Work and Play at Alaska's Legacy Fishing Lodge!
Whaler's Cove Lodge is an all-inclusive remote wilderness fishing and eco-tour lodge located in the banana belt of southeast Alaska. Join us this summer in celebrating our 40th year of fishing and exploring the protected waters of Alaska's inside passage!
Go to Google Maps and type "Killisnoo Island, Angoon, Alaska"
About Whaler's Cove Lodge
Be a part of a team that takes pride in our work and providing amazing guest experiences in a remote wilderness setting!
2024 is the 42nd Anniversary of Whaler's Cove Lodge providing personable and professional service to guests looking to immerse themselves in the best Alaska has to offer in both sport fishing and wilderness experiences. Humpback Whales & Orcas along with Alaskan Brown Bear are our closest neighbors. With a maximum guest capacity of 32; we are the premier Sport Fishing Charter company in SE Alaska!
The Employee Experience
Whaler's Cove Lodge is REMOTE. For Real.
- Killisnoo Island is a 45 minute privately chartered plane ride or a 5-8 hour ferry ride from Juneau.
- There are no grocery stores, no shops, no bars, and literally no other businesses on Killisnoo Island.
- There is no Wifi. There is very, very limited internet access. AT&T is the only cell provider, which you may be able to use if you are standing on your left foot, on the third Thursday of the month, in just the right spot on the Island, while waving one hand in the air. Please consider this seriously before applying.
- There are just a few private homes on the island.
- You can walk around the island within a few hours.
- Your feet or a water vessel are the only two methods of getting around.
- You are surrounded by huge spruce and hemlock trees, rich soil, and the Pacific Ocean. There are humpback whales, orcas, more bald eagles than you can count, and a sea lion we have named Carl.
- It rains most days and is breathtakingly beautiful.
- When it's sunny, the hottest days are in the low 70s and it's gorgeous.
- Nighttime temperatures are 40s-50s.
- We don't have killer mosquito swarms like Alaska has up north - but we have horse-flies when the weather is warm and they like to bite! We also have No-see-ums once in a while.
- Kayaks and small motored skiffs (18') are available for crew rentals, for a stipend to cover fuel and insurance. Includes gear rental and fish processing. You are responsible for your recreation time (i.e. fishing charters are not available for crew).
- Crew rooms are modest, warm, and dry.
- Crew have private rooms. Most crew share bathrooms.
- Some senior crew have a private bathroom.
- The lodge provides crew with all bedding, basic bedroom furniture, bath linens, and uniform shirts.
- Crew have access to laundry - self serve. The lodge provides detergent and dryer sheets.
- The lodge provides body wash, shampoo, and conditioner - the rest of the toiletries are up to you.
- Crew will have time to shop in Juneau for their summer personal needs prior to departing for the lodge. Literally this is the last stop shopping for the 90-120 days you will live on-site. This includes medications, personal snacks, alcohol, tampons, etc.
- Due to our remote location and the exceptional cost and logistics to and from Juneau, there are no re-provisioning runs for crew personal items. Prior to travel we take a lot of time to talk about packing and connect new crew with seasoned crew for packing tips. Did we mention that we are remote?
- Amazon does not deliver to our remote island.
- Some summer positions offer travel benefits or they are earned by returning.
- We have a historical 60%- 70% crew return rate.
- Our professional kitchen staff cook the same food for crew as they do for guests; could you make it through a summer of venison, elk, prime rib, game hens, fresh Alaskan halibut, salmon, and crab???
You need to be resilient. Most everything takes extra effort and has logistical challenges due to our remote location. We all need to rely upon each other - we make our own water to drink, we process our own pooh, we incinerate our own waste, we crush our own recycling. This means we all need to participate in conserving water, being conscientious of our waste, and taking care of each other, both crew and the guests.
Essentially, Whaler's Cove Lodge is a small town with a restaurant, marina, water treatment plant, waste water treatment plant, hotel, gift shop, and marine repair and fabrication shop. We build the buildings you work and sleep in and we are all responsible for pitching in to make a town come alive for 80 days to host wilderness adventures. It is one of the most UNIQUE jobs around!
There are 26-32 of us who live on-site, and we host over 600 guests within an 120-90-ish day window of operations. Length of seasonal employment depends upon the professional duties.
Do you love the hospitality industry? Do you really appreciate providing a great experience for others? Are you patient? Cooperative? Resilient? Innovative? Can you balance your independence with interdependence? Do you enjoy creating a team experience? Do you play nice with others? Do you take pride in your professional performance? Are you self-aware about how your attitude affects others? Because on a remote island in the wilderness everyone's attitudes makes a huge difference.
If you are not self-directed, need to be entertained, can't live without your cell phone, or don't like dirt - this is not the place for you.
We, and many of our crew, enjoy the challenges and the invigoration of working remotely in the midst of wilderness, in a temperate rainforest, with other dedicated crew providing exceptional vacation experiences to guests who come from all over the United States to experience this unique and amazing part of the planet. When guests leave our lodge there are often hugs all around because of the beauty and rejuvenation they experienced. This really is an amazing place and our crew brings true hospitality and joy to our guests, which make a difference in their lives. Isn't that what hospitality is all about: making someone feel welcome & creating memories that can be cherished when life gets dull?
Seeing humpback whales, sea lions, and orcas swim in front of the lodge happens more than once during the season! Enjoy your time off to walk reading, napping, walking on rocky beaches, hopping into a crew rental and dropping a line for halibut, or jumping into a kayak on a calm day. You're welcome to swim in the 50 degree ocean for a refreshing moment or to sit by the fire after your shift is complete. This intense work experience in Alaska is worthwhile and one of the most inspiring and beautiful places to experience!
If you are up for it, we'd like to meet you. Check out our Trip Advisor reviews so you understand what our guests expect and the performance we expect from you. Check out our Website www.whalerscovelodge.com. If you like what you see send over a cover letter and resume to wclapplicant@gmail.com. Take care. Fish ON!
Ideal Candidate
Do you really care about the guest experience? We do.
Whaler’s Cove Lodge operates a cooperative, self-sufficient, remote wilderness operation that requires an immense amount of foresight, communication, and teamwork. We are seeking crew members who are truly customer service oriented who strive to provide the best vacation experience possible for each and every one of our guests.
This unique environment is sure to inspire hospitality professionals who truly enjoy providing authentic hospitality: to take personal responsibility to create a positive in-the-moment guest experience with sincerity, genuine concern, and generosity.
We expect our crew members to embrace their work every day and to be leaders with their exemplary professionalism. We have high-performance expectations for our crew to provide a welcoming, tasteful, relaxing, and fulfilling remote wilderness experience to our guests who quite often become our friends, returning year after year. It’s our crew who graciously host our guests every day and who make the guest experience memorable.
Our most successful crew have the following attributes in common: prior experience living in remote or isolated areas; prior experience living in close quarters with your coworkers; a sense of humor; ability to adapt and innovate based upon the daily challenges; ability to work and cooperate with a full spectrum of personalities (crew and guests); ability and willingness to listen - especially during the first season - there is a reason 2023 will be our 41st year; ability to maintain stamina throughout the intensive operating season; ability to plan and think ahead; and the understanding of and willingness to have "all hands on deck".
Bring your professional experience and a helpful attitude.
We really are very remote - really! Please consider this prior to applying. There are no distractions on this island: we work for the guests, we work with each other, and we abide by the pace that Mother Nature establishes.
Our goal is to have a crew that inspires and respects each other and creates a satisfying and successful seasonal experience. Many of our crew have been on the Whaler’s Cove Lodge team for multiple (12+) seasons.
Room and Board
Private warm, dry, modest rooms (no bunk beds or snoring strangers) with basic furniture, basic bed and bath linens, shared baths, and basic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Three delicious meals a day, with snacks in between, provided from our culinary crew. Crew self-serve laundry available; lodge provides detergent and dryer sheets. We take pleasure in providing our crew the same delicious meals as our guests. If you get tired of fresh Alaskan seafood and prime cuts of meat - we have comfort food items available.
Employee Perks
Most W-2 employees, except for Guides, are included in a tip pool. TIPS policy is detailed during interviews and in the employee handbook. Seasonal travel advance may be earned. Fish processing at cost, vessel and equipment rentals for a small stipend, and gift shop discounts are available to staff living on-site. Other benefits or perks disclosed during the interviews. Returning seasonal employees who earn seniority also have select benefits and perks.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Employees fly into Juneau then Whaler’s Cove Lodge arranges transport to Killisnoo Island via floatplane, privately chartered catamaran, or Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System.
Once on the island, it's all hands on deck to provide 11 weeks of fishing for guests!
Whaler's Cove Lodge is located on a remote island. The lodge owners coordinate your travel to and from the lodge. Once here, it is an outdoor paradise, which means no roads. We are a water-based lodge, so most activities are water-based or involve boats to get to where you want to be. The water is typically 40-55 degrees Fahrenheit. On the lodge grounds, your feet are your primary locomotive.
For Fun
We are surrounded by natural wonders for you to enjoy, using the buddy system: kayaking, hiking, photography, whale watching, fires on the beach, beachcombing, and exploring un-touched Alaskan bays, inlets, streams and lakes. Due to the fact that this lodge is focused on hosting guests for only 80+/- days per year, we do not have the guides available to take out crew. If communing with nature isn't your thing, the island is a quiet place to self reflect, read, write, draw, paint, or take up other creative hobbies during your days off.
How to Apply
We are NOT able to accept H2B or J1 visas.
Applicants must email their resume and cover letter to wclapplicant@gmail.com. We would appreciate it if you took the time to detail within your cover letter, why you are interested in working with Whaler's Cove Lodge.
Captain and guide applicants need to provide Merchant Mariner documents (OUPV 6 Pack, with Near Coastal endorsement) at the time of application in order to be considered.
Only applicants who submit a resume and cover letter explaining how they are resilient will be reviewed. Interviews begin pending available positions and qualified candidates. Please go to our website for full job descriptions, professional requirements, and company requirements.