Located at the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is a town focused on fishing. Residents and visitors alike spend the summer months in Homer in pursuit of king salmon and halibut in the waters of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. Halibut derby winners in Homer often claim annual prizes for fish between 300 and 400 pounds. In Homer, local restaurants prepare fresh seafood, and processors on Homer's Spit package fish to be shipped home for visiting anglers.
Charter Boats
Many charter boats operate from Homer's harbor for half or full-day excursions to catch halibut, salmon, lingcod and other fish. Supplies are provided on most boats such as fishing poles and bait, although many require anglers to bring their own lunch and beverages. Charter boat captains typically know the best fishing locations and how far out in the bay to venture to catch a daily limit of fish.
Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon
For convenient access to fishing standing on the shoreline, head to Homer's fishing lagoon on the Spit, a 4 1/2-mile peninsula extending into Kachemak Bay. Known as the Fishing Hole, the man-made lagoon is stocked with coho and king salmon by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Parking is provided at the lagoon and fish cleaning tables are available for filleting and preparing your catch.
Halibut
Homer bills itself as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" due to the number of fish caught by residents and visitors each year, according to the Homer Chamber of Commerce. The halibut season is open from Feb. 1 to Dec. 31 each year, according to ADF&G, with the best catches occurring in the summer months. Known familiarly as barn doors, halibut often weigh up to 300 pounds and may need to be shot before being brought aboard a boat. Smaller fish are hooked with a gaff and bait is typically herring attached to a circle hook.
Freshwater Fishing
The nearby Kenai River and other tributaries of Cook Inlet are popular freshwater fishing destinations, particularly during king salmon season. As you drive south on the Sterling Highway from Anchorage toward Homer, anglers can often be seen beneath the highway standing in waders and casting a fishing line. More remote areas are accessible by boat or sea plane.
Salmon
In addition to halibut, the Homer area attracts anglers seeking many species of salmon. King salmon are found near the Homer Spit from mid-May to early July and at the same time in the Kenai River as well as a late run from early July to early August. Silver salmon are typically caught during two runs near the Spit starting in July and ending in September. Reds and pinks are caught in the Kenai River from mid-July to August, according to ADF&G.
Licensing
Licenses are required by ADF&G for all anglers over the age of 15 for all fresh and salt waters in Alaska. Discounts are given to state residents and passes are available for one to 14 days or annually. An additional stamp is required for king salmon fishing.
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