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Alaska is a fantastic place to fish and has a huge amount of fishing options. Alaska has salmon fishing, trophy trout fishing, fly-in fishing, halibut fishing, and sea fishing. The experience varies greatly depending on what river, lake, or bay one fishes. Fishing in Alaska also varies massively depending on the time of year - whether it's the salmon run time or if it's winter and so ice fishing is the order of the day.
Alaska is a land of vast, untamed wildernesses that are home to extensive wildlife. Much of the fishing is around the coastal regions, but there is also great fishing in the hinterland. With few roads, the Alaskan hinterland is often difficult to access; one of the most common ways to get to it is with a seaplane.
Coastal Alaskan Halibut Fishing Charters
Alaska is one of the best places in the world for halibut fishing. Alaskan halibut are some of the most sought-after fish in the world - they are one of the best table fish offering a moist, flakey texture. One of the most famous places in Alaska for halibut is the Cook Inlet, and Homer is the Alaskan halibut fishing capital.
These fish range from as little as 10 lbs to as much as 410 lbs.
- Halibut Season: May to mid-September
- Bag Limit: Two Halibut Per Day In Kachemak Bay
- Size: Up To 410 lbs
Homer Ocean Charters is one of the companies offering halibut fishing charters. They offer 3/4 day, full-day, and multi-day fishing adventures. Their fishing trips can either target a single species or branch out for others. In Kachemak Bay, it is possible to fish for halibut, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, and others.
Full Day Fishing Charter:
- One Species: $325
- Two Species: $425 (Halibut, Salmon, Rockfish)
Note that with every fishing trip with Homer Ocean Charters, guests need to buy their own fishing license and bring their own drinks and food.
Inland Fly-In Fishing Excursions
In Alaska, it is popular for tourists to fly into remote areas to go fishing (some go to a lodge, while others go to the middle of nowhere and get picked up again later in the day). There are plenty of companies offering these services in Alaska, and one is Regal Air.
Regal Air offers Alaska Day Fishing Trips from Anchorage, and there are options for a guided or unguided trip. They also provide all the gear if the angler doesn't already have it. One of their day tours flies into Lake Creek Lodge - which guests reach by 9.00 am.
- Take Off: Anchorage's Floatplane Base, Lake Hood
- Return: At 5.00 pm
- Includes: Lunch
The flight itself is stunning - see some of the Matanuska Valley's most impressive rivers and scenery. Keep one's eyes on the lookout for moose and bears as well.
- Total Duration: 8-10 Hours
- Cost: $650 Per Person
- Season: June to September
Lake Creek Lodge mostly targets rainbow trout, grayling, northern pike, coho (silver) salmon, and sockeye salmon - depending on the time of year.
Multiday Alaska Fishing Trips & Mixed Packages
There are plenty of multi-day fishing trips in Alaska, and they are ideal for those wanting to really immerse themselves in the great Alaskan outdoors.
6-Day/7-Night Halibut & King Salmon Package
This is a full trip that includes seven nights of lodging and three full days of guided king salmon or sockeye salmon fishing in the wild Kenai or Kasilof Rivers. It also includes two days of halibut fishing in the Cook Inlet and one day off for sightseeing or self-guided fishing.
Includes:
- Accommodation: 7 Nights Lodge Accommodation
- Fishing: 3 Days Salmon Fishing, 2 Days Halibut Fishing
- Cost: $2,395 (Variable By Number Of People In The Group)
- When: June
The package also includes the first 100 lbs of fish processing and two airline-approved boxes per person. Fishing gear is provided, but meals are not (the lodge has a kitchen).
4-Day/5-Night Halibut & King Salmon Package
This package is similar to the one above but is held in July and is a couple of days shorter. It offers five nights of lodging, two full days of guiding king salmon or sockeye salmon fishing on the Kenai River, and two days of guided Halibut Fishing at Cook Inlet.
- Accommodation: 5 Nights Lodge Accommodation
- Fishing: 2 Days Salmon Fishing, 2 Days Halibut Fishing
- Cost: $2,145 (Variable By Number Of People In The Group)
- When: July
The first 100lbs of fish processing is also included, as is all the gear. Both of these packages are customizable to some degree, with add-ons on request.