Fishing in Alaska – Travel Dudes

This is the first in a series of articles on fishing in Alaska. For the record, I am a 50-year resident of Alaska. I came here as a young man from Colorado seeking opportunity and adventure. Alaska did not disappoint.

I’m a boat captain, fish guide, lodge owner, pilot, adventurer, former State Senator, and Natural Resource Manager for the State of Alaska. I grew up fishing in South Florida on the saltwater.

The Florida ocean was beautiful, but I am truly spoiled with some of the most beautiful fishing vistas in the world. Beachfront condos of the SE Florida coastline are no match.

Here’s an overview:

How Much Water Is in Alaska?

Alaska has more coastline than the continental United States coasts combined.

There are 34,000 miles of mainly wilderness coastline in Alaska, and Alaska has over 12,000 rivers that eventually feed into that ocean.

If the State of Alaska became two equal-sized states, Texas would be the third-largest state in the USA. (Sorry, Texas friends, but you know it’s true.)

Where To Fish?

If you fished Alaska every day, you still could not explore all that Alaska has to offer. However, Homer, Alaska, and the lower Kenai Peninsula offer some of Alaska’s most cost-effective (easy access) and productive salt and freshwater fishing.

There is an old saying: “You eat an elephant one bite at a time.”

For the first bite of the proverbial elephant, this article will focus on Kachemak Bay Lower Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska Coast. AKA the “Halibut Capital of the World.” Homer, Alaska.

Homer and Seldovia offer a high-quality experience with reasonable accessibility and low cost. On the way down to Homer, the Kenai River still has strong runs of red salmon, excellent rainbows, and silver salmon. Double up with a charter in both places and experience some unforgettable world-class fishing.

Homer’s Fishing is Legendary

Situated on the Kachemak Bay Archipelago, with stunning mountains and glaciers of the Kenai Range to the south and three volcano peaks in view from across Cook Inlet to the west, few places in the world are more beautiful to fish.

They exist, but are primarily in other more inaccessible and expensive parts of Alaska. I’ll get to some of those exotic spots in future articles.

Homer Is Famous for the “Homer Spit”

A five-mile-long gravel bar that extends about halfway across Kachemak Bay.

It has a very overcrowded harbor, home to many fish guides taking their clients out to pursue mostly halibut and multi-species of salmon, rockfish, ling cod, and grey cod.  We’ve all seen the pictures of giant “barn door” size halibut.  

Indeed, the Homer Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual “Homer Halibut Derby” to see who can catch the biggest fish.  You have to buy a ticket to win, so it’s nerve-wracking for those who reel in big fish if they did not purchase a derby ticket.

That being said, this conservationist asks that if you are lucky enough to catch a monster fish over 100 lbs, please carefully consider beforehand whether you will keep it. The primary reason to consider not keeping it is because virtually all large halibut over 100 lbs are female brood stock.  You kill thousands of baby halibut when those brood fish are kept and not released unharmed.

I’ve caught and eaten large halibut, and the meat is poor in quality, tougher than a young fish, and dryer, and the texture is not nearly as good. Some say it’s dog food quality.

Big Fish Excitement

However, boating a very large halibut is REALLY fun!

Even those less than 100 lbs are a real challenge. We usually harpoon and shoot them with a 22 caliber or 410 shotgun; yes we literally shoot them! (While in the water.)

A large halibut, brought into the boat violently flops around, potentially hurting a crew member and or damaging the boat.  I’ve heard stories of over-excited boat skippers actually shooting holes in the bottom of their boats when trying to snuff the fight out of violent halibut.

I personally like to harpoon the big ones and give them a float, like they did in the movie Jaws, with the shark. The halibut immediately rips the float out of the boat and dives for the deep.  You have to be careful to not have the line wrapped around your leg, or you will be dragged under too; they are that powerful!

There’s usually lots of splashing going on either way to get them aboard and subdued. All fish should be immediately bled to improve their quality. If one ties a line from their mouth to their tail, it will keep them from going nuts in your boat.

They will appear subdued for a long time, then suddenly get the last burst of energy and start thrashing. It’s really exciting to boat a bunch of nice-sized halibut and the occasional big one. To manage expectations, most halibut boated are smaller fish, with the better guides bringing in a few good-sized keepers. It is an investment in a long boat ride to get on bigger fish.

What To Expect

Getting to the halibut grounds out of Homer is already a long boat ride, and the best-kept secret for a better halibut experience is to base your fishing out of the quaint village of Seldovia.

Seldovia is a historic little fishing village about 17 miles West of Homer.  It is being rediscovered as the place to go for better fishing. This is about 1/2 way to the good halibut fishing grounds, so when you stay and fish out of Seldovia, you are spending less time traveling and more time fishing.

You have more opportunities to find bigger fish with less travel time.

The Seldovia locals are friendly, there are great hiking trails, plus some really special music and festival events planned all summer.  It has several good eating establishments, like the iconic Lynwood Bar, and a variety of hotel, B&B, and lodge accommodations.

It has a new coffee shop that roasts its own beans, and some say it’s the best coffee ever. I know this, because I pretty much hate coffee, and it does not make me gag!

The Seldovia charter fishing fleet is growing, as word is getting out that it’s the go-to place to fish. Plus, the prices are more reasonable in western Kachemak Bay than the old establishment lodges nearer to Homer.

You can’t beat the charm and beauty of Seldovia.

Targeted multi-species in Cook Inlet/Kachemak Bay include king, sockeye, silver, chum and pink salmon, rockfish, ling cod, and grey cod.

Sockeye salmon generally do not bite in the salt but can be caught near hatcheries and river inlets by snagging in salt water. Kings are the prized fish, but lately, the king return numbers have been really poor, and catching one is getting harder and harder. Winter king fishing is actually better than spring fishing.

Silvers tend to be later in the summer, around August, and can provide consistently fun action, as they are aggressive eaters and fighters.

Pinks and chums are usually abundant—fun to catch but not the best table fare for most Alaskan salmon snobs.

All have specific times they migrate through various reaches of salt water as well as when they go upriver to spawn. Check with your local guide or the Department of Fish and Game before planning your trip.

Ling cod season does not open until July, as they are spawning in spring and early summer. They are prized eating fish.

Grey cod are abundant in Cook Inlet and are also a really good eating fish.  There’s no limit for grey cod, and many locals prefer grey cod to halibut.

Halibut are available pretty much all summer until the weather cools in September, and the fish go back into deeper water in the Gulf of Alaska. They chase the spawning herring and smolt.

Land of the Midnight Sun

Always consider the length of the daylight when planning a trip to Alaska.

The days are long in the spring, starting in early May. By August, the days are getting shorter, and the weather is usually getting a bit wetter with bigger seas. The longest day of the year is June 21. For about a month before and after, it does not get dark at night.

Related read: Alaska Dalton Highway Travel Tips: For Adventurers and Adrenaline Junkies

Homer and Seldovia should be high on your shortlist for places to fish.

My next article will be about freshwater fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai River is a great place to try, and many make it a doubleheader, fishing both the Kenai and Homer salt. The Kenai is usually accessed by driftboat guides. The reds start to peak in early July. They are excellent table fare and Kenai Reds are very large fish.

There are many other places to fish in Alaska.  Stay tuned for a series of articles on other areas to fish in Alaska.  But for me personally, it’s Homer and Kachemak Bay, especially Seldovia, because it is stunningly beautiful. It is also one of the most cost-effective areas to fish because of its easy access.

There are no roads to Seldovia and access is only by boat or plane. It’s one of few off-the-road system villages that still retains its old Alaska charm.

Plus, Seldovia also allows you a lot more time to have your line in the water than fishing out of Homer Harbor.

Your Adventure Awaits!

Every single day here offers you a chance to dive into a world of exciting excursions in this pristine Alaskan paradise. Whether you’re craving the adrenaline rush of offshore fishing, looking forward to spotting majestic whales, or can’t wait to paddle through those stunning waters in a kayak, the options are endless and totally up to you!

At Treehouse Cove, you’ve got some fantastic options!

You can cozy up in a delightful timber frame cabin right on the beach at Seldovia Bay, or if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, why not treat yourself to a luxurious treehouse next to a waterfall? The views of the water and mountains are simply stunning!