Recommendations For Organizing a Memorable Float Fishing Trip in Alaska
When it comes to planning a float fishing trip, Alaska is like the Mecca of fishing spots. The views are incredible, the waters are pristine and the fish are abundant.
You’ll find rivers full of fish, beautiful landscapes, great people and an incredible experience. However, before you start booking, read on for a few tips that will ensure your Alaskan fishing trip is one to remember.
Try a Vacation Planner Service
Instead of depending on one specific lodge, charter company or your own self-guided tour, try booking a trip using a planning service. These companies will lock in and plan your fishing trip based on when you’ll be there, what fish you want to catch, your style of fishing and, of course, your budget. They can also be an invaluable resource for finding the best guides and fishing spots.
One company recommended by the Frommer’s Guide to Alaska are Sport Fishing Alaska (907-344-8674). They can coordinate all your need, including your lodging and local travel options.
Do Your Research
Because most of the fish in Alaska are migratory, it’s so important to know when they’re in season, as well as where they’ll be at a specific time. Otherwise, you could find yourself staying at an empty lodge next to a river with no fish.
Your primary source of facts should either be your local guide or the state’s Department of Fish and Game Sport Fish Division. The division is online at sf.adfg.state.ak.us and has one of the most comprehensive websites in the country. Check it weekly for updates on great fishing spots, run data, tips and educational articles.
The site also offers heavily localized information that’s specific to each region and area. You can find publications and data on run times, seasons and also the best lures and flies for fish in the region. For tour operator or charter recommendations, try also calling the department’s local offices.
Book in Advance
For a peak-season float fishing trip, Alaska residents and travel veterans recommend reserving your place early. The best lodges at the peak fishing times tend to book up quickly, meaning you need to be prepared and ready to reserve your place. You’ll also find that port cities and airport hubs can become overcrowded with tourists, so commit to your hotel and rental car well ahead of time.
Packing List for Alaska Fishing
Alaska is all about wild temperatures – from the hot noon sun to the cold nights or pouring rain. Plan ahead by packing clothes that can be layered, will dry quickly and will wick away sweat.
Also, invest your money in a high-quality, waterproof and wind-resistant rainwear suit that’s designed for fishing expeditions. To ensure a comfortable and safe float fishing trip, Alaska residents know you have to pack the right clothes and be prepared.
A fishing trip in Alaska is an opportunity for an exciting adventure on the water. Your advance preparation will not only take your mind off trivial details while there, but also enhance your overall experience.
Sea World Orlando Florida – A Tour Of The Attraction
Sea World Orlando Water Park is central Florida’s premier marine life park, accepting visitors year around and presenting its guests with an sea wildlife experience that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.Theatrical Performances
Shamu, the killer whale, performs in the Shamu Stadium in Sea World’s signature performance called “Believe”. This show features a choreographed demonstration of music, video, stunts, and splashing whales, to deliver one of the most unforgettable performances you will have the pleasure of viewing in this lifetime.
Also at Sea World Orlando is the Cirque-du-Soleil-style show called Blue Horizons. Blue Horizons is a show that integrates the performance of trained dolphins and birds, enabling visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature and the theatrics of the choreographed animal performances.Exhibitions
My favorite Sea World Orlando treat is the acrylic tube walkway through and under the giant shark tank, called the Shark Encounter. The opportunity to see a wide variety of fish species up close and personal in their own habitat is a thrill to those of us who never took up snorkeling.
The exhibit begins at the Sharks Underwater Grill, a sit-down restaurant, which features windows looking into the huge fish tanks above and beside the restaurant. If you are traveling without children, you will find that if you are willing to sit in the restaurant bar, then you can frequently bypass the lines of families waiting for a table. In the restaurant bar, you can order a drink, and you may order from the full restaurant menu as well.
If you have never been to Sea World Orlando, you might be surprised to learn that you will see more species of fish than just sharks.
As you enter the acrylic tunnel, you will find an artificial reef built into the display, and in the first tank, you will be able to view moray eels swimming with a wide variety of reef fish, in and around the artificial reef that has been designed to mimic the natural habitat known to these fish.
As you progress down the tunnel, you will see a number of fish tanks separated from the others, each with their own habitat and species of fish.
In the various tanks, you can see:
* The Camouflaged Lion Fish – The feathery appendages of the camouflaged lion fish are actually poisonous spines that can inflict great pain on any swimmer that actually touches its spines.
* Fugu is also known as the Puffer Fish – If you have ever seen Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob’s driving instructor is a Puffer Fish – Ms. Puff. The Puffer Fish is considered to be one of the world’s most poisonous fish and accounts for several human deaths each year. The Japanese consider its edible portions to be a delicacy, and Fugu Chefs must be licensed in Japan in order to prepare this fish for eating. The Fugu Chef must be trained to separate the poison glands from the meat of the fish, but mistakes are sometimes made, and people die from Fugu poisoning after ingesting this fish.
* Surgeon Fish – Surgeon Fish swim in the same tank as the Puffer Fish (Fugu). Although beautiful, the Surgeon Fish carries a secret weapon, in the form of fins near its tail that are extremely sharp to the touch. If a person or other creature grabs the Surgeon Fish, it will whip its tail violently, often inflicting a deep cut on the person or animal that crossed its path.
* Barracuda – In a nearby tank, one can see Barracuda up close and personal. Although the Barracuda has a fierce reputation, it seldom attacks humans swimming in its midst.
* Sharks, and more Sharks – When you finally reach the main feature, you will be in a room at the bottom of the shark tank. The room is insulated by a one-foot thick panel of acrylic that offers solid protection from the 450-tons of man-made salt water overhead. In the main tank, you will see small brown sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, sandpiper sharks, and sawtooth sharks.
* Even more Sharks – On the way out of the exhibit, near the restaurant, there is one more shark tank that is quite a bit smaller than the main exhibit. In this second shark tank, you will be able to see small hammerhead sharks and nurse sharks, as well as a variety of rays, which includes the jet-black bat ray.Additional Sea World Orlando Highlights
On my last visit, I personally received more pleasure from the Shark Encounter than any portion of the park. But when it came to what the kids enjoyed, they found the greatest pleasure in the following three attractions:
* Stingray Lagoon – There is a reason why so many people were shocked to hear of the death of naturalist Steve Irwin, as the result of a Stingray piercing his heart. Stingrays are known to be one of the most docile creatures in the oceans of the earth. When Steve Irwin was stung by the ray, it was a freak accident. In fact, there were only 18 deaths as the result of Stingray / human contact in recorded history. Although the Stingray carries a barb in its tail, most incidents related to the tail of a Stingray, were the result of someone accidentally touching its tail, as is theorized to have happened in the Steve Irwin incident. At Stingray Lagoon, visitors can reach into the pool and pet the Stingray as it swims by. Just don’t reach for the tail. 
Sea World animal care experts oversee the Stingray Lagoon, where the adults swim, and they also oversea the shallow pool where Stingray pups swim.
* Dolphin Cove – At Dolphin Cove, visitors can enter the water with the Dolphins, pet them and feed them, under the supervision of Sea World caregivers.
* Penguin Encounter – At Penguin Encounter, it can be a chilling experience as the air temperature is maintained at a steady 30 degrees and the water temp is kept at 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This exhibit is designed to mimic life in Antarctica, complete with 6,000 pounds of snow falling everyday, in the heart of Florida. The Penguins are so accustomed to the human visitors that they spend their days playing on the snow and swimming through the water. The Penguin Encounter enables visitors to watch Penguins in a habitat where they enjoy life as only a Penguin could enjoy life: waddling, running, falling, sliding and swimming. Okay. I enjoyed this exhibit almost as much as I enjoyed the Shark Experience, but don’t tell my kids that I said that. They will think I am getting soft in my old age.Final Thoughts
Sea World Orlando is on the southwest side of Orlando Florida, just to the northeast of Walt Disney World. You can reach Sea World Orlando by traveling east from I-4 on Central Florida Parkway.
Although open year-around, Sea World Orlando has different operating hours for different times of the year. You can check their schedule on the Sea World website.
When visiting Orlando Florida to see the many attractions, it is easy to assume the easiest accommodations to be one of the many hotel chains that operate in and around Orlando FL. But once you have taken the time to research the vacation home rentals available in the Orlando FL area, you might just realize as I have done that vacation rentals make so much more sense for the traveling family.
If you go the hotel route, you will be stuck in a small room and have to take all of your meals at a restaurant. However, if you choose the vacation home route, you will often find that you can stay in a large, beautiful home, often with a swimming pool or hot tub, and always with a full kitchen with dishes and cookware.
Once I started going the vacation rental route, I found that the money I saved by not taking all of our meals in restaurants enabled us to be able to get into much nicer vacation homes for about the same amount of money as I would have spent on the hotel and food.
Alaska cruises are the most popular summer cruise destinations in the world!
The Alaska cruise season runs from May through September, and demand is high. Resplendent with natural beauty and steeped in adventure, today Alaskan cruises are popular with couples, honeymooners, families, and both new and experienced cruise goers. Life is different in Alaska!Alaska, an overwhelming landscape of glaciers and endless forests, sunlight shines at midnight, towering snowy mountains, forest-covered islands and isolated villages, blue and humpback whales, grizzly and polar bears, and the rare bald eagle.
Alaska’s Ice Age Glaciers: The glaciers of College Fjord, Tracy Arm Fjord, Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park offer some of the most spectacular sights and sounds you will experience on your Alaska cruise vacation.Alaska cruises can be expensive, but the joy of seeing this exciting American wilderness is well worth the extra dollars. Many non-cruisers also love to choose this beautiful part of the world.Alaska’s National Parks: One-half of all U.S. National Park land is located in Alaska, the most popular national parks are Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park and Wrangell St. Elias National Park.Alaskan cruises normally sell for a higher price than any other popular cruise destinations including the Caribbean. The shorter season and high demand add up to a more expensive cruise.The limited number of Alaskan cruises departure ports is another reason why these voyages often fill up more quickly than other itineraries.Alaska Highlights: Seeing Alaska’s spectacular coast with cruise ships is the perfect choice. Enjoy a cruise to Alaska along the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park or Prince William Sound. Incredible scenery, glaciers, whales, fishing, native culture, and of course, shopping!Alaska’s coastline is one of the most enthralling waterways in the world. This northern frontier still boasts pristine landscapes filled with majestic wildlife, it’s truly a land of epic proportions.For a total Alaskan adventure, combine your Alaska cruise with a land tour is the best. Visit Alaska Today!
