flounder
New member
I'm planning a trip to Alaska for Halibut fishing and was wondering whether to go the Homer or Seward. Please tell me which is better for halibut fishing, Homer or Seward? I'm looking for the big buts, no chickens.
Which is better for Halibut fishing, Homer or Seward?
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Alaska Gray
Well-known member
You will probaly get a 50/50 opion on this one. I like Homer. The drive is longer but for me the fishing for halibut is better. And you don't have to drive far on the water to get good size halibut.
Seward I will say has a varity of fish while fishing for halibut.
Seward I will say has a varity of fish while fishing for halibut.
AKmud
Moderator
Weather....
Weather....
shouldn't be as risky out of Seward though. A lot of charters get cancelled out of Homer due to water conditions. I agree it is 50/50. Seward is more pleasant for sightseeing too.
Weather....
shouldn't be as risky out of Seward though. A lot of charters get cancelled out of Homer due to water conditions. I agree it is 50/50. Seward is more pleasant for sightseeing too.
From the time you leave Anchorage it is about 6 hours to get into Halibut. Whittier is closest to drive, longest boat ride, Seward is next. Homer is longest drive but shortest run in the boat.
It is up to you to determine which is better for you. You are going to either drive your truck more or your boat.
It is up to you to determine which is better for you. You are going to either drive your truck more or your boat.
Alaska Gray
Well-known member
AKmud said:
MUd, I would have to disagree on that Seward tends to get blown out more. I agree 100% that seward is more pleasent for sightseeing.
AkHunter45
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Big Butts
Big Butts
If you want a shot at catching a monster halibut, I would go to Homer. They are world famous for catching barn door sized halibut every year. Good luck!
Big Butts
If you want a shot at catching a monster halibut, I would go to Homer. They are world famous for catching barn door sized halibut every year. Good luck!
If you really want to get into big buts, you should probably look at one of the 2-3 day charters that take you out aways. Most of the day charters focus on chickens, because they want to have their boats limit out day after day. There simply aren't that many monster buts to have every boat nailing them every day.
Another consideration would be flying over to Kodiak.
Finally, who is running the boat is 100 times more important than the port you depart out of. You should spend a fair bit of time researching the charters, and being specific as to what your expectations are.
Remember that the pictures you see of big buts on the rack are from the best day a boat sees in the year, maybe in several years.
Another consideration would be flying over to Kodiak.
Finally, who is running the boat is 100 times more important than the port you depart out of. You should spend a fair bit of time researching the charters, and being specific as to what your expectations are.
Remember that the pictures you see of big buts on the rack are from the best day a boat sees in the year, maybe in several years.
Bill S.
Well-known member
Homer is a great place to go but the quickest fishing is probably out of Deep Creek, at least in my experience. Bottom Line Charters, Heavenly Sights and Key O's all get big buts out of there. Heavenly Sights displays pictures of every day they go out, not just the best days. I have never been weathered out of Seward or Whittier but have been out of Deep Creek. Little recognized for really big halibut becasue its such a pain to get to is Dutch Harbor.
Big Halibut
Big Halibut
Being that I fish in Seward, I might be a bit more biased towards Seward but here is what I know. Timing and guide choice are everything. There are guides in both areas that specialize in catching big fish. IF you choose a guide in either port that doeas not know exactly what they are doing, you are going to catch chickens.
If you choose a guide who is on top of his game in either port you will have a shot are larger halibut. In June Seward can't be beat for catching fish over 70 pounds. The fish are shallow, and abundant. The big catches coming in from Montague during this month are incomparable. From Mid july to the end of August, I would give the nod to Homer, although there are barn door halibut being brought in at both ports on a nearly daily basis. Your shot at a fish over say 150 or 200 is remote, fishing one or even two days with the hope of catching a fish that big is playing very poor odds.
There are local fishermen on this forum that have spent ten or more years going on fishing charters in both ports that have never caught a fish that big.
If you take a long range two day trip in either port, your chances go way up as they go farther and fish more remote waters...Be prepared to shell out some big money for those trips.
In either port, the best guides are already booked for most July and August by now. Supply and Demand.
Ask around this forum for recomendations for either port. I for one feel that it is inappropreiate for guides to sell their trips on this board. Ask some of the members for their suggestions
Big Halibut
Being that I fish in Seward, I might be a bit more biased towards Seward but here is what I know. Timing and guide choice are everything. There are guides in both areas that specialize in catching big fish. IF you choose a guide in either port that doeas not know exactly what they are doing, you are going to catch chickens.
If you choose a guide who is on top of his game in either port you will have a shot are larger halibut. In June Seward can't be beat for catching fish over 70 pounds. The fish are shallow, and abundant. The big catches coming in from Montague during this month are incomparable. From Mid july to the end of August, I would give the nod to Homer, although there are barn door halibut being brought in at both ports on a nearly daily basis. Your shot at a fish over say 150 or 200 is remote, fishing one or even two days with the hope of catching a fish that big is playing very poor odds.
There are local fishermen on this forum that have spent ten or more years going on fishing charters in both ports that have never caught a fish that big.
If you take a long range two day trip in either port, your chances go way up as they go farther and fish more remote waters...Be prepared to shell out some big money for those trips.
In either port, the best guides are already booked for most July and August by now. Supply and Demand.
Ask around this forum for recomendations for either port. I for one feel that it is inappropreiate for guides to sell their trips on this board. Ask some of the members for their suggestions
BaitBoy
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Homer
Homer
For me Homer was the way a good charter would be heavenly sights. Those guys know where to go and have a good time to. no pressure on when to go in and you can throw back as many as you want til you get the 2 you want its really great. we averaged about 20-30 lb. halibut and caught a 70lb. one to. Made the trip well worth it.
you cant put bait on without a baitboy!!!
Homer
For me Homer was the way a good charter would be heavenly sights. Those guys know where to go and have a good time to. no pressure on when to go in and you can throw back as many as you want til you get the 2 you want its really great. we averaged about 20-30 lb. halibut and caught a 70lb. one to. Made the trip well worth it.
you cant put bait on without a baitboy!!!
pblackb592
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I go 3 miles off the spit in homer and have caught 3 over 50 lbs so far, and this is my first year haliubut fishing, and with my own boat. I only have an 18 foot semi v so i cant go too far.
Californian
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Big Barn Door Halibuts
Big Barn Door Halibuts
I'm a Californian who has been taking fishing vacations in Sitka for the past few years.....I've been told that large halibut (beyond 70-100 lbs.) are not as good for eating.....So if I latched on to some monster halibut, I'd probably just ask the captain to cut the line, rather than try to bring it aboard.....What do people do with these 200-300 lb. monsters? I guess they probably eat them too? Kind of a waste if they just took them for trophies...pardon me if I'm kinda clueless about this......
Big Barn Door Halibuts
AKCAPT said:
I'm a Californian who has been taking fishing vacations in Sitka for the past few years.....I've been told that large halibut (beyond 70-100 lbs.) are not as good for eating.....So if I latched on to some monster halibut, I'd probably just ask the captain to cut the line, rather than try to bring it aboard.....What do people do with these 200-300 lb. monsters? I guess they probably eat them too? Kind of a waste if they just took them for trophies...pardon me if I'm kinda clueless about this......
flounder
New member
AKCAPT said:
WOW!!! I never knew this.
danattherock
New member
Seward Halibut
Seward Halibut
I went out of Seward last week and caught 15-30 lb fish with Puffin Charters. While at the docks after fishing, I saw a bunch of fish come in from a boat that averaged 40+ lbs each and one weighed 180 lbs. I forget the name of the charter service exactly, but it was Tim Bergs .....fishing etc.... I will be taking him next time. He had, by far, the largest fish of anyone that day. If you are there for a few days, the Kenai fjords northwestern cruise is highly recommended. Exit glacier is a few miles away. The Sealife Center in downtown is informative and great for kids. The lost lake trail is near there also and I am told it is one of the most scenic hikes you can take. I apologize if you are familiar with the area. But for those who are not, this is a spectacular place to spend a long weekend. Beautiful place with something for the whole family.
Seward Halibut
I went out of Seward last week and caught 15-30 lb fish with Puffin Charters. While at the docks after fishing, I saw a bunch of fish come in from a boat that averaged 40+ lbs each and one weighed 180 lbs. I forget the name of the charter service exactly, but it was Tim Bergs .....fishing etc.... I will be taking him next time. He had, by far, the largest fish of anyone that day. If you are there for a few days, the Kenai fjords northwestern cruise is highly recommended. Exit glacier is a few miles away. The Sealife Center in downtown is informative and great for kids. The lost lake trail is near there also and I am told it is one of the most scenic hikes you can take. I apologize if you are familiar with the area. But for those who are not, this is a spectacular place to spend a long weekend. Beautiful place with something for the whole family.
