Alaskan Halibut fishing

[Guest]

Looking into going Halibut fishing in Alaska and wondering if anyone knows the best time of year and also where to go? Thanks

[CALVINIST]

I went in the late 80's in Homer, which is located on the tip of the Kenai peninsula. North Country Charters. Caught a whole mess of halibut! We went in July. What you REALLY have to do is fish for King Salmon on the Kenai river...hook into a 65lb halibut and you can probably pull it up no problemo. Hook up with a 65lb king though, and you will be in for a fight! No one in our party actually caught on that big, but another guy in the boat got into one. We travelled about 5 miles downriver (they go where they want to go) chasing it, and it took an hour and twenty minutes to land...man, what a fish . Anyhow, halibut or kings, good fun!

[huntingislife]

I have never been there but my dad went up there a couple of years ago. I believe he was in Ninilchuk(sp.)? Anyways it was on the Kenai also. He caught a ton of halibut while he was there. He also went salmon fishing and landed a 48lb king. I would recommend fishing for both if you are going to make a trip all the way up there. Good Luck.

[Ole #1]

I went in 2000 and it was a blast. We went out of Homer and my dad got one that weighed about 135 and my brother got one that weighed about 165.

Those big ones are fun, but I would agreee with everyone else about the king salmon, that was the most fun. It's like hooking into a semi truck.

[spudhauler]

I just returned from a 1 week-long trip in Alaska last Friday. Wow, great fun. We did a halibut charter for 1 day. We went out from Homer, which is the self proclaimed "halibut capital of the world". We were a group of six and caught our 12 fish limit in about 2 hours. The largest was 118lbs followed by a 70 pounder with the remaining fish being great eating size from 40 - 25 lbs. We used Silver Fox charters, and I would recomend them, but there are hundreds to choose from. We went out 35 miles from Homer, so about 2 hrs out, 2 hrs fish, 2 hrs back in, it went way too fast for me. At one point we had 5 halibut on at the same time. As far as the best time of year, I really don't know for sure, but I think most charters run from May into September.

We also fished King Salmon north of Anchorage in the willow creek. One of the previous posts hit the head on the nail. I caught a 30lb King and what a fight. The first thing you yell out is FISH ON! Awesome.

We also floated the kenei river just for the great scenery, but there were no kings running at that time. However, there are some huge rainbow trout in there. Anyway, if you want to do some King fishing you will need to do your homework as to when and where the king's are running at different times of the year. A lot of people troll for the salmon in the ocean also.

Pack lots of film and bring plenty of money, but it was a trip of a lifetime for me, I would go back tommorow if I could. Good luck!

[Ole #1]

I think the 2 salmon runs are late june and late July.

I would also suggest going to the russian river to fish red salmon, that is really fun too.

I fished the Kasilof river, close to Soldotna. (spelling might be bad)

Ole

[superfish2]

I went last summer in August. I timed my trip with the silver salmon runs. You can catch halibut all summer long out of Homer or Seward. There are tons of places to charter from. Most are owned by one booking company, and you will catch mostly what they call chicken halibut, 30-40 lbs, with the possiblity of catching really big ones.. Out of Seward you can also catch rock fish and ling cod. You can catch Ling cod out of Homer but you really must ask if they fish for them, as they have to go way out. Halibut fishing is a lot of work. Think pulling up a door sideways through the water up through deep water. Your arms will be burning.

There are 4 runs of salmon. The kings come first, followed by the reds in July. Then there are two runs of silvers. Dog salmon are also in there, and pinks run every even year.

I went up in late August. I went up for the silver salmon. I caught kings, dogs, pinks, but they were not fresh and quite frankly pretty disgusting.

There were still lots of reds in the river. We caught lots of them. Think of reds as the freezer fish. Silvers are the most aggresive of the salmon and the hardest fighting. They will make runs and go airborne. The first silver I hooked just took me to school. Made a long run downstream and my drag was just screaming.

We also caught a lot of big rainbows and dolly vardon on beads. The one fish I really wanted to catch up there was a grayling. I didn't get a chacnce though.

The way I figued it was, you had to pay a guide and/or get lucky to catch a king(s). When the reds come in it is a sight to see, but it's combat fishing anywhere there is a road. You'll be standing should to shoulder with people. I had always heard about the hard fighting silvers.

I want to go again.

My brother lived up there and we fished our way down from Anchorage on a Saturday, fishing quatrz, the russian, the kenai, ninliceck, anchor, deep creek, and probably a few more. We camped on the beach of the homer spit, which is far and away the coolest place I've ever camped. On the beach of the bearing sea, on the homer spit, with the mnts in the background. We also fished the tidal pool on the spit. THe next day we fished for halibut the boat caught a limit, and I managed to catch a bonus silver salmon.

[HUNTINGBAILEY]

MY FATHER LIVED UP IN NOME, ALASKA FOR 3 YRS, I WENT UP THERE WHEN I WAS 16,(1984)(NOME RIVER) (EARLY JUNE) CAUGHT DOLLY VARDEN FIRST, THEN PINKS, THEN SILVERS CAME AND THEN THE KINGS, STARTING AROUND AUG. THE PINKS CAME THRU THEY WERE SO THICK YOU COULD HAVE WALKED ACROSS THEIR BACKS, I GOT A 16LB SILVER WHICH I BASICALLY KICKED UP ON SHORE WITH MY FOOT. I CAUGHT A 42LB KING, AFTER THE 3RD RUN MY DAD TOOK OUT A PISTOL AND SHOT IT IN THE HEAD. THEY WERE LIKE MINATURE SUBMARINES. TIMES I WILL NEVER FORGET.

[kaneye]

My brother and I have been to Alaska many times to fish

for, you name it.. Most fun was catching a 47 lb. king

on 15lb. line in the Keni river. It took 1 hr. and 5 min.

to land. Had to go up and down the river 3 times with

our small boat/10hr.engine. Also flying out to a cabin

for a week by ourselves and nature. Only contact was

a 2 way radio. Caught 36 silvers all fresh from the

ocean and a very ugly 50lb. wolf eel.. Kansas fishing

has never been the same..

[Kaz]

Lee: Superfish has it absolutely correct!! I go up there every year and fish the Kasilof, both upper and lower. It's drift fishing river only and it's a trip everyone should make it at least once. We go after the second run of Silvers and always bring back as much the airlines will allow. It use to be 70 lbs per cooler, now it's only 50lbs, but that is plenty with two coolers full and one bag for clothes. I took by wife up a couples of years ago and she landed a 50lb King, just can't take her back it show me up again..LOL I've also been out of Seward for silvers and Halibit. I actually saw a fish jump into a boat and it scared the heck out of the guy. Fresh Silvers usually have Sea Lice on them and they knock them off by jumping in the air and landing on their sides. Well this one just plain landed in the boat. They stack up there because the hatchery plants them where the water fall runs into the bay. They imprint that area and can't get past the falls. The falls is only 100 yards from the bay... Hence lots of Silvers and their very easy to catch.... I highly recommend both Seward and the Kasilof for the time of your life... You gota do it.. Need a good Guide, send me a Email, and I'll put you in touch with a great one..Kaz

[pllwft]

If you haven't been and you have the ability to, go to AK and fish. I was there 2 weeks ago for the first time out of Soldotna right on the Kenai River for Kings. 45lb and 12lb kings came home with us, but i caught 15+ 4lb rainbows and 5 dolly varden all over 3lb. All of that in 3 days, only one day with a guide. It's the world's best river fishing hands down.

[HEDHUNTER]

deep creek(ninilchek) homer & seward are all great places seward has a great salmon/halibut/rockfish trip. we go in late july, silvers, reds & kings are all running. if you get the time i would highly recomend going on a shark trip, i caught a 150 pounder & it was way more fun than halibut. try tim bergs alaskan adventures, he has boats & lodges in all locations.

[Glockwinger]

If in Homer try Midnight Sun Charters. The owner is a friend of mine named Brian Nollar. He has a HSOforum where you can get info: Midnight Sun Charters

[pllwft]

If in or around Soldotna, go to Sprucewood Resort. They also have a HSOforum. They specialize in great packages, but also do single and half day guided king trips on the Kenai. Amazing service and prices. http://alaskalife.net/~sprucewoodlodge/