Nestled at the head of Resurrection Bay on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Seward stands as a testament to the raw beauty of coastal Alaska. The town, home to approximately 2,800 year-round residents, sits within a natural amphitheater created by the Kenai Mountains, whose peaks rise dramatically from sea level to heights exceeding 4,000 feet. This unique geography creates a microclimate that keeps the port ice-free year-round, making Seward one of Alaska’s most important maritime communities.
Resurrection Bay stretches 16 miles from Seward to the Gulf of Alaska, its waters protected by towering mountains on both sides. This natural fjord, carved by glaciers during the last ice age, provides deep, protected waters that have made Seward a crucial port since its founding in 1903. The bay reaches depths of over 900 feet in some areas, creating diverse marine habitats that support an extraordinary variety of sea life.
The surrounding mountains capture moisture from the Gulf of Alaska, resulting in annual precipitation of around 80 inches. This abundant rainfall feeds numerous streams and rivers that flow into Resurrection Bay, creating essential habitat for spawning salmon. The mixing of these freshwater sources with the nutrient-rich marine waters creates a remarkably productive ecosystem.
Seward’s small boat harbor houses hundreds of vessels, from commercial fishing boats to charter operations and private craft. The deep-water port accommodates cruise ships and cargo vessels, while the Alaska Railroad terminus connects the community to Anchorage and Alaska’s interior. This transportation infrastructure makes Seward easily accessible to visitors while facilitating the shipment of fresh seafood to markets worldwide.
The town’s grid layout, unusual for Alaska, spreads along the waterfront and up into the lower slopes of Mount Marathon. This historic arrangement provides excellent access to both the harbor and the surrounding wilderness, making Seward an ideal base for fishing adventures of all kinds.
Seward’s deep-water access makes it one of Alaska’s premier halibut fishing destinations. These massive flatfish can be targeted from May through September, with peak fishing typically occurring in June and July. Productive grounds begin just outside Resurrection Bay and extend into the Gulf of Alaska. Pacific halibut caught out of Seward can exceed 100 pounds!
The rocky underwater structures and kelp forests around Seward harbor are home to several species of rockfish and cod. Yellow eye (red snapper), black rockfish, dusky rockfish and lingcod provide excellent table fare. Pacific cod also make appearances in the spring and fall as they move into shallower waters.
A visit to Seward would not be complete without a stop at the Sealife Center!
Founded in 1998, the Sealife Center exists as the only public facility in Alaska to combine an aquarium, wildlife response, education and marine research. Visitors to the center can get up close and personal with fish species, touch tanks, puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and many other Alaska marine life species. Research and fieldwork is conducted throughout the state and in on-site laboratories – the Sealife Center is the only marine mammal rescue facility in the entire state of Alaska!
Drifters Lodge is a small, locally owned and operated fishing lodge with a long history of repeat guests and satisfied anglers. We have been in operation since 1998.
Drifters Lodge is permitted to operate on public lands under special use permits from the Chugach National Forest, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Alaska State Parks. Drifters Lodge is an equal opportunity provider.
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