Alaska Fishing: Bringing Home Your Epic Catch

Alaska is a prime fishing destination. So, when planning a trip to the 49th state, the lure of fishing is irresistible. Yet, as you reel in your bounty, the question looms: How do you bring home your catch?

Person fishing out of a boat for Halibut off the coast of Homer, Alaska — Fishing in the Cook Inlet

On our recent Alaskan adventure, we decided to get in on the action with not one but two epic fishing day trips – one for halibut in Homer and another for salmon near Soldotna along the Kasilof River.

Front of a boat on the Kasilof River near Soldatna, Alaska — Fishing on the Kasilof River

Our plan? Reel in a massive catch to enjoy wild-caught salmon and halibut back home.

A halibut on the end of a fishing line in Alaska — Reeling in a Halibut

But, hold up – there was a tiny detail we overlooked. Fishing on the Kenai Peninsula was the first stop on our itinerary. What in the world were we going to do with the fish while we roamed around Alaska for two weeks?

Fish Processing & Packaging

Thankfully, our fishing guide had a nifty solution – fish processing in Soldotna. At the end of each day on the water, we handed over our catches to the processor.

3 white trashbags will fish inside to drop off at the processor to bring home our fish. — Fish to be taken to the processor.

Here’s the cool part – they cut and vacuum-packed the fish into perfect 2-3 serving portions.

Yellow and brown building. A fish processer in Soldatna, Alaska. — Fish Processor in Soldotna

But how were we going to transport our precious cargo? Alaskan ingenuity had the answer. The processor boxed up our fish in special coolers.

Fish in vacuumed packages inside a cooler and box. — Fish Vacuum Packed in Cooler and Box

We could’ve shipped our haul home, but guess what? The boxes fit within airline size and weight restrictions for checked bags, and it is cheaper to pay the bag fee and bring your fish home as “luggage.” Genius, right?

Storing Fish In Anchorage

Next up on our itinerary was Kennecott/Wrangell St. Elias, so we needed a place to store our fish for the rest of our trip.

Paid freezer storage is available at Ted Stephens International Airport but is expensive.

Fortunately, we stumbled upon a gem in Anchorage – 10th and M Seafoods. Wallet-friendly and fish-friendly – our kind of place.

Sign on the side of a blue building that says 10th & M Seafoods with a wooden crab in Anchorage, Alaska — 1020 M St, Anchorage, AK 99501

After Soldotna, we headed to Kennecott in Wrangell St. Elias. As we passed through Anchorage, we dropped off our fish for freezer storage at 10th and M for safekeeping.

View of Kennecott Mining town with red and white buidlings. — Kennecott Mine National Historic Landmark

Bringing Home the Catch

At the end of our Alaskan escapades, we swung by and grabbed our frozen treasures.

Front of the 10th and M Seafood building which is blue and gray.

Upon arrival at the airport, we checked our fishy boxes with our luggage.

Brown box on an airport scale that weighs 48.5 pounds — Large 50lb Box

White box on airport scale that weighs 25 pounds — 25lb Box

The result? Our Alaskan fish made it home in style – still frozen and ready for a feast, even after a transit time of over 15 hours. It was a journey to savor for months to come! 🎣✈️