayne in Santa Ana, California to Seattle and barely made the connection to Ketchikan where I overnighted at The Landing Hotel which El Cap works with. Not the Ritz Carlton but clean and comfortable. I was too lazy to go downtown for dinner and opted for The Portside in the Hotel. Perhaps I should've gone downtown or wolfed 6 Twix Bars in the room. My cold tortilla with Halibut Fingers stayed down and I was ready at dawn to wedge into the Float Plane for the flight to El Cap. We jiggled and wiggled along to a soft landing at the El Cap dock. Swiss Chalet style structures are connected by gritty no slip ramps, bridges, and stairs which take you to the beautiful full Bar, a breakie sandwich, and your complete Helle Hansen inclement weather bibs, jacket and boots. Equipped, it's time to trot back to the dock and get on your boat and leave by 8:00 AM in time to fish your pants off even though it took a while to yank your pants on. You'll return with the fish Fish Tanks loaded at 5:30 PM The Fishing is superb. Salmon, Halibut, Ling Cod, Vermillion Snapper, Black and Blond Rockfish are all patiently awaiting your hook. The gear, boats and Guides are all top tier pros. The boats are North River, fully enclosed Cabin and head, with twin Merc 250's to get you to the Sweet Spots and Honey Holes before the fish wake up. Be advised if you're prone to motion sickness, take your Bonnies because you ain't comin' back until the Guide has boated the limit on everything the he has it in his mind to go for. Finally, it's all ashore. Time for a quick hot shower in your well appointed comfy Cabin and then back to the Bar to enjoy wonderful Appetizers with the drink of choice and some serious retelling fishin' tales past and present. Or talk about something less animated, like Politics, Religion and your third Wedding Night. Life can be mean, cruel and short but here it's a respite from the storms in your life. Relax and have another plate of Fried Chicken Wings with house made Ranch Dressing, and never mention that to your Vegan Cardiologist. Eventually at 6:00 PM you'll migrate to the Dinning Room where Chef Tony works his magic. Fresh caught Halibut with crisp Haricots Vert and a trace of Beurre Blanc Sauce or perfect Filet Mignon with rich Mashed Potatoes and the last night it was Roasted Salmon settled into a painting of Red Wine Reduction interlaced spikes of White Wine Butter Sauce. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Each Breakfast is different everyday and the boat is stocked with an array of sandwiches, cookies, drinks and treats to keep your energy level at peak performance. Sound inviting? It is. El Cap is where it's at if wishin' for great fishin' is your mission.

I just returned after spending three days fishing with my grandson celebrating his 21st birthday at…read morethis spectacular fishing lodge. We were Captained each day by Trevor and he led us to fill our legal limit each day with King Salmon, Halibut, Yellow Eye and Rockfish. The accommodations and cuisine each day were all 5 Star quality without exception. The owner Scott and his wife Nani have Hawaiian roots and this place exudes the Aloha Spirit from each every staff member from the top down. This place is truly amazing, no doubt!

We had a great experience with Hooked on Alaska Charters. Captain Luke is an expert fisherman and…read morewas able to help us catch fish in challenging conditions. The entire crew they have is super friendly, and they make you feel like part of the family when you are there. Additionally, the dinners are really high end. They tasted delicious and was a great way to end each day. A+ and highly recommended. (By the way, the picture is a day's haul for a small group.)

Bad experience with the food, communication and over all conversation. I wish there was a better…read moreover all experience for the money we paid. We talked to others locally who had a great experience. Try Screamin Reels, Firefly

Stephanie is an excellent captain. She is knowledgeable about the area and animals who call it…read morehome. We loved spending time on her boat! We highly recommend Emerald Island Adventures. Shelley and Paul

From the owner: Come with us on a custom tailored boat excursion on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island to see…read morewhales, sea otters, sea birds, and other wildlife! No trip to southeast Alaska is complete without an adventure with us!

From start to finish this was an exceptional experience! We were picked up at the Ward Cove pier…read moreby a wonderful young lady, Brooklyn, who was very pleasant and a wonderful conversationalist who, being from the area all her life answered so many questions about the area. When we arrived to the fly shop we were given some basic information and then led to the plane with our pilot(Jim) and Brooklyn. Once in the plane we were given clear safety instructions by Jim and off we went. One of our group was a small plane pilot himself and even he stated that he was very impressed with Jim's piloting skills. The flight was smooth and the skies were clear which allowed us all to get beautiful views from all sides of the plane. The scenery was magnificent and the information given in a recorded message by our pilot Jim was very informative. We were able to land in the fiord and I can honestly say that the landing was perfection as you did not even know you touched the water before slowing down to drift! We were able to get out of the plane in water that was 600' deep and sit on the floats. The most peaceful place on earth and scenery that was indescribable. We got a photo op and more information about the history and area before getting back into the plane for the ride back to the dock. If you do anything in Alaska it has to be whale watching in Juneau and flying with Family Air in the Misty Fjords National Monument in Ketchikan. Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Family air is the best in the business! Easy to book, provides a shuttle from downtown, friendly…read morestaff, and very smooth flying. The whole package was incredible and would recommend to anyone visiting. Our pilot, Jim, made us very comfortable our first time flying in a small plane and showed us some incredible views. Will be back for one of their fly fishing charters next time.

We did the wildlife waterfall tour with Pam and 10,000/10 highly recommend! She was so fun and…read moreknowledgeable. Even if we hadn't seen bears, eagles, and (kind of close up to a) whale, it would have been a great trip. So very happy we booked, great tour. THANK YOU!!

Went on a tour June, 28. She was rude, Rushed us, and not in a good mood. The comfy Dodge Caravan…read morewas the only good thing about the tour. The Bald Eagles as well. If were ever back we'll go with Sourdough Tours.