JUNEAU FISHING FIELD GUIDE
Double Down in Juneau: Set Pots, Troll for Salmon, and Pull Your Own Dungeness
A compact, hands-on 5-hour Juneau outing that combines setting and retrieving Dungeness crab pots with salmon fishing amid Southeast Alaska’s mountain-framed shores.
Double Down in Juneau: Set Pots, Troll for Salmon, and Pull Your Own Dungeness.
Reel in wild Alaska salmon and pull your own Dungeness crab pots while skirting lush shorelines and snow-capped ridgelines outside Juneau. This small-group, half-day excursion blends an authentic commercial-crabber routine — baiting, setting and retrieving pots — with productive salmon trolling and wildlife viewing, so guests can choose to be hands-on or simply soak in the scenery.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Two iconic fisheries in one trip
This tour pairs hands-on Dungeness crabbing with salmon fishing: you’ll bait, set and later retrieve your own pots while trolling productive Juneau waters for Coho and King salmon depending on season and conditions.
Prepare the pot, set the buoy, and pull to the rail
After a short safety briefing each guest personalizes a buoy, helps prepare and deploy a pot to soak on the seafloor, then later steps to the rail to retrieve it using the pot puller or a handline — a true commercial-crabber experience with captain instruction throughout.
Small-boat cruise with wildlife and mountain views
Operate as part of a small group aboard a six-passenger boat with a heated cabin and onboard restroom, cruising remote shorelines where waterfalls, bald eagles and seals are often part of the program.
What the day feels like
What it feels like on the water
The rhythm is deliberate: a safety briefing and pot prep ashore or aboard; a quiet, scenic run while pots soak; active trolling for salmon between sets; and the rush of hauling up a pot to see whether Dungeness, starfish, sea urchin or an empty crown your efforts. The captain guides and instructs, but regulations and the format put each guest squarely in the action.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Total outing time is approximately 5 hours (about 4–4.5 hours on the water depending on conditions).
Dress for variable coastal weather and possible spray. The trip allows guests to be hands-on with crabbing and fishing; bring clothes you’re comfortable getting wet or dirty. The operator provides a heated cabin and an onboard restroom.
If you harvest legal crab or salmon, you can choose to have your catch professionally processed and shipped home for an additional fee; capacity and fees are handled by the operator.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trip?
The excursion is 5 hours total, with roughly 4–4.5 hours on the water depending on conditions.
Is there an age minimum?
Yes—participants must be at least 12 years old.
Are there weight limits for safety gear?
Guests must weigh at least 50 pounds for life jacket sizing.
How many rods can be fishing at once?
To ensure quality for all anglers, a maximum of four rods are fished at one time; when there are more than four anglers, guests will take turns.
Can non-residents keep crab and salmon?
Non-residents may keep up to three Dungeness crab, one King Salmon, and up to six Coho over 16 inches; non-residents may not keep King Crab.
Do I have to participate in setting and hauling the pots?
Yes—Alaska Fish and Game regulations require guests to set, deploy, and retrieve their own crab pots; the captain provides instruction and support throughout the process.