Halibut fishing is one of our many specialties. We are aware that most of our clients are looking to battle the Pacific Halibut. We have spent years learning about the Pacific Halibut, its habitat and feeding habits. We have taken this knowledge and channeled it into a very good success rate for not only catching Halibut but catching big Halibut.
Pacific Halibut can live for over 50 years and can reach weights in excess of 600 pounds. Although the average sport caught Halibut weighs in around 20- 40 pounds bragging rights really begin at 100 pounds and trophy status is achieved at 200 pounds. The current IGFA world record Halibut weighed in at almost 500 pounds. Another fact about the Pacific Halibut is that all of the really big ones, exceeding 100 pounds, are females and are the breeders. Based upon the catches that we see at the harbor we feel we do better than most charters at bringing in nice loads of Halibut. Our 6 passenger boat allows us to go a little faster and a little further if necessary to get to the really good Halibut grounds.
WE FISH FOR BIG FISH! We are after big fish every day we go out. Many days we catch at least one fish over 100 pounds and quite a few days we catch a few over 100 pounds. Each season we catch a handful of Halibut in the 200+ range with a couple in the 300 pound or near 300 pound range. Since a 200+ pound Halibut is very rare we feel that we are very successful in catching the big ones.
Catching a Pacific Halibut is quite a thrill and a battle that you won’t soon forget. If you are lucky enough to hook into a fish of 70 pounds or more you can expect quite a fight. This is a fish that likes the bottom and prefers to stay there. You will experience many muscle jarring head shakes on the way up and once the Halibut is shallow enough to see the light from above the fight intensifies. Bring your video cameras if you have them and take turns filming yourselves straining against a fish that is solid muscle.Once you get your Halibut to the surface our highly experienced crew will step in to assist you in getting it into the boat. While you are fighting the fish the crew will be gathering up the necessary tools to assist in landing the fish into the boat. We even shoot the big ones (100 pounds +) with our 410 gauge snake charmer prior to bringing them on-board. This is a safety precaution as 100 + pounds of pure muscle fighting for its life can do damage to us and the boat. We use harpoons and gaffs to ensure we get your fish into the boat with no mishaps.
We catch Pacific Halibut from Nuka Bay in the Gulf of Alaska all the way to Montague Island at the entrance to Prince William Sound. We use our expertise of reading the weather, the tides along with our daily knowledge of how the fishery is doing to decide where to fish each day. You can expect a boat ride of an hour or two in which you will have time to get to know the crew and other clients, experience the beautiful scenery of Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska and all the marine animals that we see. Expect to see mountains, glaciers, sea-lions, puffins, eagles, sea-otters and an occasional grey, humpback or orca whale. Be sure and bring your cameras. Remember, many of our days we are fishing in the Kenai Fjords National Park where thousands of individuals each year pay to take sight seeing cruises.
Our Halibut tackle is some of the best in the industry. We use custom built Halibut rods from
Seeker Blanks and two speed Penn reels. Two speed reels provide great assistance to you in fighting the really big fish. Two speed reels are also very helpful when checking your bait on deep water days with lots of current when the 3 or 4 pound lead weights are necessary. However, 90%
of our Halibut fishing is done in water between 80 and 150 feet deep.
On the way out while you are enjoying the scenery your deck hand will be getting things prepared
so that once on anchor you will begin fishing almost immediately. The crew will chum the water
very well and use our special baiting techniques to bring the Halibut to your hook. You will be amazed at how much bait we are able to put on a circle hook! Speaking of circle hooks; we use a specialized hook that is easier on the released Halibut because it is not swallowed like the J-hook.
The circle hook is exceptional at hooking into the massive jaws of the Halibut and staying there
even through the massive head shakes that you will experience.The crew will talk you through the fishing technique that works best for the tackle we use. When we are not fishing with bait on circle hooks we are using lead head jigs up to 24 ounces with large rubber grubs. These rigs are jigged up and down and nothing beats the feeling of when you are jigging up the Halibut on the other end jerks down. It is a thrill that begins a battle to be remembered.
Pacific Halibut winter in very deep water and then move into shallower water in the spring and summer to feed. They eat most anything on the bottom of the sea and are very adept at ambushing an unsuspecting squid, octopus or fish. Be sure and ask the crew to check the big ones for Octopus beaks when the fish are being filleted. Octopus seems to be one of their favorite snacks and since they cannot digest the beaks we have found up to 9 beaks in the same Halibuts’ stomach. Pacific Halibut can be gluttons. We have filleted Halibut with crabs, salmon, herring and octopus still in the stomach being digested and the fish was still eating more!
Many folks consider the Pacific Halibut to be the best eating fish in the sea. The meat is a firm
white meat that can be prepared in many ways.You will want to consult some of our local cook books as you will likely have many meals out of your halibut.
Book now to secure the dates that you would like to come out and battle your Pacific Halibut with us.
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