I’m going to Alaska this June to do some halibut and samon fishing, does anybody have any advice?
I’ve been to AK over 14 times mainly fishing. From Ketchikan to Anchorage and lots of places in between, even over to the mulchatna drainage for caribou once.
What do you want to know? Where are you fishing at? June is pretty early unless you are going for the first run of kings in the kenai. I always like to be up there the 3rd or 4th week in August.
-DallanC
Most guides book up quickly, but a great one I’ve used in the past, and will in the future, is John Baker of AFISHUNT Charters.
Web address: www.afishunt.com
He has pages there where you can search for packages, best fishing dates, type of equipment used . . .
He comes here each winter during the big outdoors show.
Good luck!
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You get what you pay for. Cheap in Alaska is just like fishing Jordanelle from a leaky boat.
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TALK to your GUIDE. Not the owner of an operation, but THE PERSON who will take you fishing. He can’t lie, and will have to face you.
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Get references, preferably some not given to you by the guide or outfitter.
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In Alaska, if you can drive to it by car, it won’t be the trip of your dreams, and you will have LOTS of company if the fish are there.
Biggest Halibut are in Homer area, but so are the roughest seas. Fishing is much more pleasant in southeast Alaska (Juneau/Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island area), and there’s plenty of big halibut around there as well.
Salmon, they’re either there, or they aren’t. In June, they’ll be in the salt, and all kings. Just like trolling for Kokes at the Gorge, only the fish are bigger. “Mooching” or drifting with bait can work too.
Research it. Don’t expect fish to just jump on the line because you’re in the promised land. Take GOOD rain gear, rubber boots, and bug dope with 100 percent deet. GOOD rain gear!!
Don’t forget about Kodiak. There’s some awesome fishing on that on that island and off of it too for those species and others…
Yea pretty much what they said. I was up there last year over Fathers day. I was not able to plan it as it was a last minute trip for work. I counted myself lucky to make it out for Halibut. Like was mentioned above take good rain gear or outer wear. I am fairley cold tolerant and I was a little chilly. I had a good wicking base layer, a mid-weight smart wool a sweatshirt and an outer shell was still a little chilly but catching fish warms you up. We did not catch anything big but i had fun I caught about 15 fish total. With the biggest probably around 25-30 lbs. But since you could only keep 2 and it started out slow so I kept the first and my last. I was greedy i liked reeling up those little chickens. I think if I had the time to plan a trip i would go out of Kodiak or Homer for the bigger halibut.
IF you’re going to be fishing the Kenai Peninsula I know it well! I was able to guide for salmon this last summer and my best advice would be JULY!! If you can go in July you’re trip will be 10 times the trip. First the average weight of Kings goes from about 20-25 lbs up the 40-50 lbs on BOTH the Kenai and Kasilof rivers. If you’re fishing this area… Kenai River = Bigger fish, BUT much slower days. If your fishing 4 guys on a boat, 2 fish is a great day. Kasilof River has a smaller fish average size, BUT in July you’re going to average atleast 3-4 Kings per boat and if you decide to catch n release i’ve posted 9-12 fish days with 3 fisherman. You’ll also have the opportunity to catch powerful Sockeye (Reds) in the second half of July into Aug. These fish avg. 6-12 lbs but in my opinion are more fun than the kings to catch. Bank fishing and hookin up every couple minutes… on good days i’d catch over 50 reds and you’ll swear every one you hook is gonna bust your rod, they’re tough!! You’ll love Halibut fishing…if you’re with even a poor guide they should have no trouble limiting out you’re whole boat and you’ll feel like you’re arm is gonna need physical therapy at the end of the day! If you can…get to Seward! It’s so beautiful and with a good outfitter you’ll have the chance in one day to get limits on Halibut, Lingcod, seabass (kinda trash), and Silver Salmon along with occasional black cod and rockfish. Seward is absolutely amazing… way bigger halibut than the cook inlet and Homer, some guys will argue about Homer but the average IS higher in Seward. Let me know where in Alaska you’re trip is planned, and especially if you’re going without a package and you’re booking separate trips or going unguided.
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If you can…get to Seward! It’s so beautiful … [/reply]
True, its one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in AK. Probably had my best ever coho fishing there as well. There were times every pole had a fish on… bigger ones, 14-16lbs. It was crazy times! I think we limited out the entire boat in under an hour 30 min.
-DallanC
Thanks for the info. i will be going to anchor point from anchorage and hope to do some halibut and salmon fishing. Any more suggestions are welcome. Would the rods that we use here for trout be ok for salmon up there? with maybe heavier line.
In June there might be a small run of Kings in the Anchor River but most of the fishing will be in the salt.
No, most trout equipment won’t last one fish in Alaska. Hooking into a wild Alaskan Salmon is like nothing we have around here.
The Anchor River is a great river but it’s tough to catch fish. It only has a few open weekends and it’s closed the rest of the year so the crowds are awful, bank fishing only it’s too small for boats. Fish right on the salt/river convergence and fish with eggs just as the tides turn and the high tide begins to come in. It will turn from a river to a lake in about an hour and keep fishing where there is a little current so work upstream as the tide comes in. The fish gather at the mouth and let the tide push them upriver. Your guides SHOULD adhere to that on all rivers but lots of them won’t because it makes for weird launch times occasionally. Head up an hour to the kasilof and kenai… the Kasilof is hard to beat even in june. The halibut fishing out there is awesome… I caught 45 & 90 pounders the second week of june really close to Anchor point. It’s exciting we shot the big one with a shotgun before bringin it in. Bring really good rain gear and rubber boots and layer for cold… in 2007 that area probably had 6-8 sunny days in june. Some days felt like feb/mar here in Logan. As far as rods get a 9-10 ft. med/heavy to heavy action for kings. In june you’ll wanna fish 20-30 lb. mono with a 15-20 lb clear leader. A medium size casting reel. Good luck i’m jealous i won’t be going this year!