Cascade Creek Lodge, which fishes as Fish Sitka, is a family run operation of more than 30 years that stands out for one thing in this ranking: it sells the most affordable posted day charter in Sitka. The Kraft family runs a small fleet of comfortable 30 foot walk around boats out of the Sitka shore, and alongside its multi day lodge packages it offers a standalone day trip at $500 per person, up to 10 hours dock to dock. Reviewers credit the boats and the captains for putting guests on limits of salmon and halibut, and the lodge carries a deep, mostly positive review base across TripAdvisor, Google, and Yelp.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 Cascade Creek is a strong choice and the value pick of the Sitka field, on the strength of a $500 day charter that undercuts the rest of the ranked boats while still putting you on comfortable, capable boats. It suits a traveler who wants an established Sitka operation without the top end per person price, or a multi day lodge stay. It ranks in the middle of the field for two honest reasons: its review record is weighted toward the lodge and inn experience rather than the day charter specifically, and there is some service variability, with a 4 of 5 TripAdvisor average and at least one complaint about a room that was not provided as confirmed. The fishing itself reviews well. For the newest boats see Sitka Fishing Excursions; the full field is on the Sitka ranking.
The boats
Cascade Creek runs three 30 foot walk around sport fishers, each with an enclosed heated cabin, a private head, and twin outboards, fishing up to 6 anglers. Reviewers describe them as fast and comfortable, with good gear, and the enclosed cabins matter on the cold, wet outer coast. They are solid, well kept boats, a step below the newest stabilized hulls in the port but more than capable for a full day on the salmon and the bottom. The fleet depth lets the operation run several boats for its lodge guests and its day charters at once. On boat and equipment it is solid.
The fishing and what you target
Cascade Creek fishes the full Sitka card, salmon first. King salmon is the signature, at one a day for nonresidents at 28 inches or greater, fished hardest from mid May into July, and silver salmon run at six a day through the summer. Pacific halibut is one a day under the 2026 Area 2C charter slot, 34 inches or under or 80 inches or over, with the Thursday closures from June 18 to September 10. Lingcod, rockfish, and black cod fill out the bottom, and the site lists a long species mix across a season. The captains run up to 10 hours dock to dock, which is a full day on the water, and reviewers report consistent limits.
Trips and prices
The standalone day charter is $500 per person for up to 10 hours, including a guide and deckhand, gear, rain gear, and a deli lunch with drinks, which is the most affordable posted day rate among Sitka’s ranked charters. Extra are the Alaska license and king stamp, the 6% Sitka tax, fish processing, alcohol, and gratuity. The multi day lodge packages run per person, with a 2026 example at $3,000 per person for 3 days fishing and 4 nights, double occupancy, including meals, fishing, transfers, and processing of up to 50 pounds a person, plus a fuel surcharge if fuel passes $4 a gallon. The day charter is the value story here, and our cost guide sets it against the rest of the port.
The crew
The captains and deckhands review well, credited as knowledgeable, hardworking, and patient, putting guests on limits and handling the catch, with chef prepared meals a highlight of the lodge stays. The honest qualifier is that the sentiment is weighted toward the overall lodge and inn experience rather than the day charter specifically, and the operation carries a 4 of 5 rather than a near perfect average, with at least one reviewer reporting a room that was not provided as confirmed. That points to some service variability around the lodging side rather than a problem on the water. The individual captain names are not published, so you book the operation rather than a named skipper.
Booking and what to know
Cascade Creek books through its Fish Sitka site, with the lodge on the Sitka shore north of downtown. Decide between the $500 day charter and a multi day package, and confirm the inclusions and the room details if you are staying, given the lodging complaint noted above. Bring warm waterproof layers for the cold, wet outer coast, a hat, sunscreen, and motion sickness medicine; rain gear and gear are provided. The Alaska license and king stamp, the Sitka tax, and processing are extra on the day charter, with up to 50 pounds a person of processing included on the package. Confirm the day before in case the weather forces a call.
How we scored it
Cascade Creek earns its 7.8 on a 30 year family operation, comfortable boats, fishing that reviews well, and the most affordable posted day charter in the port. Value is a genuine strength. It is held in the middle of the field by a review record weighted toward the lodge rather than the day charter and by some service variability, reflected in a 4 of 5 average and a lodging complaint. See how we scored this boat and the rest of the Sitka charters we rank.