Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Homer or Seward for halibut charter?

Picking between Homer or Seward for a day or two of halibut fishing, what do you guys suggest? I'm not too keen on the best area and whatever when it comes to halibut fishing since I've only gone once in my life (shocking I know), but I'm looking at going between late spring/early summer.

Also, any recommendations on a good charter service? I'm taking the girlfriend for the first time so I want to make a good experience out of it and get her on some fish.

I can't say that I've ever had a really great 'but charter at either Homer or Seward.

The best halibut fishing, that I've experienced has been in Valdez with "Captain Mike" at Goodhand Charters. Top shelf boat and gear, and Mike is a fishing fool. The drawback is that it's a looong boatride to his favorite spot, and if it's too rough to go all the way, the fishing will be so-so, and may just plain suck! Valdez seems to be feast or famine due to weather, but when it's a feast, it's a real treat. Several co-workers highly recommend Orion Charters in Valdez as well. Mike at Goodhand, also spoke highly of Orion. Those two outfits have probably won more Valdez Halibut Derbies than anyone. If you want to fish with either of them, you have to reserve a spot well ahead of time.

Jeff

Ditto to what Jeff said! We were lucky enough to grace the cover of Goodhands brochure for two years in a row. Mike MacDonald is a fishing and hunting fool and my kind of guy.

Smallest fish we brought in was 160#'s or so largest was 248 we limited out in 2 hours after a 4 hour boat ride to get there. Actually we didn't limit out, the guy that caught the 248 wouldn't fish anymore after that one, he and the husband of the daughter of a local State Farm agent were the only non Alaskans on the boat. Twas great fun, Mike knows fishing!

Wow! A 10 hour day for 2 hours of fishing?? How the heck does that guy pay his gas bill with 8 hours of running a day?

You charge accordingly! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It ain't a cheap charter, but it's a good one!

Aside from the fabulous halibut fishing, what I really liked were the huge yellow eyed rockfish and lingcod. We caught a bunch, and no one on the boat wanted them but me! I'll take them over 'but any day. They don't freeze all that well, so you have to really pig out on them first. Halibut doesn't hold a candle to rockfish on the table IMO. The only reason I take halibut, is that it freezes better than most any fish out there. JMO, I'm sure some will argue the point.

Jeff

I have to agree. I did one charter out of Homer and one out of Seward, and will never go back to either of those places. I went 3 times with Luck of the Irish charters out of Valdez. Only place I would ever go.

If I'd leave paradise, and had 4 hours to run to any halibut hole, I'd be scared to see what I'd catch..............

Jeff
I agree absolutely with your assessment of eating qualities. Lingcod can be canned and that saves it for a lot longer than freezing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.
art

Art,

I just hope not too many start to agree <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I gotta pick your brain on the cod canning thing. I've never tried doing that.

Jeff

I've been out on the Dutch treat with Inlet charters out of Homer 7 times. I've been more than happy. I'll send you some pic's if you want from different trips.

http://halibutcharters.com/

Homer does offer the advantage of the Homer Halibut Derby. Who knows for the extra $ it costs for a halibut dreby ticket in homer you could pick up an extra $50,000.00.

Silver Fox Charters in Homer does a nice job. I dont know the derby ticket prices now probably $20.00_$30.00.

I think there still $10.

http://homerhalibutderby.com/

I'd also agree that neither location is the best for great but fishing. The problem with Seward is that you have to get out of Resurection Bay and head over to Montague for great fishing, but once you leave Resurection Bay, you're exposed to the Gulf of Alaska, and often the water is just too big for the boats to get out of the bay.

With Homer K-bay is hit pretty hard and you have to head out quite a ways to get to the bigger fish, on out towards the Barren Islands.

I'd also say that the bigger boats, ie taking 10-20 folks out vs a sixpack are more likely to concentrate on the chicken holes, as they want all the folks to get their two fish, and take the quantity over quality.

If you can find a good sixpack with a captain that wants to get his clients on big fish, then thats the way to go. Most every boat will get you on fish, but those that go the extra effort to get you on the big ones are what you should concentrate on.

Deep creek is another option you might look into. There are smaller outfits there, the 6-pack boats, and they, too catch some very large 'but. Sorry, I am unfamiliar with any of the names of them. Anyone else?
M

Good idea M, forgot about Ninilchik/Deep Creek. I've had pretty good luck with Ninilchik Saltwater Charters. It was owned/run by a guy named Steve, back when I used them. That was several years ago, and I don't if he's still there or not.

Jeff

No offense meant to anyone, but why would you want to catch one of the barndoors unless you're just trophy fishing? The meat's coarse and usually wormy......a couple of fifty pounders are a gracious plenty and better eating......my son-in-law caught a 180lbs+ halibut out of my Zodiac last summer......gave all the meat away.

No harm meant, just curious.

Joe

I agree the barn door halibut aren't as good eating, but I would rather catch a couple of bigger than average fish, than what they catch out of Homer and Seward, which average less than 10. In my opinion, that isn't worth going out for.
M

I'm not saying Homer has the best Halibut fishing but here pic's from 3 different years of some nice fish. nothing much over 100 lbs , Yes they are the bigest fish of the day but 3 different years!
2002

2003

2004

Nice fish... I bet you have a blast eating them throughout the year.

I'm curious what you guys consider "hot" fishing for halibut? Do you fish all day for 6 bites? Or are you releasing small halibut to find some bigger fish? I'm curious.............

We do release most of the 25 lbs and under . It's kinda goes buy how the fish are biteing and if is the 1st or 2nd day of fishing, I try to come home with 2 fish boxes of halibut and 1 of salmon. It's funny how many new friends I find when I come back. I do give some to friends but most gets ate here at home.
All the fish in the pic's were taken on the day each pic was taken.
My point here is that not all skipper are going to take you for a boat ride and put you over a bunch of chickens and then take on another boat ride back.
All boats have bad days but if you do a little home work and ask for ref. you can still get nice fish out of Homer.