Captain
Mike Bonfils

Member since December 2016 Juneau, United States
Background
Captain Mike is a avid sport fisherman, running a 30 foot Sport Fishing boat off the west coast of California to Cabo San Lucas from 1983 to 1990. In 1990 he purchased a 48 foot Yaughtfishing boat in Washington state with a 16 foot Salmon tow. He fished British Columbia Canada from 1990 to 2000 for Salmon and in 2000 purchased a 57 foot Motor yaught towing a 26 foot Sport fisher man for Salmon and Halibut. In 2005 started Alaka Adventure Charters in Juneau, Alaska providing week long fishing trips out of Juneau, Alaska, fishing for Salmon and Halibut. In 2006 took over Big Jim’s Charters opprrating a 26 foot Charter boat out of Auke Bay, Alaska. In 2015 purchased Hi Time Charters out of Auke Bay and now operate two boats, Hot Rod and Hi Time.
Techniques
I have all the hot honey holes from my own personal experience as well as all the hot spots from Hi Time charters when I purchased that charter company in 2015. I take clients to the Hot Spots and hold the boat on the sports while our deck hand helps the fisherman get their rigs down to the bottom and start jigging for the Halibut. When the bite slows I will reposition the boat or travel to another hot spot. When all the anglers have their limits, I will take them to the hot trolling areas for Salmon. When fishing for Salmon, I put out one rod per person and slow troll using electric downriggers to get the lines to the areas where the bait and Salmon are located on my fishfinder. I draw numbers, when the next line gets hit, number one is up, after he brings in or loses the fish, he goes to the end of the line and number two is up. I don't assign one rod to each person as there is always the one hot rod that catches all the fish.

Hey, I'm Captain Mike Bonfils

Juneau, United States
Background
Captain Mike is a avid sport fisherman, running a 30 foot Sport Fishing boat off the west coast of California to Cabo San Lucas from 1983 to 1990. In 1990 he purchased a 48 foot Yaughtfishing boat in Washington state with a 16 foot Salmon tow. He fished British Columbia Canada from 1990 to 2000 for Salmon and in 2000 purchased a 57 foot Motor yaught towing a 26 foot Sport fisher man for Salmon and Halibut. In 2005 started Alaka Adventure Charters in Juneau, Alaska providing week long fishing trips out of Juneau, Alaska, fishing for Salmon and Halibut. In 2006 took over Big Jim’s Charters opprrating a 26 foot Charter boat out of Auke Bay, Alaska. In 2015 purchased Hi Time Charters out of Auke Bay and now operate two boats, Hot Rod and Hi Time.
Techniques
I have all the hot honey holes from my own personal experience as well as all the hot spots from Hi Time charters when I purchased that charter company in 2015. I take clients to the Hot Spots and hold the boat on the sports while our deck hand helps the fisherman get their rigs down to the bottom and start jigging for the Halibut. When the bite slows I will reposition the boat or travel to another hot spot. When all the anglers have their limits, I will take them to the hot trolling areas for Salmon. When fishing for Salmon, I put out one rod per person and slow troll using electric downriggers to get the lines to the areas where the bait and Salmon are located on my fishfinder. I draw numbers, when the next line gets hit, number one is up, after he brings in or loses the fish, he goes to the end of the line and number two is up. I don't assign one rod to each person as there is always the one hot rod that catches all the fish.

My Charter Listings

Excellent
4.8 / 5
(40 reviews)
Juneau
 3 bookings in the past week.
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $950
Excellent
4.8 / 5
(63 reviews)
Juneau
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $950

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 103 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (57)
Amazing deck hand, willing to teach
Halibut Trip
Awesome time!
+54
Angler rating
85
10
1
3
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
94%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
92%
Appropriate for children
91%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
86%
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Featured  
Showing:
5 of 103 reviews
Tonya W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in August

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip - Salmon (AM) on August 3, 2023
Tonya W. recommends Hi Time Charters
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Tonya W. recommends Hi Time Charters
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Roarke M.
Meridian, ID
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Trip With Captain Jim and Talon

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip โ€“ Halibut (PM) on July 7, 2023
This was a wonderful experience for my family! We felt so lucky to get Captain Jim and Talon for our trip, they really made...
Roarke M. recommends Big Jimโ€™s Charters
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Randall M.
Seattle, WA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

6hr trip with Captain Jan and Deckhand Finn

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip โ€“ Salmon-Halibut on June 28, 2023
This was my first time with Big Jimโ€™s charter and the fishing trip was a blast. The boat FV Petryl was amazing, so clean...
Randall M. recommends Big Jimโ€™s Charters
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James D.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Amazing crew and boat!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip - Halibut (AM) on June 20, 2023
Exactly what we were looking for in a fishing trip. Jim the captain and Carven the deckhand were amazing! From start to finish...
James D. recommends Hi Time Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
  Mike Bonfils Captain replied

Todd & Suzy Jefferson
Los Angeles, California
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Amazing Day!!

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip โ€“ Salmon-Halibut on July 7, 2023
We did the 3/4 day with halibut & salmon. Captain Jim & his deckhand Talon were both amazing. All four of us caught halibut...
Todd & Suzy Jefferson recommends Big Jimโ€™s Charters
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