7am Kenai Dipnet Charter

THIS CONFIRMATION CONTAINS IMPORTANT DETAILS AND INSTRUCTIONS

**PERMITS AND LICENSES**

YOU MUST HAVE THE COOK INLET PERSONAL USE PERMIT AND SPORT FISH LICENSE ON HAND. This permit is available through retailers, and online at [Alaska Department of Fish & Game](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralkenaiSalmon.main) KING STAMPS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR PU FISHERY.

Ensure you have your Cook Inlet Personal Use fishery permit AND your fishing license with you, as we CANNOT fish you without these, and no refund will be given should these items not be presented at time of charter.

Due to the restricted openers in the Copper River, we will once again be adding charters on the Kenai River in the personal use dipnet fishery this summer.

For those of you who fish with us on the Copper many may not know that the Kenai personal use fishery is where we got started commercially back in 2013. We are intimately familiar with this fishery, techniques and timing. Logistics are a much different than on the Copper where we have our well-established Fish Camp with additional services and goods that will not be available in Kenai.  Due to the wild popularity of this fishery and proximity of the population centers possible delays at the boat ramp, parking and dock are possible. You must arrive early to ensure you can get into the city dock parking lot and make your way to the dock where your charter with us starts. You will see our boats hovering off the dock and when everyone is down and ready to board, we will approach the dock and load you up.

We will be picking charter guests up at the City Dock of Kenai located at:

City Dock of Kenai

1591 Boat Launch Road

Kenai AK 99611 

https://www.kenai.city/dipnet/page/city-dock

Public parking at City Dock is $22.05

Upon arrival to the parking lot, please text your Captain with your name and head count of your party. We will firm up with you which dock we will be on and pickup details. Please do not delay the charter for yourself or others, ensure you have everything with you especially your fishing license and dipnet permit. You will not be allowed to fish without them. 

Capt Mark Cell: 248-910-6103                            Capt Tom Cell: 907-671-8353

Durning the charter:

The charter will run the same as usual though the technique and gear is set up differently and will be demonstrated for you. There is not an easily accessible restroom except at the city dock which would not be convenient to use during the charter. We will have a hunny bucket with trash bags, tp and wet wipes on the boat if you have an emergency but this is a rather exposed proposition so plan accordingly. 

Our crew will still club, gill, and sort your fish, assist in removing fish from nets and ensure you are fishing correctly. We will unload your fish at the City Dock Parking lot via our truck to the back of your vehicle.

Post charter Fish Handling:

We will be offloading fish at the City Dock via crane into the back of our pickup and the deckhands will drive the truck to your vehicle where we will offload the fish from our totes into your coolers. Please consider that our totes are 28gallon (106 liters) weighing about 250lbs ea when full and hold approximately 30-35 sockeye. You must have enough cooler capacity to hold your perspective limit as we have no means to facilitate your fish.  The crane is not open to the public but there are other users that may delay offloading so ensure you have some flexibility to accommodate this possible delay

**WHAT IS PROVIDED ON THE CHARTER?**

- Dipnets with optional $10 loss protection.

- We will demonstrate location specific dipnetting techniques and work with you throughout the charter to perfect those skills.

- We will assist you with removing fish from net, clubbing, gilling, clipping fins and placing your catch in your cooler or our totes.

- Will assist you in filling out your harvest ticket.

- We will have on hand bug repellent, sunscreen, toilet paper and honey bucket, basic first aid kit, and bear spray.

- All required USCG equipment will be provided.

- Additional safety Equipment rating us 5 Stars by the USCG.

- We are the only charter with AEDs on board our boats.

- Our guides and staff are trained Wilderness First responders, local EMT and volunteer fire fighters.

- Professional Mariners. Our lead guides have as a minimum qualification a USCG 50-100 gross ton Masters Credential.

- Top-of-the-line, USGC Approved NRS personal flotation devices (Life Jackets) are provided.

- We will provide various snacks & water. If you have specific dietary needs or just prefer your own food, please feel free to bring it.

**BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS**

The total annual limits for this fishery is 25 salmon for a household of one and 10 additional salmon for each additional household member listed on the permit. No more than 1 may be Chinook (King) salmon. This is managed by AK DFG EO. Additional information on this permit can be found [here](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaSouthcentralkenaiSalmon.main).

**WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING**

- Fishing License and dipnet permits for your confirmed fishery.

- Weather appropriate clothing! Alaska can bring cool, to downright cold temperatures in the summer, so hats, gloves, and layers are a good idea. On the flip side, sun and warmth could be in abundance. In this case, sunglasses, sunscreen.

- Rain gear, Xtra Tuffs, gloves.

- Camera, GoPro, Phone, etc.

- Any medications that you may need, please bring 24 hours worth just in case.

- Backpack or dry bag to keep belongings in. Also, a zip-lock baggie or other water repellent bag to keep phone, wallet, and any other valuables you don't want to get wet.

- Cooler for your fish on the boat and for transport home. We don't recommend large white coolers, when full they can weight as much as 325lbs and are difficult to lift.

- Ice to keep your catch cold and fresh while underway as well as for the ride home.

**FISH PROCESSING, FLASH FREEZING & ICE**

We do NOT offer fish processing or ice on our Kenai Charters.

**DRINKS, SNACKS & BYOB**

- Water, assorted trail mix and nut bars available for your consumtion, but please bring whatever snacks and drinks you would like. BYOB Alcohol can be responsibly consumed while on your charter. The Captain will cut short the charter and remove clients if behavior impacts safety or comfort of other passengers or crew and no refund will be given. Absolutely NO smoking or Marijuana use is allowed while on board.

**THE FINE PRINT**

- Please remember you are **NOT guaranteed fish**. You booked a charter to head out to dipping locations along the Kenai River. We provide you the crew, vessel and dipnets so you can ATTEMPT to catch fish. You are NOT booking a charter to be supplied with fish. Unfortunately, **NO REFUNDS** in any form will be offered in the unlikely event you are not successful. We cannot be responsible for factors outside our immediate control that negatively impacts fishing success. Negative factors include but are not limited to poor run return or run timing, commercial & setnet openers, weather, water conditions, tides, parking, emergency orders closures, personal ability, other boaters, navigation hazards, maritime emergencies, etc. We hope regardless of how many fish you catch that you enjoy your time out on the water in the company of friends and family.

- **Tipping:** It is customary to tip your guide (usually 10-20%) of the charter price, the crew strive to make your trip on the Kenai River safe and memorable regardless of fishing success. Tips can be applied to credit cards.

- **We do not control**; weather, river conditions or salmon run timing, in river debris or AK DFG Emergency Orders that may negatively impact your charter. We will do our absolute best to overcome these impediments should they arise and make the most of your time with us.

- **Re-booking** fee of $25 will apply to charters that need to be re-booked.

If you have any additional questions please contact us, we'd be happy to talk with you. See you soon!

Mark and Erica

AK eXpeditions, LLC

info@ak-x.com

907-903-2329