Whittier Water Taxi

Alaska Spring Black Bear 2012

2012-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

Whittier Water Taxi is already taking bookings for hunter drop offs for spring Black bear. In 2011 we had a great spring bear season - the weather cooperated most of the season. Hunters were bringing back some nice bears and some very choice meat. One of my favorite recipes is garlic tamarind bear roast, cooked in a baking bag with a hint of Hungarian paprika. You can’t go wrong with BBQ bear ribs either. I pressure cook them first until they are ‘fall off the bone’ tender, then soak them in my favorite sauce and finish them off on the grill. Many of our hunters have been bragging about the bear breakfast sausages and bratwurst they had made up at Pioneer Meats in the valley www.pioneermeatsofalaska.com . Spring bear will provide some fresh red meat for the freezer to get you through the summer until the fall hunting season. We have lots of hunters that have been riding on our boat for years that are already planning their spring bear hunt. Whittier Water Taxi not only provides the most reliable service, we also offer the best water taxi drop off rates. We are the only water taxi service out of Whittier that post our rates and don’t have any hidden fees. All rates are quoted round trip for up to 6 passengers and one pickup truck bed of gear, (stacked no higher than the back window.)

A few tips on spring bear hunting in Prince William Sound: Bring snow shoes as you often need to cross some deep snow. Bring a snow shovel as you may need to move some snow to set up camp. A plastic sled you will save your back. Dragging a bear in soft snow can be very grueling. A good First Aid kit is one important piece of equipment that is overlooked by most. I have brought hunters back early because they couldn’t treat a cut in the field. They make some nice first aid kits for use in the wilderness - make sure they have blood clotting agents to stop excessive bleeding: www.quickclot.com. Often all you need is to treat a cut but I would prepare for the worst. The Red Cross teaches a wilderness and remote first aid course. If you have a life threatening injury, a VHF radio enables you to call the Coast Guard. They have helicopters that can transport you to a hospital faster than anyone else. When shopping for a VHF radio, look for one that is waterproof and get one that offers a back up battery pack that takes AA batteries (you can’t recharge a rechargeable without a generator.) Sleeping bags: this is one item you don’t want to skimp on. Synthetic dries easily, goose down does not. Always choose bags rated for - 10 or colder. Rubber boots for loading and off loading the boat in the bush are essential - not all drop off spots allow a boat to land on dry land. Sometimes the landing shallows out leaving just enough water to soak into your leather boots. Pack gear in totes with locking lids or water proof bags. Hard gun cases shed rain whereas soft gun cases are like sponges. Gun wipes are very handy to wipe your gun down before leaving home. Wipe them down again once you set up your camp and twice a day, every day in the field. The change in temperature and humidity will cause condensation resulting in guns rusting at an accelerated rate in the field. Rafts help greatly to cover more area, to catch fresh fish for dinner and to haul bears back to camp. If you bring a raft, deflate it for the transport to the field. Heidi with Alaska Adventure Tours rents rafts with outboard for as little as $100 a day. Her website is www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com or call (907) 362 1290. We still have plenty open days for drop offs right now but we are getting lots of inquires from our repeat local hunters and from solders in Alaska and Afghanistan. Usually we book up by the spring Sportsman Shows. Feel free to give me a call, Captain Matt Cline 907-362-1291. Check out our web sites www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com or www.whittierwatertaxi.com. In June 2012 Aquetec LLC will be deploying our base camp boat R/V Cathy G, providing lodging close to the best hunting and fishing areas in Prince William Sound. Affordable remote lodging away from the crowds and outside of the commercial fishing districts www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com We can provide transport to the base camp boat or you can bring your own boat and tie up to us. We can also provide meals or you can bring your own food and cook it up in the galley on the boat.

12.16.11 Alaskan Boater's Base Camp

2011-12-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

New: starting June 2012 - a floating base camp in Prince William Sound designed for Alaskan boat owners. Hi, Matt Cline here: I’m the owner/operator of Aquetec LLC, Whittier Water Taxi. Many local boaters are familiar with my boat, the Bayhawk, a 32 foot Bay Weld boat. For years I have been operating my water taxi service catering to Alaskans and their guests. I recognized years ago that most water taxi services cater to the summer tourists, not Alaskans. Having operated my own boats in and around Prince William Sound for over 25 years, my friends and I have had to camp, due to the limited room on the boat. One never gets a good night’s sleep worrying about the boat all night. Then there is all the camp gear we had to load up and haul out. The load of gear didn’t help the fuel mileage and consumed a lot of time packing and unpacking again after we got home. After all, we are supposed to be having fun but often the trips end up being a lot of work. We looked at staying at the remote lodges but once again they were priced more for tourists than Alaskans and they are located in the middle of commercial fishing districts. We are refitting our 76 foot, 111 ton Covacevich trawler, Cathy G, into a base camp designed for Alaskan boaters. The Cathy G will have 4 rooms available with double and single bunks in each room. The galley and dining area is designed for groups up to 12. We have always enjoyed cooking up gourmet meals when camping out. On the Cathy G we give the option of meals provided or cook up your own meals in our full galley or barbeque on the back deck - the choice is yours. There is nothing better than cooking up freshly caught fish, shrimp, wild game or crab. Our 17 by 22 foot heated sheltered deck is very handy for bad weather days or late season deer hunting. You can clean your fish or process your game on our 7 foot wide fish cleaning table with plenty of space to process your fish and game before taking it home. We know many Alaskan like to vacuum pack or can their fish fresh. Bring your vacuum packer or canner – there is plenty of room in the sheltered deck to process your fish. Got guests coming or a group of friends? You can fish or hunt all day and come back to the Cathy G with all the comforts of home but located close to the fishing or hunting hot spots. Unlike expensive land based lodges, we can move close to the hot spots and away from the crowds or the commercial fishing districts. Whether it is early spring shrimping, spring or fall black bear season, salmon, halibut or lingcod season or deer season, we will be located close by. We all know how Alaskans like to entertain their out of state relatives and friends, but most don’t have enough room on their boat for everyone sleep or a galley to cook dinner. On the Cathy G the large galley fully stocked with all the cook ware you need, allows you to show off your culinary skills and make your guests envious of our great Alaskan lifestyle. No more worrying about dragging anchor at night - you can get a good night’s sleep tied up to the Cathy G. Do you love to cruise the sound with other friends that also have boats? You can rent the whole boat and cook up your own meals for only $700 a night for up to 8 guests. That’s less than half what the land based lodges charge and there are no hidden fees or added on taxes. Once again they are designed more for the tourists. Don’t want to cook your own meals? We can provide meals for you at $75 per person per day. That includes breakfast, box lunch to go and a hearty Alaskan style dinner of seafood or steaks. We also take requests for your favorite Alaskan dish - just let us know well ahead of time so we can stock up. Got guests that don’t want to fish or hunt all day but want an Alaskan wilderness experience? For an extra cost we can take those guests on a glacier wildlife tour or a hike. Maybe they always wanted to try kayaking or kayak fishing? We offer many wilderness activities at very reasonable rates and all excursions are guided by me, Captain Matt or Captain Heidi. Check our Alaska Boaters Base Camp page on www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com

12.4.11 Prince William Sound Deer Hunting Nov 2011

2011-12-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

November started with large storm fronts, high winds and heavy freezing spray. The hunters that were in the field at that time reported much higher winds than what was forecast, but even though the weather was less than ideal, there was plenty of deer harvested. Some hunters felt the noise of the wind helped them stalk the deer but the wind chill was rough on any exposed skin. Their hands would go numb while dressing out a deer. After breaking some low temperature records across the state we got a good dump of snow. By the end of November the snow was chest deep on some of the northerly islands and knee to waist deep on Montague Island. Check out your tent and make sure it can hold up to strong winds and a snow load. Often new tents come with weak poles. Quality tent manufacturers offer stronger poles, more suited for Alaskan conditions - always get the stronger poles! Tarps that are set up right can catch and shed the snow and can also be set up to deflect the main gusts of wind off your tent. When shopping for tarps, look for heavy weight tarps as they flap less in the wind and usually have better eyelets. This is the time of the year to dig out the snow shoes and plastic sled. If you are renting one of the Forest Service cabins, or bringing a wood stove for your tent, remember to bring the chainsaw! With the deep snow, most hunters are maxing out their limits now. I just got back from Montague on December 1st with a group that limited out. They were there for our first big pineapple express of the winter. Arriving there, the snow was just over knee deep but by the time I picked them up over half of it had melted. With the fickle weather at this time of year, we often have to move the departure and pick up times to fit the weather. Most experienced Alaskan hunters are very familiar with bad weather holding up hunts - that is just the way it is. You have to have a plan B and many hunters seem to have employers who will let them be flexible with their days to make it work out. Some are not so fortunate and have to cancel out or reschedule. Whittier Water Taxi does not keep your deposit for weather cancelations. When the weather turns bad and trips are backed up, the groups returning from the field have priority over those deploying to the field. For more info, check out our website www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com We post our round trip rates to the most popular drop off spots on our web site. All rates posted are round trip, per person, all taxes and fees included NO HIDDEN FEES.

10.27.11 Alaska Deer Hunting – Prince William Sound

2011-10-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

We started the ‘everything open’ month with rain, then got 8 days of great hunting weather and now we are back to intermittent rain with low clouds and a storm once a week. The storms have been depositing lots of nutritious kelp on the beaches. The rain has brought up the water levels in the streams making it difficult to cross some of them. It’s that time of year to dig out the canvas tents, portable wood stove and cots. I would recommend bringing or renting a raft to get around the shore or to cross the flooded creeks. It does not need to be a big raft just something to paddle around obstructions or across a lagoon. A chain saw is also very handy during the late fall season as there is plenty of dead and downed wood to harvest. Remember to pack your gear in waterproof containers (totes) or bags as it could be raining on your way out or back. It is also best to put your rifles in hard cases. Port Chalmers Cabin has a new diesel heater, installed this summer. Five gallons of fuel lasts 2 ½ days and set on low, it will cook you out. The snow line is still up high in the southern half of the sound. Sea water temperatures are hovering around 43 to 42 degrees F near Montague Island. We have seen an increase in bookings in November this year - many are past customers wanting to try out their hunting skills when the snow is deeper on the high ground. Whittier Water Taxi will be transporting through December or till the weather stops us. Check our web site for more info on the services offered by Whittier Water Taxi www.whittierwatertaxi.com Our hunting web site is www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com You can get a hold of me: Captain Matt Cline at 907-362-1291 or Captain Heidi at 907-362-1290. We are collecting info and hunters’ photos to add to the princewilliamsoundhunting web site to help hunters plan their hunts. If you have info, tips, recipes or photos that you wish to add to the site e-mail us at ak_explorer@hotmail.com

9.24.11 Deer Hunting Green Island Cabin Prince William Sound

2011-10-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

We just returned from the Forest Service rental cabin on Green Island. The day after we arrived, the weather turned bad with 60 knot winds from the east with 7 feet seas and heavy rain. In the cabin we were warm and cozy with the oil heater running. What a great view out the front window facing the east with the beach 20 ft from the deck. We never had to run the heater over the half or the one third mark on the control valve which burned about 5 gallons every three days .You can save on fuel oil by shutting the stove off when you’re not in the cabin. There is also a wood stove in the cabin which will cook you out. We would start a fire in the wood stove after hiking in the rain all day, which heats the cabin to 80 degrees and then we could hang up our wet gear and crack open a window to let the moist air out which helped dry everything. At night we just ran the oil heater as the wood stove would make it too hot to sleep. It is best to bring some wood with you as good fire wood on the island is scarce. The two bunks were doubles on the bottom and singles on the top. Previous cabin users have left thick foam pads on the bunks - they were very comfortable after a day of hiking through the bush. The cabin has a nice kitchen table and benches set up by the front window and the cooking area was perfect for a three burner Coleman stove. There is a fair amount of shelving to stock food and supplies, although there was a lot of food left by past cabin users. Reading in the log book, some people complained about the abandoned food and gear taking up to much space. Taking a close look at what was left behind we found some items very useful and others had spoiled or were just junk. Spending a lot of time transporting Alaskans to and from the bush we hear plenty of horror stories of previous trips gone badly such as people getting stranded in the bush without food or shelter, so we can understand why someone would want to leave something behind that could save a life. We went through the cached food and noticed that someone put everything in zip lock bags. What was in the zip locks was in good shape like rice, instant oat meal, dried hash browns and spices. Pasta and anything else that was not in a sealed pouch had absorbed moisture. All canned foods where rusted and if left over the winter will freeze turning the food inside to mush. We did find many items that would be very helpful if one was stranded but we did not find any matches or anything else to start a fire so we left a pack of matches there in a zip lock and some spare candles. Just imagine getting stranded, then finding a cabin with all that food and a heater but no way to make a fire for heat or to cook the food. Feel free to haul off any trash you may find around the cabin or old food – we hauled two bags off. Anchorage in the lagoon behind the cabin was great – even during the 60 knot winds from the east, the boat was sitting in dead calm water. We anchored just outside of the weed bed in 17 feet of water in the northeast corner of the lagoon. Remember to bring drinking water as there are plenty of land otters swimming in the lakes and streams on the island. The rain gutter on the north side of cabin drains into a water barrel for washing and cooking water which is great. Inside the cabin you will find an axe, a saw, a splitting maul and brooms next to the back door. It is dark in the cabin so you will need a lantern or candles. There are plenty of nails on the ceiling to hang a lantern. Bring a piece of heavy wire to hang your lantern well away from the ceiling so you can avoid damaging the wood. You can see many burns from lanterns that have been hung too close to the walls and ceiling. Be careful walking around on the decks as they are very slippery when wet - only the main ramp to the lagoon has a strip of no skid which helps a lot. Hiking on the island is lots of fun - boots are a must as everything is wet with lots of open muskeg with small lakes and streams. The island is heavily wooded on the southeast and southwest end of the island but the center of the island has lots of open muskeg. Birding in the area is very good. We saw large flocks of black oystercatchers and a variety of sea birds. Sea otters are plentiful all around the island and many of them had large pups with them. Most of the otters we saw are half white (golden/yellow) and one that was two thirds white. Every day that we went on the water we sighted whales near the island (both minke and humpbacked whales). Kayaking in the area is amazing – we were using our camo Pungo 140 fishing kayaks – they were super fast and got around the area really well. Staying in the cabin really made the trip enjoyable, even though the weather was not always the best. We had a great time and reading the comments left in the log book sounds like everybody who has stayed there really enjoys it.

Whittier Water Taxi Alaska Fall Black Bear

2011-09-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

September 14, 2011 prime time for Alaska Black Bear hunting. I just returned from Knight Island with a group of Alaskan hunters. They were very successful at harvesting a couple of nice black bears. One hunter got his with a bow - his first bear with a bow. After harvesting their bears they saw 10 more bears in the area. I saw two bears just during the time it took to load the boat on the return trip to Whittier. The rainy weather doesn’t bother the bears - they keep on feeding even in a down pour. Some of the bears’ bellies only cleared the ground by a couple inches. The hunters kept a fire going and a lantern burning all night to keep the bears away from the tent while they slept. The only bear problem they had was one stole away with a 5 gallon gas jug. These hunters took great care to protect their food and gear from raiding bears. October is the last good month to hunt black bear in Prince William Sound. After October, food starts to get harder for the bears to find and many start hibernating. These hunters brought a raft to check out the coves and to harvest some rock fish. Kayaks also work well to explore the coves in the area. Heidi with http://www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com/ rents out sit inside fishing kayaks and a 12 foot raft with a 6hp 4 stroke outboard. Just because you are camping, there is no need to chow down on MRE’s and freeze dried food. I noticed our experienced hunters bring Dutch ovens and often brag about the gourmet meals they make at camp. A little meal planning before departing to the bush will make the hunt more enjoyable – it doesn’t matter what the weather does. We still have some open times with the Water Taxi in October but they are filling fast. For more info on services offered by Whittier Water Taxi check out www.whittierwatertaxi.com or call Matt 1-907-362-1291. For raft or kayak rental call Heidi 1- 907-362-1290.

Whittier Water Taxi 2011 Deer Hunter Transport

2011-08-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Prince William Sound Alaska deer season is just starting. Whittier Water Taxi is gearing up for our favorite buck season. This is the time to hunt Prince William Sound deer if you are looking for bucks in velvet. From August 1st to September 30th is bucks only. I personally enjoy hiking to the high ground and taking in the spectacular views from atop the mountains on the islands of Prince William Sound. Around the upper alpine slopes is where I have harvested some of the nicest velvet bucks ever. When going after these high ground bucks I go prepared to bone them out on the spot. Two boned out bucks is my load limit for the hike back down to camp. Due to the warm weather of this early season we carry black pepper to sprinkle on the meat to keep the flies away and good quality game bags are a must. I always look for the real finely woven cloth bags. The tight weave will prevent flies from laying eggs on the meat. I find the old style army laundry bags work perfectly as well. When hiking to the high ground, remember to carry plenty of water. A water filter will cut down on the amount of water you have to carry. The hike to the high ground can be hot and humid but once on top, expect a cool breeze. You might consider bringing a light wind breaker to prevent a chill from the evaporating perspiration. We have hunted Prince William Sound for over 25 years and enjoy filling our freezer with the delicious table fare it has to offer. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed State of Alaska game transporter #928. We offer the most affordable rates and the most reliable service. Check out our Prince William Sound hunting web site for information on hunter transportation and rates at www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com You can reach me, Captain Matt Cline at 907 362 1291 or email ak_explorer@hotmail.com Members of our military should remember to ask for our active armed forces discount. Whittier Water Taxi is a local Alaskan Disabled Veteran owned business.

Prince William Sound Kayak Fishing

2011-07-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

Whittier Water Taxi is now renting Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 fishing kayaks. We have been testing a pair of these very stable kayaks since this spring and our customers who have rented these kayaks have given us very positive reviews. Not only are they very stable and track nicely, they have a roomy cockpit with very comfortable seats. The Pungo 140s are lighter than most kayaks and are easy to handle in and out of the water, making your kayaking adventure more enjoyable! The increased weight capacity, storage hatches for gear and increased tracking let you go the distance in the comfort of a sit-inside kayak. Many who own these kayaks have found out how versatile these boats are and have written very good reviews about them. Fishing from a kayak can be very challenging with a standard single kayak - a nice sized silver salmon can roll you into the water or wrap your line around the rudder and deck rigging. Not so with these kayaks - they are designed to be stable enough to fight your catch and have no snags to break your line. Our Pungo 140s have two rod holders: one behind you for while you’re paddling to your destination and one on the front deck. (No fumbling with your fishing rod while trying to maneuver around!) Wilderness Systems also installed holders for your paddle while you’re fishing and there is a removable consol for your tackle with a beverage holder. These 14 foot kayaks can carry close to the same amount of gear as a typical 17 foot single. This is perfect for those who want to explore the more remote parts of Prince William Sound and catch dinner on the same trip! Many of the islands in Prince William Sound offer some of the best rockfish, salmon and halibut fishing as well as great remote camping. Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans and their families and guests as well as independent travelers. We provide water taxi services throughout western Prince William Sound from March through December. Check out our website www.whittierwatertaxi.com for kayak rental, kayak transport, rates, locations and all services offered or give me a call on (907) 362 1291.

Captain Matt

2011 Spring Black Bear Season

2011-06-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Whittier Water Taxi would like to thank everyone that went out on a spring black bear hunt with us this year. We enjoyed seeing so many local Alaskans that have used our services over the years return for another season as well as our new found friends that we met at the sportsman shows! It was an honor to transport our members of the United States Army and Air Force, many of whom are deploying overseas or have recently returned. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories from the soldiers and of how they dreamed of hunting in Alaska and now got the opportunity as a result of getting a duty station here. Over the years we have had several soldiers who have transferred out of Alaska and still fly back every season to go on their traditional hunt with us. Most hunters were successful and harvested the Alaskan black bear of their dreams this year. All got the opportunity to enjoy the great beauty of the Alaska wilderness and honed their hunting skills. One hunting tradition that we have seen an increase in over the last few years is the father - son hunting trips. With many troops having to deploy to combat, fathers have taken their sons out to the wilderness for several days of bonding. Then there are those fathers that have brought their young sons on their first hunting trip, exposing them to one of the greatest American traditions. We were so busy this bear season that we didn’t get to harvest any bears of our own but it was very rewarding to be able to provide a service that fulfilled so many hunters’ dreams. For those who didn’t get a bear this spring like us, there is always a fall black bear hunt! We like to wait till the salmon are gone and the blueberries are falling off the bushes. Berry bear is my personal favorite and I’ve always believed: if it eats good, it’s good eating! Whittier now has a taxidermy shop located at the boat harbor. They not only process the hide but also handle the meat for you. Deer season starts August 1 and it’s never too soon to plan your next hunt. We have already had soldiers book trips for the coming deer season calling from Iraq and Afghanistan. We look forward to seeing all our friends who have chosen our services over the years as well as our new clients. See you soon!

Captain Matt Cline

Whittier Water Taxi
Quality not Quantity

Prince William Sound All Day Custom Glacier, Wildlife Viewing and Shrimping Tours

2011-04-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Are you planning your great Alaska vacation? The calls are coming in from all states at the moment! Many of our callers have been here before but now they’re bringing guests and they want to show them the real Alaska. Do you want to go to the wilder side of Alaska, off the beaten paths you went down when you first came to Alaska? Do you want to see what you don’t get to see on the common big boat tours? Now you can explore the wilderness of Prince William Sound with an all day custom marine tour that will be your most memorable Alaskan adventure. Whittier Water Taxi caters to small groups offering custom tours covering all of the South Western Prince William Sound. Whether you’re looking for glaciers, whales, historical sites, beach combing, shrimping, berry picking, birding or wildlife viewing, we can take you to the more remote locations where the wildlife is more abundant and beyond the areas utilized by the industrial tour companies. You will see a part of Prince William Sound that is usually only accessible to a handful of local Alaskans. Our boat, the Bayhawk, is custom built for exploring these waters, is heated and fully insulated for your comfort and has a large open front deck to view and photograph from. The Bayhawk is designed to ride smoothly and is able to land on shore, providing easy access with its custom bow gate. We are a small local Alaskan business and Captain Matt has been operating his own boats in Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast for over 25 years, with some years clocking over 1500 hours of time on the water in one season! The advantages of touring on a small boat are: It is more personal – the focus is on you and your guests. The smaller boat is less intrusive on the wildlife with less noise and environmental impact. The boat is on your schedule and you can choose where you want to go and what you want to see. We offer an all day tour where you decide how far and how long your tour is for $150 an hour for the whole boat – with up to 6 people. An 8 to 10 hour tour is the most common request. In this tour, there is enough time to explore the area from Whittier to the South West entrance of Prince William Sound. We will see glaciers with lots of ice and plenty of wildlife including a variety of birds. With our local knowledge of the area we can show you several bird rookeries as well as marine mammal haul outs and sea otter pupping areas. Humpbacked whales are often sighted several times during our all day tours. We may also see members of the several pods of orcas that visit Prince William Sound during the summer. If you don’t have enough time for an all day tour, we also offer a 3½ hour glacier viewing/shrimping tour. We depart from Whittier to visit the black-legged kittiwake rookery in Passage Canal and then cruise on to Blackstone Bay looking out for wildlife on the way. In Blackstone Bay we will visit the tide water glaciers: Blackstone and Beloit glaciers. There are several other hanging glaciers you will see flowing from the ice field which stop short of the ocean as well as some impressive waterfalls. On the mountain sides and along the salmon streams in the bay we often see black bears. After exploring Blackstone Bay we stop at one of our shrimping hot spots and pull up our shrimp pots and check out our catch. This tour is designed for those who don’t have the time do a full day tour, giving you a taste of what Prince William Sound has to offer. We are a small local Alaskan business and our tours and water taxi service schedules fill fast so it is best to reserve your tour well ahead to ensure you get the dates you want. Whittier Water Taxi operates from mid- March through mid-December and we transport mostly Alaskans and their guests as well as independent travelers. Our fall day tours offers bird migration viewing, humpback whales, Dall porpoise, sea otters, sea lions and harbor seals to name just some of the species. For information on all our services and Alaskan adventures check the Whittier Water Taxi web site at www.whittierwatertaxi.com If you are looking for remote public use cabins in the Prince William Sound area try http://www.princewilliamsoundcabins.com/ Our Prince William Sound Cabins website makes it easy to book with direct links to the cabin reservation pages for the Chugach National Forest Public Use Cabins and the Alaska State Park Cabins in Western Prince William Sound.

Spring Black Bear Drop Offs

2011-04-19T16:02:00.001-07:00

It’s spring and by now you can see the bottom of the freezer – there are just a few packets of last years fish left! Soon spring black bear season will be starting and that means fresh meat for the freezer. That’s right - black bear are good eating and spring is a choice time to harvest them. The best cuts are the rump roasts, back straps, tenderloins and ribs. Don’t waste a single scrap - many hunters I transport rave about the bear bratwursts, Italian bear sausages and breakfast bear sausages made by their local butcher shops. I have personally tried the bratwursts and summer sausages made by Pioneer Meats in the Mat-Su Valley and they are excellent. My next bear will be going to them – I can’t wait to try the breakfast sausages! Every year many hunters ask for recommendations on where to hunt in Prince William Sound. First, I must point out I’m a licensed game transporter so I can not guide you, but I can say the most successful hunters I transport are those that camp. That’s right: they camp! No cabins, no lodges, just tents – that’s the trick. Hunters who stay in cabins and lodges tend to spend too much time hanging out at the lodge or cabin. Lodges and cabins are fixed locations that the game in the area key into and avoid. If you have a bear that hangs around a cabin or lodge, more than likely it’s an immature bear trying to scavenge food from the occupants. It’s not very good sportsmanship to shoot a begging bear. In addition to this, they tend to be small and not as healthy as those that fend for themselves. Camping places you in the territory of the game. You will both hear more and see more wildlife. Often game will check out something new in their territory such as a camp. Hunters who camp not only get more game but they fork out less money. Hunters that stay in lodges are spending more than double that of hunters that camp. Let’s face it if you are spending more than $200 per person a day to hunt from a lodge maybe you should check into the price of a full beef freezer package from Mr. Prime Beef in Anchorage! Camping not only gives you the advantage of being in the territory of the game it also gives you the opportunity to distance yourself from other hunters. In a lodge you have to share the area with other lodge guests. The next most important tip I have is: Do your homework: Many hunters I transport check the forums for hunters who write about their hunts. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has tons of info on their web site and you can call up the biologist who studies the area you are looking to hunt in. Google Earth maps will give you an idea of what the terrain is like. Also, take the right gear: if you didn’t use it the last four times out hunting, more than likely you won’t need it (unless it is safety/emergency gear). Bringing the same duplicated gear as your hunting partner is a waste of space – be sure to check each others gear and if you both have the same items, pick the better of the two and leave the extras at home. Having too much gear will bog you down loading, unloading and lugging to and from your campsite. How long should you hunt: this is very important and too often we have hunters that plan too short of a hunt. You will need a day to set up and a day to pack up and you should plan for at least 2 days of solid hunting and that’s at a minimum. Bad weather also needs to be factored in. Personally I plan for at least 5 days, which gives me three full days of hunting. Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans: we provide a wide range of transportation services through out Prince William Sound. Our rates are the lowest and our service is the most reliable. We operate from mid March through mid-December. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed big game transporter #928. We are also a licensed transporter for the Alaska State Parks. Plan your Alaskan adventure now checkout out web site www.whittierwatertaxi.com or give me a call Captain Matt 1-907-362-1291.

Whittier Water Taxi - Licensed Game Transporter #928

2011-03-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hunters beware of unlicensed game transporters. There are over a dozen unlicensed game transporters in the Prince William Sound area. Many advertise that they operate out of the Whittier and Seward Boat Harbors. These illegal, under the table operators are making it easy for poachers to get transported around Prince William Sound without being documented. As all of the hunters that have been transported by Whittier Water Taxi, also known as Aquetec LLC, know, a licensed transporter is required to fill out a State of Alaska game transport form before leaving the dock and before returning from the field. This form records all the hunters’ licenses, destination, the type of game hunted and how many were harvested. In addition to this form, the transporter is required to have a written contract with each hunter. This protects the hunter from hidden charges and clarifies the drop off and pick up times. The contract also records the method of communication while in the field and emergency contact details that the transporter should call if your pick up is delayed by weather. Many find it annoying to fill out all the paper work but it’s very important - poachers prefer to take the under the table operator. That way they can come and go without notice. When I see an unlicensed transporter, I think poacher supporter. The State of Alaska hunting regulations are often changed because of poaching and undocumented take of game. This hurts all the ethical hunters in Alaska. If you go to the Great Alaskan Sportsman Show this year you can easily spot the illegal unlicensed game transporters. If you have a transporter license, you are required to display your license. Licensed game transporters are listed on the State of Alaska commercial license web site. Save and protect your right to hunt by reporting unlicensed transporters. Let’s make it tough on poachers and poacher supporters otherwise they will ruin it for the rest of us.

Whittier Water Taxi, game transporter #928. For more info on hunter drop off check out http://www.whittierwatertaxi.com/ or http://www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com/. Whittier Water Taxi is the only water taxi out of Whittier that posts our rates on our web site. All rates are quoted round trip, per person, no hidden fees or taxes and we operate from mid March through December. We are year round local Alaskans that enjoy harvesting game for the table.

Captain Matt Cline

Whittier Water Taxi at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show

2011-03-28T21:59:00.001-07:00

Whittier Water Taxi spent another great weekend at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show in Wasilla, Alaska, networking with other businesses, both in Whittier and elsewhere in South Central Alaska, in addition to sharing memories with some of our awesome past customers and helping future customers plan their Prince William Sound adventures. This first outdoor show of the season is always a lot of fun as people are so excited about getting out on the water and enjoying another Alaskan summer, whether it’s taking the family to a rental cabin, kayaking with friends in the endless waterways of Prince William Sound, watching glaciers calve, fighting a feisty silver salmon on the end of their fishing line, waiting with anticipation to see the shrimp pots rise to the water’s surface or strategizing a hunt for black bear or Sitka black-tailed deer. With the arrival of the Sportsman Shows in Alaska, spring is finally here and Matt and Heidi Cline with Whittier Water Taxi are looking forward to helping make your 2011 wilderness adventure dreams come true. We are already open for business and have been taking numerous groups of Alaskans out for cabin rental, camping, skiing and research support. Remember, public use cabins need to be reserved 6 months ahead of time! Book early for your trip as some of the days are already full and we don’t want you to be disappointed!

http://www.whittierwatertaxi.com/

Capt. Matt

Whittier Water Taxi - Often copied, never duplicated

2011-03-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

You know you are the best when others try to copy you! Just in the last year, we’ve seen other water taxis that operate out of Whittier change their web sites and add our business name: Whittier Water Taxi, to the text on their web sites in an attempt to ride on our coat tails. I have to laugh when I see all the feeble attempts made to attract customers away from Whittier Water Taxi. None of these copy cats try to improve their services; they are just trying to fill seats on their boats any way possible, without working for it. At Whittier Water Taxi, also known as Aquetec LLC, we have built our company by providing an affordable and reliable service. Good customer service is hard to find - just ask any of our Whittier Water Taxi customers - they will tell you we offer the best service. I hear all the horror stories: ‘they didn’t pick us up’ or ‘they added hidden charges’. My favorite is: ‘they wouldn’t drop us off where we wanted to go!’ The sad stories never end; just when you think you’ve heard them all, a new customer tells you a new one that tops them all! Many customers tell me they’ve called other water taxis and no one answered; they leave a message and hear nothing back. I find that quite rude. If we can’t answer the phone we always return the messages or emails as soon as we can. Many times I’m out of cell phone range but if customers leave a message, I always call them back, even when on vacation! I know how important it is for you to plan your trip ahead a time. It’s the extra effort we take to make the customer’s trip work out as well as being reliable that has made Whittier Water Taxi the most preferred water taxi by Alaskans. We cater to Alaskans, their guests and independent travelers. When looking to book a water taxi to Prince William Sound, check out if water taxi is the company’s main business or do they have several other side businesses, with water taxi just as a side show? How long do they operate? Are they only operating during tourist season? We operate from mid March to mid December – WE’RE NOT HERE JUST FOR THE TOURISTS. How much boating experience do they have? Many wannabe water taxi Captains (yachters) exaggerate their sea time but in reality they’d be lucky to break 100 hours a year at the most on the water (as most people know, a lot of yachts spend most of their time tied to a dock). Whittier Water Taxi operates at least 1200 to 1500 hours a season on Alaska’s waters. We not only get far more experience with sea conditions in Prince William Sound, we also transport to the more remote and lesser know locations in Prince William Sound that only a few local Alaskans know of. Don’t let a copy cat ruin your trip into the Alaskan wilderness - check out the real Whittier Water Taxi at www.whittierwatertaxi.com or email me on ak_explorer@hotmail.com

Captain Matt

Whittier Water Taxi - Prince William Sound's Best!

2011-03-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

Whittier Water Taxi - Whittier’s most reliable water taxi service is starting the 2011 season on March 16th! We’d like to thank all our past and repeat customers – it has been great transporting you throughout Prince William Sound. Last year Whittier Water Taxi ran until December 19th, closing the season with some very successful and happy deer hunters. This year, just like last year, we will start our season transporting skiers, snow shoers and early cabin rentals. In May we’ll start the spring black bear season as well as more cabin rentals. By mid June it’s our fantastic glacier viewing and shrimping tours as well as the all day wildlife safaris for which we got rave reviews. Kayaker drop offs and kayak rentals run throughout our season: March 16th through December 15th. Whittier Water Taxi is the only water taxi service out of Whittier that can transport you to those hard to reach remote locations and land on the shore. Our custom built Bay Weld Boat has a special hull design and landing gate that allows us to run in shallower waters and land where other water taxis can only dream about. No silly ladders or rafting to shore! Our Bay Weld Boat is very environmentally friendly. Running 4 stroke Suzuki outboards makes it quiet and less intrusive to the wildlife. Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans, independent travelers and their guests. We not only have the best rates but we actually post them on our web site! All taxes and fees are included - NO HIDDEN FEES. No other water taxi in Whittier posts their water taxi rates and they all add taxes or fees on top of their rates. This gives them the opportunity to change their price at a whim. Whittier water taxi always stands by our quoted rates quoted and we never add on hidden fees. We look forward to taking you to the Alaska wilderness!

Captain Matt

Email: ak_explorer@hotmail.com