Halibut Fishing in Alaska

Halibut fishing in Alaska is truly a great experience. The incredible size of the halibut found in Alaska's pristine waters is simply amazing. They can reach weights as large as 450+ pounds. I personally have caught one over 250 pounds and many other halibut this size are caught every year in Alaska. In this article we will discuss where and when is the best time to fish for halibut in Alaska, what are some common techniques used when fishing halibut in Alaska and what you should expect when you go out on your Alaska halibut fishing charter.

Some of the top destinations for halibut fishing in Alaska are Homer, Anchor Point, Deep Creek, Seward, Whittier and Valdez. At each of these locations you will find many halibut fishing charter companies who will be happy to take you out for a good day of fishing. However, it is important to plan ahead because during the peak season the fishing boats can fill up fast.

The peak season for halibut fishing runs from mid May until the end of July. In the spring the halibut will move into shallow water following the herring that come into the shallows to spawn. The halibut will stay in the shallow water until the fall and then migrate back to deep water to spawn themselves. The large halibut are usually females and are capable of laying millions of eggs each year.

If you are heading out of Homer, Valdez, Whittier or Seward you can expect a long boat ride. Typically the halibut fishing charters in these areas will run out 30+ miles to get where the fishing is best. If you are fishing out of Deep Creek or Anchor Point the charters only need to run 5 to 10 miles out to get into good halibut fishing. So if you have a tendency to get sea sick Deep Creek or Anchor Point may be you best option.

When fishing for halibut in Alaska there are a couple different techniques. A common fishing technique is to take the boat out and anchor then simply fish the slack tide using a circle hook baited with herring and a large weight. Slack tide is when the tide stops rising then begins to fall or visa versa. The reason slack tide is so desirable is that many times you will be fishing in 100 to 250 foot deep water. When the tide is slack it becomes easier to keep your bait on the bottom and do so using less weight.

Another common halibut fishing technique used is drifting your boat along with the tide. There are many benefits to this such as you can use less weight when fishing, you can cover more ground and you can typically fish for a longer period of time. One of the major down sides to drifting is that many times it becomes easy to get the fishing lines tangled with each other or get your weight caught up on the bottom and end up losing for halibut fishing setup.

Overall, if you enjoy fishing, then an Alaska halibut fishing charter is a great activity to add to you list when visiting Alaska. Most charters are only one day long and will provide everything you need except for your Alaska fishing license. Just be prepared to have a great time, see some amazing scenery and come back with a lot of fish.

Ryan T. has compiled a comprehensive Alaska Travel Guide and Alaska Photo Gallery which he credits to his many years in Alaska . Learn everything you need to know and expect from your Alaska vacation before you begin your travel.