ORION CHARTERS - CATCH STATISTICS & INFORMATION

If you want to go fishing on Orion Charters here are some of the things to expect and some general information about fishing in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.   We start halibut fishing in April and fish through September.  We specialize in Gulf of Alaska 12-hour day charters.  For the 2006 Season we will leave the dock at 6:00 AM and return by 6:00 PM.   Our boat is located at slip E-30 in the Valdez Boat Harbor. The information presented below is based on our captains personal fishing log data from our 1997 through 2006 seasons.

ITEM

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Totals
Chance of catching 2 halibut. Approx. 75% 84% (159 out of 189 people caught their limit of 2 halibut in 1998) 78% (293 out of 376 people caught their limit of 2 halibut in 1999) 93% (407 out of 437 people caught their limit of 2 halibut in 2000) 94% (528 out of 562 people caught their limit of 2 halibut in 2001) 95% (in 2002 season) 85% (in 2003 season) 99% (in 2004 season) 90% (in 2005 season) 81% (398 out of 492 people caught their limit of 2 halibut in 2006)  
Number of
60"+/100# halibut landed on ORION
 

32

 

42 65 104 197 133 180 115 156 121 1145
Number of
74"+ / 200# halibut landed on ORION
1 3 3 16 18 5 18 15 21 13 113
Number of (80"+) halibut landed in on ORION 0 0 0 4 5 0 5 1 6 7 28
Number of
87"+ / 300# halibut landed on ORION
0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Number of 100# (60") plus halibut per day. 0.89 (32 -100# halibut caught in 36 days fishing in 1997, 32/36= 0.89) 0.89 (42 - 100# halibut caught in 47 days fishing in 1998, 42/47 = 0.89) 0.86 (65 - 100# halibut caught in 76 days fishing in 1999, 65/76 = 0.86) 1.28 (104 - 100# halibut caught in 81 days fishing in 2000, 104/81= 1.28) 1.93 (197 -100# halibut caught in 102 days halibut fishing in 2001, 197/102 = 1.93) 1.27 (133 - 100# halibut caught in 105 days halibut fishing in 2002 , 123/100=1.27) 1.98 (180 - 100# halibut caught in 91 days halibut fishing in 2003 , 180/91=1.98) 1.16 (115 - 100# halibut caught in 99 days halibut fishing in 2004, 115/99=1.16) 1.44 (156 - 100# halibut caught in 108 days halibut fishing in 2005, 156/108=1.44) 1.42 (121 - 100# halibut caught in 85 days halibut fishing in 2005, 121/85=1.42)  
Largest Halibut Landed on ORION CHARTERS 200#/74" 230#/79" 208#/78" 280#/87" (2nd largest halibut landed in Valdez during 2000) 322.6#/88.5"(3rd Largest halibut ever landed in Valdez on sport tackle) 212.2#/79"

251.0#/83"
The 2003   Valdez $15,000.00
Halibut Derby Winner

230.8#/80" 268.8#/82" 262.7/84"
The 2006   Valdez  $5,000.00
2nd place Halibut Derby Winner
322.6#
Largest Ling Cod Landed on ORION CHARTERS 46# 60# (Released, caught in June) 64# 67#/53", also Released 70#/58" in June 76.6#/54" (x-Alaska State  Record, IGFA World Record) 74# released 65# 66# 62.6# 71.0# 76.6#
Largest Salmon Shark Caught on ORION CHARTERS 7'/301# 8'/325# 9.5'/500# 9'/400# 9'/450# 9'4"/540# 450# 425# 9'/450+#
released
9.5'/500#
released
540#
Number of Salmon Sharks Caught on Orion Charters 1 in 1997 7 in 1998 28 in 1999 44 in 2000 105 in 2001 111 in 2002 32 in 2003 55 in 2004 96 in 2005 52 in 2006 527
Largest Red Snapper Landed on ORION CHARTERS 18# 18.6# 15# 21.0# 23.4# (largest Red Snapper landed in Valdez during 2001 season) 24.0# (largest Red Snapper landed in Valdez during 2002 season) 22# 21# 22# 18# 24.0
Largest Black Sea Bass Landed on ORION CHARTERS not recorded not recorded not recorded not recorded 16.5# not recorded not recorded not recorded not recorded not recorded 16.5#
Chance per person of catching a 100# (60") plus halibut per day. 21% (32 -100# halibut caught in 36 days in 1997 with 150 people fishing, 32/150 = 21%) 22% (42 - 100# halibut caught in 47 days in 1998 with 189 people fishing, 42/189=22%) 17% (65 -100# halibut caught in 76 days in 1999 with 376 people fishing, 65/376=17%) 24% (104 - 100# halibut caught in 81 days in 2000 with 437 people fishing, 104/437 = 24%) 35% (197 - 100# halibut caught in 102 days in 2001 with 562 people fishing, 197/562 =35%) 23% (133 - 100# halibut caught in 105 days in 2002 with 578 people fishing, 133/578 =35%) 36% (180 - 100# halibut caught in 91 days in 2003 with 495 people fishing, 180/495 =35%) 21% (115 - 100# halibut caught in 99 days in 2004 with 545 people fishing, 115/545 =21%) 25% (156 - 100# halibut caught in 108 days in 2005 with 618 people fishing, 156/618 =21%) 25% (121 - 100# halibut caught in 85 days in 2006 with 492 people fishing, 121/492 =21%)  
Number of people halibut fishing on ORION per day. (max of 6 per day) 4.2 4.0 4.9 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.8  
Average size of halibut retained on ORION in. 40# 40# 40# 45# 50# 40# 50# 45# 40# 35#  
Chance of catching a Ling Cod (while halibut fishing). 25% 75% 90% 90% 90% 80% 70% 70% 50% 50 %  
Chance of hooking a Salmon Shark while specifically fishing for Salmon Sharks. Did not do any Salmon Shark Charters in 1997 50% - approx. July 1 to approx. August 7 99% - approx. July 1 to approx. August 7 99% - approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31 99%- approx. July 1 to approx. August 31  
Chance of catching Silver Salmon while specifically fishing for Silvers. 90%- approx. Aug.1 to approx. Sept. 1 95% - approx. Aug.1 to approx. Sept. 1 99%- approx. Aug.14 to approx. Sept. 1 (Late Silver Run) 99%- approx. Aug.1 to approx. Sept. 1 99%- approx. Aug.1 to approx. Sept. 1 99%- approx. Aug.1 to approx. Sept. 1 No Silver Salmon Charters in 2003 No Silver Salmon Charters in 2004 No Silver Salmon Charters in 2005 o Silver Salmon Charters in 2006  
Chances of seeing ORCA or Humpback Whales Approx. 50% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 60% Approx. 50%  
Chances of seeing Stellar Sealions Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 75% Approx. 60% Approx. 60%
Chances of seeing Sea Otters Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95% Approx. 95%
Chances of seeing Dahl Porpoises Approx. 5% Approx. 10% Approx. 10% Approx. 20% Approx. 30% Approx. 50% Approx. 75% Approx. 80% Approx. 85% Approx. 85%
Chances of seeing Puffins Approx. 75% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 90% Approx. 80%
Average Seas in Prince William Sound (summer) 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet 2 to 3 feet 2 to 4 feet 2 to 5 feet 2 to 5 feet 2 to 5 feet 3 to 6 feet  
Average Seas in Gulf of Alaska (summer) 3 to 6 feet 3 to 6 feet 3 to 6 feet 3 to 6 feet 4 to 6 feet 4 to 8 feet 4 to 10 feet 4 to 10 feet 4 to 10 feet 6 to 10 feet  
Average Prince William Sound Tide change (summer) 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet 10 to 12 feet  
Average depth that we fish halibut in 100 to 150 feet 100 to 150 feet 100 to 200 feet 150 to 250 feet 150 to 250 feet 150 to 250 feet 100 to 400 feet 100 to 400 feet 100 to 400 feet 100 to 400 feet
Average amount of weight needed to hit bottom 32 to 48 oz. (2 to 3 lbs.) 32 to 64 oz. 32 to 64 oz. 32 oz., less weight due to started using "Power Pro" Line (braided spectra) which is much thinner/stronger then Dacron 32 oz. 32 oz. 32 oz. 32 oz. 32 oz. 32 oz.  
Average length of boat trip to reach Halibut fishing 75 miles (one way), 2.5 hours 75 miles (one way), 2.5 hours 75 miles (one way), 2.5 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours 100 miles (one way) 3 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours 100 miles (one way), 3 hours  
Average cruise speed 27to 30 knots 27to 30 knots 27 to 30 knots 30 to 35 knots 30 to 35 knots 32 knots 32 knots 30 knots 30 knots 30 knots  
Average length of boat trip to reach Silver Salmon fishing 2 to 10 miles (one way) 2 to 10 miles (one way) 2 to 10 miles (one way) 2 to 10 miles (one way) 2 to 10 miles (one way) 2 to 10 miles (one way) NA NA NA NA  

To book a charter or provide feedback, you may contact  ORION CHARTERS at the following:

ORION CHARTERS
Dave & Frieda Wiley
P.O. Box 3577
Valdez, AK 99686


EMAIL:      DAVE@ORIONCHARTERS.COM or
                 FRIEDA@ORIONCHARTERS.COM


PHONE:              (907) 835-8610                          


Check out these other pages for pictures and information.
 

HALIBUT FISHING:   200# CLUB2004 HALIBUT PICS, 2003 HALIBUT PICS, 2002 HALIBUT PICS,
                                                2001 HALIBUT PICS2000 HALIBUT PICS, HALIBUT ARTICLES 

SHARK FISHING: Salmon Sharks, Sleeper Sharks, Unusual Sharks, Dog Sharks,
                                                
Catch and Release Sharks 

LINGCOD FISHING: Ling Cod, Ling Cod Articles

ROCKFISH FISHING: Rockfish

SALMON FISHING: Salmon

UNUSUAL FISH: Unusual Fish

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND: Scenery, GlaciersWhales, Sea Lions

ORION CHARTERS INFO:  Catch Statistics,  Prices, Terms & Conditions
                                                                        BOAT INFORMATION
POLITICS: Politics

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This page was last updated on 11/14/06.