The Best Halibut Fishing In Alaska

Halibut are bottom-feeder fish with flaky, tasty white meat that soak up any ingredient you choose to apply in the cooking process. For this reason, they are highly sought sport fish. Landing a halibut is challenging. As they range in size from 20 to 300 pounds, bringing one of these from the ocean's bottom through anywhere from 100 to 300 feet of water is a feat that tests the stamina of even the well-conditioned person.

Homer

Homer is called the Halibut Capital of the World. It is located at the very end of the Kenai Peninsula--a 50-minute flight from Anchorage, or several hours' drive on state roads. Homer is very popular with locals and tourists. With more than 100 licensed and Coast Guard-approved charter vessels based in Homer Small Boat Harbor, it is fairly easy to get on board a charter without planning ahead. Homer is home to the state's largest halibut jackpot derby. In 2010, the jackpot has more than $190,000 in prizes and runs from May 1 to September 30. Daily tickets are $10 each and must be purchased before leaving for the fishing grounds. Unlike other port-based derbies, the Homer jackpot offers many ways to win. There are prizes for top kids' and lady anglers' catches, monthly prizes and tagged fish catches. The Homer jackpot also offers a category for those who choose to catch and release the big ones. If your catch is the largest of the season, you win the largest monetary prize of all. In 2009, a Homer resident won the overall derby with a 354.6-pound fish netting $40,440. As of 2010, the daily limit enforced by federal management for halibut in Homer-area waters is two.

Dutch Harbor

Located about halfway down the 1,200-mile-long Aleutian Islands chain and about 900 air miles from Anchorage, Dutch Harbor is the name of the port located within the city limits of Unalaska. For more than two decades, this port has been ranked first in the nation in terms of the total commercial landing of fish. In 2008, its more than 612 million pounds of seafood valued at $195 million made up 7 percent of the nation's total. What's good for commercial fishing is also good for sport fishing. In June of 1996, a 459-pound halibut was caught by an angler on board a Dutch Harbor-based vessel. According to the International Game Fish Association, that catch still stands as the world record for sport fish halibut. A full-day charter from this port costs $165 to $200 a day. For that price, an angler gets an experienced captain and crew that know how to handle the sometimes treacherous waters of the Bering Sea. You might have to wait out the weather, because charter captains here won't go out if conditions are harsh. Charters run from late May to mid-September. The bulk of the catch here averages in the 100-pound range. Because Dutch Harbor is accessible only by plane or boat, fewer anglers come here compared to Homer, which is on the state's road system. Dutch Harbor anglers are allowed two halibut per day, according to regulations set by federal management.

Valdez

This Prince William Sound port city with a little more than 4,000 year-round residents also offers a substantial halibut derby. Top prize in 2010 is $15,000 with $5,000 and $2,000 for second and third place respectively. Weekly prizes of derby apparel, airline certificates and local business gift certificates are offered. All derby tickets purchased are eligible to win a truck in the end-of-season drawing. Derby tickets are $10 per day or $50 for the entire season. Anglers must purchase derby tickets before leaving port. This derby runs from May 22 to September 5. The daily limit in Prince William Sound waters is two, with four in possession, allowing anglers to fish both days of an overnight trip.

Ketchikan

It is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, but Ketchikan also boasts a productive halibut fishery. Ketchikan is the first port of call in Alaska's Inside Passage, where cruise ships are as common a sighting as eagles or whales. Charter boat operators based here cater to cruise ship passengers who may be docking for only a day by offering shortened trips and processing and packaging services. The average price for a five-hour trip in 2010 is $125, with fish processing for less than $2 per pound. In 2009, the daily halibut bag limit for those fishing from charter boats was reduced from two to one. This limit applies to the entire area known as "Southeast"--stretching from Ketchikan at its southern border to Cape Spencer at the northern border. If you are fishing in a private boat, the daily limit remains at two per angler.

Ninilchik

This quaint Alaska Native people's town on the shores of Cook Inlet on the Kenai Peninsula offers a distinctive approach to halibut fishing. Rather than docking the boats, tractors are used to push boats off the beach and into the water. "Coming in" from a day of fishing here means the captain revs the engine for a quick skim across shallower waters close to the beach and maneuvers the boat on to the top of a waiting trailer. This means that launching and landing are driven by the tides. It's also a short trip to the fishing grounds. Unlike other Alaska spots, where it can take an hour to three hours to get from port to casting a line, Ninilchik-based charters are on the fish within 45 minutes. The chamber of commerce here offers a summer halibut derby as well. Prizes are smaller, with the top fish earning $2,500.