Alaska is full of natural beauty, including fjords and bays that line the Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska, snowcapped mountains and streams brimming with trout and salmon. Due to the icy-cold ocean temperatures, the waters are filled with cod, rockfish, salmon and halibut. Companies such as Kingfisher Charters and Lodge, Skagway Fishing Charters and Homer Ocean Charters offer combo fishing trips during which you fish for more than one type of fish.
Features
Kingfisher's, Skagway's and Homer's offerings vary enough to set them apart from one another. Kingfisher fishes for salmon and halibut on the same day, while other companies require you to devote one day to each species. Skagway is just 15 minutes from various Alaskan fishing destinations, allowing you to spend more time on the water. Homer offers multiday trips aboard the Outer Limits, a 60-foot yacht. This allows anglers to fish in locations unreachable in a day's time.
Geography
The main fishing regions of Alaska are in the southeast panhandle and the southcentral areas.
The panhandle area has warm waters from the Pacific Ocean, which bring with it an abundance of nutrients and marine life. Common fish caught in freshwater streams in this area include rainbow, brook, cutthroat and steelhead trout. In the panhandle area, Skagway offers combo fishing trips from mid- to late September for silver salmon and king salmon.
Kingfisher is in the southeast area of Alaska around Sitka. With this charter, combo trips have you catching deep-water fish such as halibut and deep-water salmon and then take you fly-fishing in streams for king salmon, black cod and trout.
Southcentral Alaska has the widest variety of inland and saltwater fishing in the state. Bristol Bay, known for its rainbow trout is in this area. Other common fishes here include arctic char, sockeye salmon, halibut and king salmon. Homer, which offers full-day fishing combo charters for halibut/salmon or halibut/lingcod, is in this region.
Considerations
In Alaska, anyone over the age of 16 must have a valid sports fishing license. One license covers both saltwater and freshwater fishing. As of 2010, the state offers nonresidents one-, two-, seven- or 14-day licenses. For Alaska residents, there is an annual license for sale. State regulations allow you to catch two halibut and one saltwater king salmon per day.
Time Frame
When going on combo fishing trips in Alaska, late spring or summer are the best time frames. During May, both king salmon and saltwater halibut are running. From the beginning of May through early June is the only time both halibut and king salmon can be caught in the ocean.
When fishing for saltwater halibut and Kenai River king salmon, June and July tend to be the strongest months. During this time period, Alaska sees its highest number of halibut, which are in deep and shallow waters.
Weather
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the southern region of Alaska is part of a temperate rain forest. Both the ocean water and the air currents affect the climate. Throughout the year, this area experiences an abundance of rainfall but the popular fishing months of April through June tend to be the area's driest. The summer average high temperatures are mostly in the lower to mid-60s, and at night the temperatures drop to about 45 to 50 F.
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