Alaska Halibut Fishing

Halibut Fishing Charter Trips in Homer, Alaska


At Anchor Point, Deep Creek (Ninilchik), & Homer Alaska

For many anglers, Halibut fishing in Alaska is a dream come true. The saltwater is the home of the giant Pacific Halibuts. They are available in various sizes; some are so big that you will need professional help to get them on board.

The largest halibut that was caught tipped the scale at 455 pounds. While such a catch is not a regular phenomenon, you may get fish over 100 pounds and feast on their sweet firm meat.

The Halibuts are bottom dwellers in the ocean. It is exciting to haul one of these mighty fish from the bottom, but without expert guidance, it is challenging.

Halibuts are migratory fish and tend to concentrate in the Gulf of Alaska region every year at the time of laying eggs. The massive chunk of the Halibut population after their annual spawn travel to shallow water near the coastline. This is why, fishing in Cook Inlet is so incredible. Every summer, the Halibuts enter the shallow water, and Homer Alaska is the best place for fishing during this time.

If you are on an all-inclusive Alaska Halibut fishing trip with Alaskan Gamefisher, you do not have to worry about locating the best halibuts. Alaskan Gamefisher is a boat that knows the water of the region very well and where you can get maximum Halibuts. Most of the Halibut fishing spots are accessible by boat.

All our guests will have expert guides who would accompany them. Our guides will take the guests for halibut fishing daily. Our halibut fishing boat, the “Alaskan Gamefisher” is a 30’ by 10-foot wide custom-made aluminium vessel. It is spacious, strong, and can carry six passengers comfortably along with the captain and mate. The custom-designed boat is ideal for small groups who can enjoy fishing trips in perfect comfort.

Where can I catch the largest Halibuts?

Some of the largest halibuts in the world are found in the waters of Cook Inlet adjacent to the Kenai Peninsula. Fish over 100 pounds are abundant and commonly found in this water. The two largest halibuts caught from the Cook Inlet on our Gamefisher are 410 and 365 lbs.

However, fish that weigh below 80 pounds taste best. Most large fish are female, old, and not good to taste. You will get Alaskan Halibuts almost throughout the year except in January, their spawning time. The best time for fishing is from May to August. It is when the Halibuts migrate to the Kenai Peninsula searching for food.

You can take our Alaska Halibut fishing charter and reach the prime location for fishing. Our Alaska Halibut Fishing trips start from the beach at Anchor Point, sometimes from the Deep Creek near Ninilchik, or the harbor at Homer, Alaska. The most interesting fact is that at Anchor Point and Deep Creek, there is no marina. The boats are launched into the surf with a large tractor that offers a unique and exciting experience to our guests.

We try to cover the minimum distance to the fishing grounds and reach our destination ideal for halibut fishing within half an hour.

Why you should go Halibut fishing with us?

Looking for all-inclusive Alaska Halibut fishing trips? We are a prominent operator accompanying anglers and travel enthusiasts to Halibut fishing expeditions and being in continuous service for years now, we have adequate experience in providing proper guidance to anglers. We know what you expect from us. Hence, we are here to make your fishing experience truly remarkable.

Our Homer Alaska Halibut Charters offering fishing trips are truly successful. We are accustomed to the best fishing routes and the local weather. For those looking to take an abundance of fish home, this halibut fishing trip in Alaska is an exciting one to try. Guests can catch halibuts on 98% of the trips that we do. Each person can catch at least two fish even if they are on their first mission, and most days, there are 25-100 halibuts in our boat within 2-4 hours.

We prefer to fish in the water 90-280 feet deep. Since the Halibuts can be large tackling, it is a daunting task. Moreover, the tides of the Cook Inlet are hard to manage. The difference between high and low tide can be 35 feet, the fourth largest tidal range in the world. To manage all these, you require a hefty rod with an 80-100-pound test line. We suggest to use a minimum 2-to 4-pound weight to keep the bait on the bottom. We recommend that anglers do fishing during the low tides, as during the peak tidal swing, the Halibuts go down to the bottom in the sand. They become significantly more active and start hunting when the current starts to slacken.

While on the fishing expedition, you can enjoy the natural scenes. For instance, incredible view of 5 snow-capped volcanoes is a worthwhile experience when you go Halibut fishing with us. If you are willing to take your catch back home, we will fillet the fish for you to enjoy your meal later. You can take the fillets to the fish processor for vacuum packing and freezing. On an average day, the boat returns to the shore with 250-600 lbs of Halibuts that yield excellent eating meat of around 125-300 pounds.

The cost of a pound of Halibut fillet is around $15-20 in the retail stores. So, you can enjoy a profitable deal going on Halibut fishing Homer Alaska.

Full-Day Halibut Trip

Join Alaskan Gamefisher for a memorable fishing excursion guided by Captain Mel Erickson, who has over 30 years of experience!

Here is what you may expect:

Morning Check-In:

Come to our office by 6:30 a.m. for a 7 a.m. departure. We will answer any last-minute inquiries, provide complimentary coffee, introduce you to Captain Mel Erickson, and prepare you for your trip.

Boarding the Boat:

Captain Mel will guide you to his boat. Once you are on board, he will go over safety measures, assist with paperwork, and then set sail.

The Ride:

The travel to the fishing areas will take anything from 45 minutes to a couple hours. Yes, we travel considerable distances at times; our objective is to offer you with the best halibut fishing experience possible! However, the excursion goes beyond the typical boat cruise. We normally drive near the magnificent coastline and frequently observe sea otters, whales, puffins, and other sea life. You never know what you will see, so be sure to bring your camera!

alaska fishing trips

Fishing Time:

Once at the fishing grounds, you will be taught correct halibut fishing tactics. The hook will be baited, and the halibut will be handled for you. Our staff is always ready to assist you! Because each day of fishing is unique, we may stay in one place or travel to many.

After the Trip:

When we return, we will fillet your fish at no additional cost. Sometimes we showcase the fish near the office for picture opportunities and weighing.

Final Thoughts

Prepare for a day of terrific fishing and breathtaking scenery with Captain Mel and the Alaskan Gamefisher team! If this is the case, feel free to browse our fantastic goods selection while you wait!

halibut fishing alaska

3/4 Day Halibut Trip

Trade your 8-hour workdays for an ¾ day guided saltwater halibut fishing vacation in Alaska.

Many Alaska visitors desire to go saltwater fishing but do not have enough time to spend on the ocean.  Our 3/4-day journey is a relaxed tour designed to show you the finest of Kachemak Bay’s fauna while also introducing you to the delight of halibut fishing.  The day may be shorter, but we did not cut corners on our excursion.  You’ll be aboard one of our luxury, gyro-stabilized yachts, which have loads of horsepower and all the amenities you’d expect from a high-end charter.

Who is this for?

Families with children, parties interested in wildlife viewing and fishing, senior groups, and guests with limited budget and time.

Time

Meet your captain at our check-in office at 7:30 a.m. for departure at 8:00 a.m. This trip is shorter but you will get to enjoy a great fishing experience.

What can we anticipate from fishing?

Larger halibut are typically located further out and demand longer journey hours.  Our 3/4-day excursion emphasizes on getting everyone involved, rather than capturing huge fish. Travellers are taught about proper fishing techniques and deckhands are ready to guide throughout the journey. The Alaskan Halibut fishing trip is filled with fun and the return to the harbour includes filleting and cleaning which is around 2 p.m. to 3.pm. We arrange to process, pack, or ship the fish for the guests who want to take it home.

If you want trophy halibut, then join up for our full-day expedition.

Why Choose Alaskan Gamefisher for Your Next Fishing Trip?

Our Alaskan Fishing Charters are designed with your exact demands in mind. Your vacation is genuinely personalized, so we can design your fishing/lodging package with a mix of ocean halibut fishing, freshwater salmon fishing, and fly-out remote stream salmon fishing, wildlife, and bear viewing tours.

About the Guide

Captain Mel Erickson, owner and head guide of Alaskan Gamefisher since 1989, will be your personal Alaska fishing guide for our various fisheries. Kenai River salmon fishing in Alaska in June, July, and August, as well as saltwater halibut and King Salmon combo excursions in May, on Cook Inlet at Anchor Point near Homer.

Captain Mel Erickson is one of the few Alaska fishing captains that personally guides for Kenai River Salmon and Alaska Halibut while also owning the boats for both species. This means you’ll be fishing both salmon and halibut with the same guiding company, rather than being subcontracted out like so many other guide services here.

Background: Catch the biggest Halibut Fish in the World

The Kenai Peninsula is home to the largest Halibut fishes found in the world. One can find fishes weighing over hundred pounds in the waters of Cook Inlet. The largest ever Halibut fish found in the Cook Inlet weighed 365 pounds and 410 pounds and they were caught on the Alaskan Gamefisher.

The best quality of fish is those which are under 80 pounds. The smaller fishes weighing in the range of 10 pounds to 20 pounds are better in eating and known as “chickens”. The larger fishes are mainly old, female and not good in taste. The best time to go fishing for Halibut in Alaska is during the months of May, June, July, and August.

We can access the Cook Inlet Alaska halibut fishing from the boat harbor at Homer Alaska, the beach at Anchor Point, and occasionally Deep Creek near Ninilchik. There is no port at Anchor Point and Deep Creek, so visitors may have a very special and thrilling boat launch into the surf with a big tractor.

The distance we go to the halibut fishing grounds is rather short, ranging from 5 to 25 miles, and it only takes us about 30 minutes to get there when compared to other halibut fishing spots like Seward, Valdez, or Homer.

Get ready For Exciting Adventure

FAQs

You can either catch Halibuts or Salmon in both freshwater and saltwater of Alaska with us.

Each day we will fillet your catch at no extra cost. We can even drop it off with the local processors who can trim and skin the fish. They also vacuum-packed all your fish and keep it refrigerated. If you wish the processors can ship those fish in insulated boxes to any address. Depending on the processor the charge is around $1.35-$1.90 per pound.

For 2023, the IPHC adopted the following measures:

  • The daily bag limit is two Pacific Halibuts per day per person. One fish must not be greater than 28 inches.
  • One trip per day limit for Halibut Charter vessels.

Snacks, lunch, drinks, camera, gloves, warm clothes, thick insulated socks, waterproof footwear, rain gear, seasick medications if you are going for saltwater.

The best time for Halibut fishing is mid-May to mid-September. We recommend you fish during the high slack tide when it is easier to keep the tackle close to the bottom.

Our daily fishing trip rate is $395.00 per person for all seasons. The rate is different if you are taking 3- or 4-day packages. It depends on the kind of charters you will select.

Kenai Peninsula in Alaska is home to some of the greatest Halibuts. Locations such as Homer, Ninilchik, and Seward provide anglers with opportunities for productive Halibut fishing from these world-renowned waters.

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