The owner was very rude and had zero customer service skills. We had to throw dozens of halibut and kings overboard and some were bleeding.

My wife had never fished in the ocean before so I thought what better time to introduce her than while we were in Seward to visit Kenai Fjords NP. We reserved the trip with McKenna who was super accommodating. We also elected to stay at the Saltwater Safari Lodge which is right on the docks and made it very convenient to get on the boat. Our captain was Noah and the first mate was Mac's. They were super professional and very helpful. They knew right where to fish and had excellent equipment to determine at what level the fish were currently. We had a group of 7 of us and it seemed like one large happy family. I boated the second fish of the day and it was a big one- over 10 pounds! My wife ended up catching her limit after a slow start and she was extremely thrilled (at the risk of sounding chauvinistic, "Happy wife, happy life!). While we were returning to the docks, Maca filleted all the fish. read more

Saltwater Safari - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

I'm writing this review as we head back into the dock aboard the Legend. I'm exhausted! This is a Top Notch operation! Capt. Bob, Luka, and Parker are hands down, the BEST! They are not only professional, they are knowledgeable and FUN! They are not just taking people out to get a paycheck...they enjoy what they do! There was 12 in my group and the crew did EVERYTHING possible to make sure we had not only a great time, and catch fish! I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have gotten the opportunity to go on this trip but how fortunate I am to have the crew! I will be back! read more

Saltwater Safari - Look at that view! EPIC!!! - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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Saltwater Safari was my first experience with Alaska charter fishing and it certainly did not disappoint. I fished with them on 6-19-2023 and had an incredible time. A knowledgeable and experienced crew put us on fish after a 3 hour shot out to where the fish were found. Hit my limit in Halibut in a couple hours or so and rock fish by the end of the day. Had a great time and can't wait to come back next year. read more

Saltwater Safari - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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Caught limits. Crew was excellent and super helpful! Very efficient getting fish boxed & shipped home. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Went on a Saltwater Safari Charter on Thursday Aug 5, 2021 and had a BLAST...! Captain Steve set us up on the halibut first thing in the am (after a 2 hr cruise out to the fishing area). The bite didn't start right away but slowly creeped up until the entire boat had their 2 halibut. No monsters but we were feeling good after hearing on the radio that some other boats were still looking for their first fish. Then we made a move to an area where the Rockfish were holding and we hit our limit after just a couple passes. Next stop was back towards Seward where we piled up to a well known spot based on all the boats around and OMG did we put those nets to work! Gotta give a HUGE shout out to Jeremy & Dalton- the best Mates we had all week. Those guys were always prepared with bait, a gaff or a net. This was our 3rd (& last) charter of the week, and as they say, saved the best for last. If you're considering a Charter, I'd call these guys first. If you have questions, I'd be happy to answer them. read more

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What a great fishing experience. Our boat limited out on halibut and Rockfish. Justin and Maka were great. Boat was always kept clean and safe. Had a blast. read more

Saltwater Safari - Fun times. - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

AKA, Saltwater Snafu As a woman, I feel this fishing outfit is not a great fit If you are a woman or or a family with kiddos. In short, these guys are a bunch of good old boys, who looked at me a bit disdainfully when we showed up, the head (toilet room) was a mess, and it was ok for men to smoke smelly cigars on the boat. Full review: There were 12 people fishing and one deckhand beside the captain who was busy with operations most of the time. I'm not sure of the standard, but I've been on other fishing adventures and this boat was smaller and felt crowded. Things were disorganized onboard. For starters, I don't expect a fancy head on a fishing boat, but at least it should be clean. This head was not clean. No soap, just hand sanitizer, which was on the floor (rolling around in you can imagine what). There was no running water in the sink and when I asked the captain, he said someone left the water running and the tank must be empty. Hmmm. At one point the anchor got all tangled and wouldn't come up. We had to wait around for another vessel to come to us for assistance. It was not an easy-going atmosphere. The two employees were not very friendly and more importantly were not very helpful to our kids, 13 and 16 years old and who had never fished for bottom dwellers. There was a group of about six men on our boat and not only did they take over the back of the boat but they set the tone for the vibe. The captain had no authority. A few of them pulled out cigars at one point and began smoking! The captain did nothing about it until I asked. It took over 10 minutes for him (to work up the courage??) to put the cigars out. It turned out one of the men in the large group was high school buddies with the deckhand, so they were busy reminiscing and his group (those who monopolized the back area) were treated more attentively by the deck hand. That was most irritating when one of us would need more bait. This fishing trip was slated for combo fishing but the captain couldn't find the halibut. We were lucky my family caught one. The captain was stressed out trying to find the halibut and the men started complaining. I know it can happen and why it's called fishing, but when we got back to the docks and the deck hand was cleaning the rest of the fish, we did see plenty of halibut from other vessels. So they were out there but we wen't going to the right spots. The overall experience bothered me enough that I decided to call the owner to share our experience, The only thing he responded to with concern was the fact that someone was smoking a cigar on his boat. Not the fact that nobody was helping out my kids, the toilet was a mess, there was no running water, we weren't given any time in the back of the boat, etc. When I mentioned I wasn't happy to have paid $425 per person and I have had such a poor experience, his response was, "So this is about the money?? You can forget about getting a penny back." By our experience and the reaction of the owner, the mentality of this outfit is clear: make money and don't worry - they're just tourists, they'll go back home. If he really cared about giving good value he would want to hear my feedback. When a customer has such a poor experience, you generally want to try and make up for that as a matter of pride in your business, having some integrity, and a genuine desire for customer satisfaction. This company doesn't seem to care about any of that. I am happy there are other choices because when we do return to Alaska, and we will go back, as our son is a fishing fanatic, we will be hiring a different outfit. read more

For a girls outing, we did the multi species trip for $350 which we felt was a great price. Unfortunately the captain didn't seem to care about what any of his clients wanted to catch; we were parked over one spot from 9-4:30 and just a few people caught halibut right after we dropped anchor. He didn't ask if anyone wanted to try another spot or make time to troll for kings, though we were only catching rockfish for hours. After I caught my first halibut the captain would repeatedly take my rod from me if I got another bite and give it to another member of my party (not sure what that was about but my significant other was not happy about it when I mentioned it after I got home). He didn't ask anyone if they'd been out deep sea fishing before and didn't give any guidance on technique. One woman didn't catch a thing. I understand fishing is a roll of the dice, but a little bit of two way communication would have been appreciated. When we fish the Kenai we regularly move around until we find a sweet spot. Next time, I will probably pay more to go with someone who is known for making it a great day for all aboard. read more

Just shelled out 850 bucks for a boat ride and a pound of rock fish! I understand there's no guarantee when you're fishing, but I expect the guy who makes a living doing this to put us on fish. My wife and I were born and raised in Alaska and have fished dozens of times in most of the waters around the state and this was by far the most disappointing experience of them all I will give the two deckhands an A for effort but our results were pathetic. The captain said the fish were down there, but weren't bitting. So I left it at that and at least the weather was nice. The following day I made the mistake of I sending my nephew and great nephew out on the same charter. Same results only bad weather, no rockfish, plus lodging and airfare from the lower 48. I went down to the boat harbor, and waited on the dock for them to come in, and watched every other charter outfit roll by with totes full of fish To sum it up: 2 days fishing @ $425 each = $1700=1# rockfish fillets! The fillets were delicious. We made fish tacos at about 500 bucks each. lol I have fish for halibut dozens of time and never came home empty-handed. I don't care how hard this captain tried. He has no business running a boat. If you're after halibut, I suggest you head towards Ninilchik or Homer they have half day charters for a little more than half the price of salt water safaris read more

Great trip. Bobby & Noah worked their butts off. We'll book again. They were right there every time we needed bait or assistance. I was really impressed with their assistance and the knowledge that they shared with us. I hope they are both on our next charter. read more

Saltwater Safari - The best deckhand on Alaska. - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

The location was great however their customer service was very poor. First, they could not find our reservation. Second, they called and left the key under the door mat and we arrived at 4:00 pm. Third, no one ever on sight. Forth, called us four days later to say they did not have our key....we left it on the unused bed with their letter and have a picture to prove. There was no where to leave the key safely. Office was still closed the next morning for our 9:00 departure. The rooms were clean, but no tissue. read more

I wouldn't go anywhere else. Staff are professional and friendly. Its fishing. They can't guarantee that you will be able to catch a 100+lb halibut. But you will have a great time trying. I would highly recommend Saltwater Safari. read more

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Spectacular fishing guide and company. The fishing is always a success. Boat is spotless. Equipment is always quality and updated. The staff is so friendly and considerate. When you come back you feel like your visiting family. The kindness Captain Bob and his other two captains is heart warming. The office staff is so friendly and inviting. This is our fifth year back, fish three days every year and we enjoy every day we fish. My husband and I love to fish. I hate to admit but when we use a fishing guide I like to switch them up...BUT not in Seward. I would never go anywhere but Saltwater Safari. They truly are the best. We come here with our three grandsons (this year 13&14) and they look forward to it every year. Even though they have a boat in Juneau. If you are looking for a fun day, successful fishing then look no further. Call Saltwater Safari and you will have a great time. They also have a lodge that is very nice with a deck overlooking the Marina. read more

Thanks to Captain Bob, Carter and Noah for making my 13 year old daughter's first deep sea fishing adventure truly great! We just shared a big halibut dinner with our extended family in Southern California after watching videos of her catching the first fish (and a halibut at that) of the day - thanks Captain Bob! - and a few more of the daily catch limit that all 13 fishers on the charter got on our day. It's been three weeks now that we went out on an all-day halibut charter with you, and she still talks warmly about not only the crew, but also the other fishers who were mostly repeat customers and all having a great day. Thanks, and we too will be repeat customers. We strongly recommend you! read more

While I didn't end up catching the big trophy fish I was dreaming about I can say that the captain and deckhands were the most professional I have ever seen. I'm from California and the deckhands in California are the worst... these guys are the best. Max and Joe were so professional and accomodating . I was surprised fishermen were this nice. I love fishing but one thing I don't look forward to are ill mannered fishermen. The crew made the entire boat come together and everyone was happy. They tried their best to help everyone on the boat limit out and Max and Joe were especially helpful. I fully recommend this charter service. read more

I booked a fishing trip with "Captain Steve" yesterday and he got my 9 year old son very excited but when we showed up this morning at 5:30am and they canceled the fishing trip because they did not get the 10 person they wanted and sent all 6 customers back. They made up a story that they called everyone but this was not true. We are on the cruise ship 10 minutes away and they had our email where they sent a copy of the receipt but could not email us a cancellation note. This is one big fake greedy company. If I could give them less than one star I would do so. Thank you Captain Steve for disappointing my 9 year old boy. read more

This charter fishing trip was one to remember!!! My husband and I caught our limit plus some. Captain Steve and his deckhand, Bobby were as fun and knowledgable as they come. We had a blast and would reccommend this company to anyone. We also spent a night at the Lodge. The view is AMAZING!!!!! This place comes highly reccommended. Hope to go back soon. read more

It would be hard to give these guys anything less than 5 stars. They are professional and fun. Captain Steve, Nate and Bailey knew their stuff. Everyone was going to a catch a fish that day. As guys were pulling in 90-120lb halibuts, they made sure to keep everyone safe while bringing in these big guys. While I had a different day of sea sickness, they wanted to make sure I still caught a fish. They set it all up for me and helped me reel it in when I did finally catch one. They brought food, had coffee, kept it light and handled some annoying families in the charter very well. They were quick with filleting afterwards so everyone could be on their way. It was a great experience, even if I was sick the whole time, that's how great these guys are! read more

Didn't do the tour so this review is about the hotel. The room was exactly what I would picture Alaska to look like. The decorations were so cute and the room was so cozy. The beds were so comfortable and the room and bathroom were perfectly clean. The hotel has a "quiet time" since everyone gets up earl for fishing which worked out perfectly for our early morning hike in the National Park. The front desk staff was so nice and accommodating. Stay here if you are going to Seward!! read more

Had a great trip, caught lots of fish and limited out on halibut and rock. One of our party caught a 75# halibut. Hooked a lot of salmon too, but they are harder to boat due to their softer mouth. Captain Steve very knowledgeable, and mates were helpful and courteous. Excellent boat comfort and gear wise. Also Shawn and Bob C deserve kudos for being customer satisfaction oriented with some changes to our reservation that caused confusion. Would definitely recommend this trip! read more

Went on a halibut trip with them yesterday. They were fantastic, Cpt Steve, mates Noah and Cameron were all super knowledgeable. And put us on the fish! The boat was very nice and well up kept. I will definitely be coming back such a great trip! read more

Messed up our booking to begin with. I booked our trip 8 months in advance to secure our 3 days of fishing for a group of 12 and they called me much later to say they messed up on another booking and had to restructure our group of 12 to (which I learned later) for a group of 3. My group spent the whole 3 days of fishing sitting 6 on port and 6 starboard with our lines twisting in the current while the goup of 3 sat off the back of the boat with out current issues. Bottom line apon messing up our reservation they said they'd take care of us and at the end of it all it was is the worst charter I have been on in the 13 years I've gone to seward to fish. Any good reviews are from 1st time go'ers that don't know there are a lot better options. 14 years going to Alaska and its the first time I've ever been to the chicken ranch of alaska (chickens in AK are baby halabut) any way hope you see my knowledge in charters and move on. I've booked many trips in big groups from overnight to day trips and have had days of catching nothing (thats fishing) and had more fun. Even years of weather shut downs and not going out that were better. Wish i didn't have to give 1 star to right this review actually. read more

I was very surprised about our experience with these guys, after hearing such great things about this charter me and my group were very disappointed. This trip was booked for us by a friend as a thank you gift and I had to tongue-in-cheekly tell him we had a good time. The attitude of the crew was negative and they appeared irritated. The captain acted annoyed when my kids asked questions. I wasn't after some 100 pound trophy fish, but we where taken to a spot where a few people caught there just over just under fish and the rest left without any halibut. we were booked for a combo trip but when It came time for the salmon fishing only a few people pulled up a couple of them. I wouldn't have been upset with the little to no fish we caught because hey, that's fishing. It was the attitude of the crew and captain that was most disparaging. I am hoping this was just a bad day and not the usual experience with this crew, but I know that I will not be returning for another trip. read more