There’s no place to fish quite like Alaska. From the great big 300lb halibuts of Homer and Seward to the powerful King Salmon fishery right in downtown Anchorage, Alaska has everything a fisherman could ask for. But perhaps you’ve come and aren’t quite sure where to get your fish? I’ll touch on a few of the great ways to go fishing here in Alaska and how to get started!
Fishing in Downtown Anchorage
Whether you are a skillful long-time angler or brand new to the sport, you need to try this fishing spot! Ship Creek is located right next to downtown Anchorage and is known for being Alaska’s most productive king salmon sport fishery. Even if you only have two hours to spend, you can run down to this local fishing spot and cast out and catch something! It’s an experience you’re not going to want to miss!
A few words to the wise: This is a muddy bank, so bring some rubber boots and wear something you’re not afraid to get dirty. You will need an Alaska Fishing License which you can buy online at that link (if you’re fishing for Kings, make sure you get a King Salmon stamp too). Expect King Salmon to be running from late May to mid-July and Silver (Coho) Salmon to be running late July through early September. Oh Yes, and be patient and friendly! There are often plenty of people there and they can be very helpful, so make sure to be nice.
Fishing Charters in Homer
The self-proclaimed “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World” is definitely the place to be if you want to catch a Halibut! But to do so, you’re going to need to go on a Charter (unless you have your own boat, of course). So a few things to keep in mind when you’re looking for a charter. Although you can find variations, mostly there are two major types of charters: 1) The half-day large boats (up to 20 people), and 2) full-day six-person charters. Your current limit as of 2017 is one halibut, and one “chicken” halibut (a halibut under 28″).
But make sure you ask the captain of whatever boat you’re going on as to what he’s targeting and what you can expect. Also, if you’re bringing kids, make sure the captain is friendly to that. Ask about times too. When are you leaving? When will you come back in? The answers the captain gives will enlighten you about what kind of trip this is going to be. Are they going to want to stay out all night to get everyone’s limit? Or are they going to try and rush you back into shore? Whichever style you’re looking for, make sure you find the captain that fits your expectations.
Fly In Fishing Lodges
If you’re coming to Alaska SPECIFICALLY to fish, then this is the way to go for you. There are plenty of lodges around Alaska where you can stay and they have everything you need to have the fishing trip of a lifetime. And you’ll be doing it in style. Most of these fishing lodges are in such remote locations that you can only get to them by flying in on a small airplane, and yet you’ll be staying in some of the most luxurious facilities with gourmet food and expert guides the whole way. But as you can imagine, this is not the cheap way of going fishing. If you’re looking for a fishing trip that won’t break the bank, try one of the other options on this list. But if you can afford this, you’ll never regret it.
Regardless of what kind of fishing you like to do, you’ll find it in Alaska in spades. And there’s a lot more information out there to be had, so make sure you do your research ahead of time and bring your fishing gear!