The saltwater near Kenai, Alaska, offers a rewarding challenge for visitors who want to try their hand at catching a trophy-sized halibut. The area's halibut get huge, sometimes weighing as much as 300 pounds, giving fishermen quite the workout when they find one on the end of their fishing lines. You'll need a boat to catch the huge beauties in the deeper saltwater near Kenai. Count on the numerous boat charters and guides available in the area to take you to the prime fishing spots.
About the Area
The town of Kenai, Alaska, is located on the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai River flows through the town and into Cook Inlet, a saltwater bay located on Prince William Sound along the Pacific Ocean. Reach the area by driving several hours from Anchorage along the Sterling Highway. Or fly into the Kenai Airport and rent a car from there. You'll find accommodations, restaurants, shopping and groceries as well as fishing gear and bait in the town.
What You'll Need
To fish for halibut, you'll need to obtain an Alaska state fishing license. Buy the license online, or head to one of Kenai's sporting goods or bait and tackle shops to get your license. Licenses range in price from $24 annually for residents to $20 per day for nonresidents. Bring your raingear and plenty of bug spray to keep mosquitoes away. If you have your own boat, make sure you also bring heavy-duty fishing equipment so you can handle the battle with any huge halibut that tug on your line.
When to Fish
Fishing for halibut is best from May through September. In October, winter storms make the waters in Cook Inlet dangerous, so most charter boats will not schedule trips then. While you're trying to catch halibut, you may end up catching monster-sized ling cod, another tasty deep-sea species.
Boats and Guides
You can launch your own boat from the public boat ramp in Kenai. Or hire a guide and charter boat to take you to the best deep-water spots in the waters of Cook Inlet. The benefit of hiring a boat and guide means you can focus on fishing and not on navigating the waters. Most charter boats provide all equipment, with some even offering raingear, clothing and boots.
Fishing Lodges
To avoid the hassle of finding accommodations, making meals and hiring a charter boat and guide, consider staying at one of Kenai's fishing lodges. The lodges handle everything, starting with providing accommodations ranging from private cabins and condo units to rooms in lodges or hotels. Many of the lodges offer some type of meal plan, or provide a kitchen or grill for you to use to cook your freshly caught fish. They also set you up with their own or a recommended charter boat and guide. When you get back, the lodges usually handle cleaning, processing and vacuum packaging of your halibut so you can enjoy your fish at home.
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