Shipping Your Catch
Getting Your Catch Home: The Ultimate Guide to Fish Logistics
Ensuring your harvest arrives home in pristine condition is our top priority. Over the years, we have tested various methods and containers to determine the most reliable way to transport Alaskan seafood. Whether you are traveling across the country or continuing your Alaskan adventure, here is everything you need to know about transporting your catch.
Option 1: The Gold Standard—Checked Baggage
Taking your catch home as checked baggage is the most economical and efficient solution. Major retailers and sporting goods stores across the Kenai Peninsula carry specialized “fish boxes” designed specifically for the 500,000 visitors we host each summer.
How it Works: Your fish is vacuum-sealed and flash-frozen, then packed into an airline-approved fish box. You simply tape it shut and drop it off at the baggage check-in just like a standard suitcase.
Sizes: Boxes typically come in 25, 35, and 50-pound capacities.
Pro Tip: Airlines flying out of Alaska are very accustomed to these boxes. As long as they are under the 50lb weight limit, they are treated like any other piece of luggage.
Option 2: When Shipping is Necessary
While checked baggage is best, shipping is a necessary alternative if you are heading out on a cruise, exploring the Interior, or visiting other states before returning home
Courier Choice: We recommend using FedEx or UPS
The 2-Day Strategy: While many people assume “overnight” is required, our experience shows that 2-day shipping is often sufficient and much more cost-effective. A 50lb block of frozen, vacuum-sealed fish acts as its own thermal mass (essentially a 50lb block of ice)
What to Expect: In a well-insulated container, the fish on the extreme edges may soften slightly after 48 hours, but the core remains frozen. Any slightly thawed fish is still perfectly safe to go right back into your freezer.
Estimated Costs: On average, 2-day shipping for a 50lb box to the Lower 48 runs approximately $250, whereas overnight can exceed $300.
Storing Your Fish in Alaska
If your travel plans don’t align with your fishing dates, you may need temporary cold storage.
Local Processors: Most processors offer freezer space for approximately $10.00 per box, per day. Note that in peak season (July and early August), space can become limited, so we recommend calling ahead.
Anchorage Layovers: If you are staying overnight in Anchorage before a late flight, Ted Stevens International Airport offers convenient on-site cold storage. We highly recommend dropping your boxes there upon arrival in Anchorage; you can then retrieve them and check them in immediately before your flight.
The Great Fish Box Debate: Why Foam Wins
There are three common styles of fish boxes available: Tri-fold, Wax-lined, and Insulated Foam. While retailers prefer the Tri-fold and Waxed boxes because they fold flat and save shelf space, we wanted to know which actually performed best for the angler.
The Experiment: We conducted a side-by-side test, packing 50 lbs of ice into both a Tri-fold box and a Foam-insulated box. We sealed them professionally and opened them 48 hours later.
The Result: It wasn’t even close. The Foam-insulated box significantly outperformed the Tri-fold. The insulation properties of the foam kept the contents much colder for much longer. For the sake of a few extra dollars at the retail counter, the peace of mind offered by a foam box is invaluable. We strongly recommend only using foam-insulated boxes for your catch.
Do You Need Dry Ice or Refrigerants?
Short answer: No.
While people often ask about dry ice or gel packs, they are generally an unnecessary expense and a logistical headache. Not only that, it’s pretty much impossible to find in Alaska anyway. The good news is, you really don’t need it with the fish boxes being used.
Dry Ice: Airlines allow up to 5 lbs if disclosed, but it is extremely difficult to find on the Peninsula.
The Best Refrigerant: The best way to keep your fish cold is to have a full box of frozen fish. Air is the enemy of cold; if you have extra space in your box, simply fill the gaps with crumpled newspaper. This displaces the air and provides extra layers of insulation without the weight or cost of gel packs.
Ready to Book Your Stay & Adventures
Fill out our online inquiry form. It only takes a moment, will give us all the details we need to put together an initial plan for you, and our staff will usually get back to you within 24 hours after we’ve had a chance to initially plan out your trip so that we can put you in the perfect lodge with the right trips and options. It is helpful if you check out our lodging page where you can see the different sized options (rooms, beds) and real-time availability with our up-to-date calendars available directly on our lodging page.
From June 16 to Oct 1, we strongly encourage you to consider a split stay at our Kenai Riverside Resort property located 1/2-way between Anchorage and Homer to experience some world-class salmon fishing on the Kenai River and Kasilof River either on the front-end or back-end of your vacation in addition to your Luxury Homer Adventures & lodging portion of your trip – you won’t be disappointed!