However, there are a few things to know which would influence my decision to go again.The boat is fairly old and way too small to have six people fishing. Don't know about Sitka, but would imaging the fishing is pretty good there as well. To make your trip planning easier, we've compiled a list of the most promising Halibut fishing spots in the state. Homer is a 5 hour drive from Anchorage, or a 1 hour trip by plane. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. In the remainder of the Haines and Skagway area fresh and salt waters, bait is allowed, and the regional length limit for cutthroat and rainbow trout is 11-minimum to the 22-inch maximum. I haven't yet decided if I will do it on July 27, but here is a link. Pelican, Alaska and it's surrounding waters provide excellent halibut fishing. Once in Ketchikan there hundreds of fishing spots access by boat or road (mostly boat) where halibut are abundant. each. For purposes of this trip limit, a charter vessel fishing trip ends at 2359 (Alaska local time) on the same calendar day that the fishing trip began, or when any anglers or Pacific halibut are offloaded, whichever comes first. For starters, its in Alaska. According to the opinions of many anglers in Alaska, fishing for halibut is best when the moon is full. (1) No person shall engage in recreational (sport) fishing for Pacific halibut using gear other than a single line with no more than two hooks attached; or a spear. The town of Pelican lives by a motto, "Closest to the Fish" and this couldn't be more true. The Alaskan Fishing Adventures Experience, At Alaskan Fishing Adventures halibut anglers have come to expect great things, Halibut anglers have come to expect great things, Pioneering halibut fishing in the Cook Inlet since the 1980's, Our crews have been fishing this area the longest. However, I have an e-mail in to Captain Ken in Ketchikan, waiting to hear back from him. (b) No person on board a charter vessel (as referred to in 50 CFR 300.65) shall catch and retain any Pacific halibut that with head on is greater than 40 inches (101.6 cm) and less than 80 inches (203.2 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail. Several of the top spots for Alaska halibut fishing are found near Anchorage, while others are more remote and only accessible by boat or plane. When fishing by boat, fisherman can access hundreds of hidden coves and remote bays throughout Prince William Sound where halibut are abundant. Halibut: March - October Rockfish: Year-Round Rainbow Trout: June - September Dolly Varden: July - October Best Fishing in Alaska Whether you make your vacation plans with fishing foremost in your mind or add it in as a sideline, you can find places to fish and fish to catch any time of year and any place in the state where there's water. Dog sledding around glaciers, visiting ice caves, ziplining, and hiking are just a few of the activities you can enjoy here. Alaska Halibut Fishing Charters | Angle for Monster Halibut Annual Management Measures Section 28. The town of Pelican lives by a motto, Closest to the Fish and this couldnt be more true. To reach Halibut point Recreation Area, travel north from Sitka on Halibut Point Road 4.4 miles. He is a class act. Skagway Fishing Charters provided an OUTSTANDING fishing trip. During the spring and summer, halibut are found feeding in the shallower nearshore waters of Cook Inlet. All rights reserved. The peak halibut fishing season in Alaska comes to an end in October. It is also the last stop of the Alaska Marine Highway and for the Ferries that run this route. Herring is the perfect bait to use for halibut fishing in Alaska in spring. , AK 99901, United States. Photo: Fabienne Peter-Contesse. The Alaska Catch 2 Map Website Season: May 14 - Sept 16 $250+ per person 4-8 hrs Ketchikan is known as the " salmon capital of the world," and this uniquely personal tour is your chance to angle for these iconic Alaskan fish as well as huge halibut. Fill out the info below and someone from will get back to you. Halis with their weight in triple digits are fierce fighters, and theyre a challenge to land even for the most experienced of anglers. A 2 to 3-pound sinker weight is best for keeping bait on the bottom in strong currents. Its clear that Alaska offers some of the best Halibut fishing in the country, if not the very best. (3) Any Pacific halibut brought aboard a vessel and not immediately returned to the sea with a minimum of injury will be included in the daily bag limit of the person catching the Pacific halibut. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Alaska. Halibut fishing was successful - Review of Skagway Fishing Charters Anglers should use a heavy rod with line tested at 60 to 100 pounds. Elfin Cove is another remote, off-the-grid top halibut fishing spot in Southeast Alaska. In Alaska, the charter vessel guide, as defined in50 CFR 300.61and referred to in50 CFR 300.65, 300.66, and 300.67, shall be liable for any violation of these Regulations committed by an angler on board a charter vessel. Summer is the best time of the year to target halibut in Alaska waters. Many anglers choose to use salmon belly strips as bait to catch halibut in Alaska in summer. Halibut limit is 2 per person and 1 fish must be maximum 28" in length. If fishing in Alaska for Salmon or Halibut is your dream, I suggest you check the cities of: Hoonah, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan or Valdez for a fishing charter depending on where your cruise ship stops. Tucked in between the snow-capped mountains and hugged by forests, anything from hiking to canoeing is fair game. Scenery was spectacular!! Check them out! Research Contact Haines and Skagway provide year-round fishing opportunities in salt water and fresh water, accessible by boat and from shore. Experience Alaska Fishing & Nature on the 4th Largest Island in the United States - A beautiful & remote island in Southeast Alaska that offers world class saltwater fishing, freshwater fly fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing & more. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. Halibut move to deep waters and stay inactive during the winter months. Skagway is not good for halibut fishing. Check it out! Drift fishing and still fishing while anchored, are the two most popular techniques for targeting halibut in the waters off Ninilchik, though anchoring is often more effective. The average "chicken" Halibut is 20-50 pounds and is . We plan to take a 7:45pm train to Anchorage that night after they bring us back. The worst months to catch halibut in the region are from February March and from November December. We are not going to Whittier. Fishing Haines, Alaska - Best Fishing Options, Top Rated Fishing For barn door Halibut, heading to Chatham Straight is the best option. For anglers whod like to fish for Halibut off the beaten path, Seward might be a good fit. Juneau is surrounded by numerous channels, bays, and inlets that provide excellent Halibut fishing conditions and opportunities. (c) No person may possess more than two daily bag limits. The peak of the halibut fishing season is between June 1 and September 1. Because of the unparalleled catches our guests have experienced, today other boats venture onto the same waters. But what Sitka lacks in pure poundage it makes up for in numbers. If you are fishing with a guide (on a charter)inArea 2C or 3A,additional restrictions apply. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. Wherever you go, theres [], In Canada, the ice fishing season begins with anticipation. (d) A charter vessel on which one or more anglers catch and retain Pacific halibut may only make one charter vessel fishing trip per calendar day. They told them to try Ketchikan instead, which they did and had a great time. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. The halibut fishing season in Alaska starts in March and ends in November. It is a two-lane well-maintained highway that is open year-round. When fishing from boat, always plan ahead or use an experienced charter company. Season: Apr 29 to Sep 10 $355+ Full Day. The only way to get here is by flying in from Anchorage to the city of Kodiak or Dutch Harbor. Very few halibut are taken from the waters immediate near Seward, but are plentiful throughout Resurrection Bay. Any ideas for Juneau fishing? Fishing Info - Haines/Skagway Management Area, Alaska Department of However, anglers often catch halibut when fishing in Alaska waters during the night hours. - Alaska - Cruise Critic Community By sarahjane, May 22, 2004 in Alaska document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Discover the top fishing destinations for 2023 including top catches and winning fishing techniques. My hubby will be salmon fishing in Ketchikan and Juneau, but he REALLY wants to fish for halibut. It makes sense to fish for halibut in nearshore waters during the spring months. While halibut fishing is best during late summer, the waters surrounding Homer can produce record halibut catches year round. Seward is a popular fishing destination for visitors and locals alike. Bernie Warchuck Captain Skagway Fishing Charters Skagway Alaska Fishing Charters Self guided fishermen can keep up to 2 halibut of any size per day. Relatively lighter weights and tackle can be used for halibut fishing out of Seward in Resurrection Bay since this zone experiences less tide fluctuation, tide rip or current than other open Alaskan waters. Anchoring in one spot allows bait to create a scent trail down current that attracts feeding halibut. The waters surrounding Port Protection offer hundreds of miles of coves, islands, and points, many of which have never been fished with a rod and reel. There are many fishing charters out of Ketchikan that provide guided fishing tours. During the day, the best time to fish is during the high slack tide as it will keep your tackle as close to the bottom as possible. Many charter boats from Juneau, Pelican, Gustavus and Elfin Cove travel to Deer Harbor Bay to fish its waters. A charter vessel fishing trip is defined at50 CFR 300.61as the time period between the first deployment of fishing gear into the water by a charter vessel angler (as defined at50 CFR 300.61) and the offloading of one or more charter vessel anglers or any Pacific halibut from that vessel. Knowing the best times and seasons to target halibut in Alaska helps anglers prepare for a fishing trip and get the best results. You can unsubscribe at any time. The best halibut fishing in Alaska means steady action for halibut in the 50-80 pound range, with Alaska giants over 100 pounds brought to the scales every day. However, this is one of the top Halibut fishing spots in Alaska, so its well worth the effort. There are plenty of charters here in Skagway, and most will target King Salmon or Halibut and sometimes both. Too bad you guys can't go fishing together!! Summer is the best season for night halibut fishing in Alaska. It is my intent to give every person who comes aboard a charter on Skagway Fishing Charters a fair and honest experience. Or, come earlier and participate in the Halibut Tournament which . The best time of year to fish halibut in Seward is from June through August. Consequently, halibut retreivals are not nearly as difficult as in some of Alaskas deeper fishing waters. In winter, anglers often catch halibut when targeting king salmon. Time from pier to fishing was about 20 minutes. These Alaska-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. And the favorite playground of fishermen as well. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from Alaskan Fishing Adventures. 5 hours from Seward to the Gulf of Alaska, Montague Island, and other outer-coast hotspots. To arrive at Elfin Cove youll need to book an Alaska Seaplanes flight from Juneau. When you're looking for your own Alaskan adventure vacation, it would be remiss not to book a trip with Reel Alaska Fishing Charters. These Small Towns in Alaska Come Alive in Summer (6) No Pacific halibut caught in recreational (sport) fishing shall be possessed on board a vessel when other fish or shellfish aboard said vessel are destined for commercial use, sale, trade, or barter. On your trip to Skagway, consider a salmon fishing charter with Captain Craig McCormick on the White Wing. First is the fantastic fishing that happens here, and second is the long list of outdoor and cultural things to do here. Trophy halibut caught in the waters off Homer can top 7 feet and weigh over 300 pounds. The fjords and mountains of southern Alaska are sure to make you fall in love with them, but its the fishing that will draw you in. Halibut bite well and anglers find it easy to catch it during the summer months. Kodiak Island is accessible by plane from Anchorage, or Dutch Harbor by boat. One of the biggest benefits of fishing for halibut off Yakobi Island and the surrounding areas, is that you rarely bump into other fishermen. Beach fishing for halibut in Ninilchik is quite common. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Montana, please check out this helpful guide. (g) Guided angler fish (GAF), as described at50 CFR 300.65, may be used to allow a charter vessel angler to harvest additional Pacific halibut up to the limits in place for unguided anglers, and are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section. Within Resurrection Bay, Halibut can be harvested from April through October. The waters in the Gulf of Alaska offer excellent opportunities to catch Halibut, King Salmon and Silver Salmon.If you visit in August, you can even try your luck in the annual Silver Salmon Derby which offers a hefty cash prize for reeling in the tagged fish. Juneau might not be the easiest place to access, seeing that you can only get to it by plane or boat. With so many fishing options and so many options for adventure here, it is not surprising that so many folks visit Skagway each summer. Halibut, Rockfish and Lingcod combo trip in Homer, Alaska. There is no charge for toilet accidents. Our shortest stops are Ketchikan (8hrs) and Skagway (9hrs) and our longest stops are Hoonah (10hrs) and Juneau (13.5hrs). Very reliable company and will definitely be booking with them again in the near future! Even though its got a lot fewer people than Anchorage, Juneau has excellent Halibut fishing conditions. If you're visiting Alaska, you'll mostly likely to arrive in summer. Unalaska Island holds the current 459 pound world record for the largest recreationally caught halibut. Boats must travel 20 miles through Monti Bay to reach open waters at the mouth of Yakutat Bay. The range of restaurants, cafes, BBQ joints, and grocery stores makes finding food easy. Whale Watching in Skagway, Alaska | USA Today In Deer Harbor, fisherman can catch just about anything including halibut. Halibut pulled from Kiliuda Bay tend to be smaller, where the water doesnt get much deeper than 100 feet in most places. We chartered the whole boat for our 3-generation family of six. Perdido Key can be amazing any time of the year for fishing but specific times and seasons really can be better. Alaska Cruise Fishing Excursions & Charters - My Alaskan Fishing Trip There are all five species of Pacific Salmon here, Halibut, Dolly Varden, and Cutthroat Trout. Halibut fishing is excellent in such places as Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. Alaska halibut can reach lengths over 8 feet and weight in at over 500 pounds. This site is owned and operated by Eric Matechak. We all caught fish. Jigging is effective for catching halibut and provides a good arm exercise at the same time. Gastineau Channel is typically the first place anxious anglers cast their line and are able to snag a descent size halibut or two. Just returned and my husband caught Halibut on the Wilderness Fishing Excursion in Ketechan. The largest Alaska sport-caught halibut on record tipped the scales at 459 pounds (Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game). 2022 Alaskan Fishing Adventure, LLC DBA Anglers Lodge, LLC. Sporthalibut caught nearAngoon in Southeast Alaska. Bernie has trained an eagleblew a whistle and threw a fish carcass in the water and the eagle came right along side the boat to get it. Water sports like kayaking are very popular, there are different parks and beaches to explore, and you can even book a flightseeing tour to admire the island from above. the IGFA world record is 496 pounds. A visit to Skagway, especially during the summer months, will delight and enchant you. Using depth finder to locate schools of fish, and fishing that zone is an effective way to find hungry halibut. In Skagway, you will find several walking tours, DIY car tours, shoreline excursions including canoe and kayaking tours, rock climbing, and hiking into the wilds. The truth is, halibut can be found wherever their food is, and sometimes are found in water column, or near the surface. Whittier is home to Prince William Sound which offers some of the best halibut fishing grounds in Alaska. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. The season opener is upon us, so choose one of these hotspots and check for yourself just how epic fishing in Alaska can be! The halibut hear are not only more abundant but are typically larger than those caught further inland.