To assist you in selecting a reputable company for a fishing charter in Skagway,  don't be afraid to ask a few questions like do they have downriggers, how far is it to the salmon fishing area, how fast is their vessel, how long does it take to get there, what washroom facilities are on board, how long is the charter and do they have ground transportation to the cruise ships.

Downriggers are necessary equipment for salmon fishing.  The tide change, wind conditions and water currents are not conducive to fishing for king salmon without downriggers in the Skagway area.  Most charter vessels in the Skagway Boat Harbor are outfitted with downriggers, chartering with a company that uses downriggers will greatly enhance your catch rate.

When deciding on a charter company, ask about the size and speed of the charter vessel you will be boarding.  If you will be placed on a 10 to 20 knot boat, more than likely you will be spending a lot of your valuable fishing time traveling to and from the fishing areas.  Our 34 ft. charter vessels are equipped with twin engines and range in speed from 25 to 30+ knots per hour.  This affords our anglers more actual fishing time!

We offer 4-hour charters in comparison to most 3 1/2 hour charters offered in Skagway.  More bang for your buck!

All of our vessels are equipped with heated cabins, full size bathrooms and spacious fishing decks.  Are restrooms important to you during the 4-hour period you will be fishing?

If you pay for a fishing license, make sure you are actually issued a license and carry it with you at all times on and off the charter vessel!  You never know when any vessel will be boarded by the U. S. Coast Guard or the Alaska Department of Fish & Game enforcement officer for random inspections.

Halibut fishing is an adventure not to be taken lightly.  To be afforded any degree of success at all, make sure you charter with an operator who is capable of traveling a minimum of 40 miles to the halibut grounds.  Halibut in the Skagway vicinity are nearly nonexistent, so make sure you are booked with a charter company with the capability of traveling 25 to 30+ knots per hour to get you there and back for the best opportunity for a successful charter.

Since you are arriving on a cruise ship, ground transportation to and from the boat harbor is important.  Make sure your operator is transporting you in commercially licensed and insured vehicles.

Once a reservation is made with Chilkoot Charters & Tours you are guaranteed a place on a charter boat owned and operated by Chilkoot Charters & Tours.  When reserving with other companies in our area you may be re-booked or passed to another company and may end up with something quite different than what you expected.  Unfortunately, not all the operators have the same standards and quality.

Chilkoot Charters & Tours is constantly striving to improve the quality of service for shore excursions it offers in Skagway, Alaska.  Our commitment to customer service and customer satisfaction is further emphasized by the following:

We are fully licensed and insured with $5,000,000 in liability insurance;

We provide courtesy transportation to and from all cruise ship docks in Skagway;

We guarantee your return to your cruise ship prior to its disembarkation or we will provide passage to your next port of call;

Our professional guides are certified in first aid and CPR as well as possessing a commercial driver's license;

We have a liberal cancellation policy;

Our quality control program necessitates the personal training of tour guides by the owner/operator.  Guides are regularly evaluated throughout our May through September visitor season.

All White Pass Summit Tours and Rail & Bus Combination Excursions require proper identification to pass through U.S. Customs or Canadian Customs.  U.S. and Canadian citizens must carry a passport OR birth certificate with photo ID.  Guests of other nationalities must bring their passport.