Nick Blanco Fishing - Kodiak Island, Alaska

Driftwood Wilderness Lodge

During the building of his off-grid cabin in Larsen Bay, owner Nick Blanco was featured in eight episodes of Building Alaska, the DIY network series. Nick operates out of Driftwood Wilderness Lodge, his second lodge in Larsen Bay.

Kodiak Island

Captain Nick: Owner Nick Blanco has lived full-time in Alaska since 2012, working as a fishing guide or assistant. A licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain, Nick has been in Larsen Bay for seven seasons and knows where the halibut and salmon are biting.
Species: Catch halibut, salmon, lingcod, and rockfish and lingcod; all fantastic fighters and delicious to eat. Eat what you catch at the Lodge, or bring your fish home. The fish bag limits in Kodiak are higher than anywhere else in the state, which means you get to keep more fish that you catch.
2023 Regulations: You can keep two halibut a day, one of any size and one under 28" daily. You can keep two kings per day with no annual limit.

Package Options:
• Guided saltwater charters
• Fly fishing trips
• Cast-and-Blast options.

Fishing Facts:

Boat: The Kita is a 32 ft. aluminum landing craft with twin 225 Honda 4-stroke outboards, a self-bailing deck, a heated cabin, and sponsons. The Kita is fast, comfortable, hosts up to six anglers, and its captain knows where the fish are hiding in Uyak Bay.
Fishing Trips: June 1 through October 1.
Species: Target king salmon from May through July. Silvers, August through October; Halibut, July through September; and Lingcod, July through the season. Rockfish are available year-round.
Cast-and-Blast Season: October 15 - December 31.
Group Size: Groups of four to six are best on the vessel. Fishing charters are generally from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Equipment: Fishing equipment is provided. A comprehensive gear and tackle list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: An Alaska fishing license is not included $45.00 (2023). You will also need to purchase a king salmon stamp ($45.00) if fishing here in June or July.
Fish Care: Fish care and wax boxes are provided for your trip home. (Guests are expected to help with the vacuum sealing process.) You can also bring a fish cooler to take home your catch.

Typical Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - Head out to fish.
Mid-day - Lunch on the boat.
5:00 p.m. - Help care for your catch!
7:00 p.m. Dinnertime.

Crab Pot Pulled Up to Boat with Mountains in Background

Stream Fishing

Anglers with a Stringer of Fish in Stream

King Salmon Fishing

Angler in Boat Holding up Bright King Salmon

Lingcod Fishing - Tom Walchuk's Group (2023)

Halibut and King Salmon

Angler with Halibut and Guy and Toni Schoenborn with King Salmon

Guy and Toni Schoenborn with king salmon during their exploratory trip to Driftwood Wilderness Lodge in 2022.

Cast-and-Blast Option

Cast-and-Blast options with deer or waterfowl hunting and halibut are available in the fall. Some freshwater silver fishing in September with flies or lures.

Larsen Bay

The new Driftwood Wilderness Lodge is in the Village of Larsen Bay, Alaska. It is steps from the ocean and a stream called Humpy Creek, where salmon spawn and the locals fish. The new Lodge has all the conveniences of home, including a washer and dryer. There are four double-occupancy bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Communications: Wi-Fi is available at the Lodge.

Comfortable Living Room

Watch for bears and whales from the lodge deck and boat.

Dining Room

Meals: Delicious home-cooked buffet-style breakfasts and dinners. You'll enjoy packed lunches on the boat. Nick asks that you bring extra snacks. If requested a month in advance, he can order them for you for a fee.
Alcohol: No alcohol is provided at the Lodge, and there are no liquor sales in Larsen Bay, so guests should bring their own beverages or request in advance.

Getting Here:

You'll fly from Anchorage to Kodiak, about a one-hour non-stop flight, and then from Kodiak to Larsen Bay, a 40-minute flight. At the Larsen Bay Airport, you'll be greeted by a Lodge representative and driven to the Lodge, about a two-minute drive.
You may need to stay your first and last night in Kodiak, depending on your flight schedule. (No flights, hotels, or meals, in transit to the Lodge are included in the package.)

2024 USD Rates

Rates do not include a 3% Sales Tax.
June 1 - October 1:
6-nights and 5-days guided fishing
$3,975.00 per person

Cast and Blast:
October 15 - December 31:
6-nights and 5-days fishing and hunting
$3,975.00 per person
Children under 18, with an accompanying adult, receive a 15% discount.

The Packages Include:

• Ground transfers from Larsen Bay Airport to the Lodge
• 6-nights Lodging
• Three meals per day
• Wi-Fi at the Lodge
• 5-days guided charter boat excursions
• The use of fishing equipment
• Vacuumed-sealed fish care

The Packages Do Not Include:

• Airfare to Anchorage, and return
• Airfare from Anchorage to Kodiak, and return
• Airfare from Kodiak to Larsen Bay, and return
• Hotel nights, meals, and ground transfers en route to the Lodge
• Alcoholic beverages
• Extra snacks
• Alaska Fishing license
• King salmon stamp if fishing in June or July
• Gratuities for guide and staff
• Personal amenities/toiletries/souvenir purchases
• 3% Larsen Bay City Sales Tax on the total package
• Global Rescue or similar medical evacuation insurance
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.