Do we get to keep our catch?  How do I get it home?

Of course!  We mark each group's keeper fish and fillet them on the journey home so that you'll have YOUR fish to take with you.  We have great relationships with processors that will meet us at the dock and can vacuum seal and freeze your catch to take it with you.  From the processor you can box it up and ship it home or check it on the airline when you travel back.

​

What are the fish limits?

Regulations and limits are subject to change, but for 2025:

Halibut - 2 per day, 1 any size, 1 under 27" length (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Halibut regs for 2026 will be available in Feb 2026

Salmon - 1 king over 20", 3 silvers, 6 total salmon 

Rockfish - 3 per day, 1 of which may be nonpelagic

Lingcod - 1 per day, must be over 35"

​

If I want to release a fish, is that OK?

With halibut, for sure!  We don't push you to keep your first fish, unless your first one is well above average.  We want you to go home with quality keepers and will try and guide you as such.  The crew will always try and let everyone know how much fishing time we have remaining - and in the end, it's your call.

Rockfish, cod and to some degree, salmon don't release well and unless rare circumstances occur, they are your keepers when they come aboard.

​

How far out do we travel to the fishing grounds?

This depends on several factors - trip type, weather, tide, recent fishing reports, time of year, etc.  Usually for the halibut/rockfish combos we will travel 1.5-2 hours to get to our fishing grounds, and for the salmon/halibut combos we will travel anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to get to our first spot, depending on where the best salmon bite is happening. 

​

What can I expect from the day?

Every day is unique, that's what makes it fun!  Show up is 6:00am at the Patriot at slip G21, and we will knock out our paperwork and boat orientation before departure at 6:30.  The fishing and travel time will depend on trip type and weather (See above), but the day will generally be filled with fishing and bouncing around spots in the most prime fishing grounds the weather will allow.  We usually wrap up our fishing between 1:30 and 3 depending on where we are and start heading back to town.  While on the way back, the crew will fillet your catch and it will be all bagged up by the time we hit the dock.  We shoot for returning by 4pm, but some days we finish early or push that a little later. We can have a local processor meet us dockside and vacuum seal your fish if you choose to.

​

Will we see any whales? What about other wildlife?

We have some of the most incredible opportunities to see wildlife in Alaska.  Humpback and orca sightings are frequent, and we have the chance at seeing of sea otters, puffins, seals, stellar sea lions, minke and fin whales, even the occasional black bear!  Not to mention all the various fish species we pull up...

​

I don't have much experience fishing, will I be in over my head?

Not at all.  We feel that a big part of a guide's job is to teach, not just drive the boat and bait hooks.  Whether you have never held a fishing rod or have caught fish from all around the world, there's a spot for you here.

​

What methods of fishing will we do?

For halibut, we usually go between anchor and drift fishing with various bait on a circle hook.  Jigging for halibut is common as well, and can produce some great fish.

​

Salmon fishing is almost always done via downrigger trolling.  We fish 3-4 lines at a time and drag a mix of herring and spoons for bites.  

​

Rockfish and lingcod are usually done via drift fishing, but occasionally we catch them with bait while fishing halibut.  

​

How deep is it where we'll be fishing? Is it hard to reel up?
Anywhere from 20-500', while most of the time we settle between 100-250'

​

Halibut fishing can be very taxing at times.  We have the second largest tides in the world, and to keep baits near the bottom sometimes requires heavy (2-3lb!) sinkers.  We are happy to help you reel if you find you need a break.  

​

When is the best time to come to Homer and fish?

That's a complicated question!

Halibut and rockfishing is great all summer long from mid May until late September.  Salmon is usually the best from mid July to late August, when we have a chance at catching any of the 5 salmon species, but we can have some excellent king salmon days in May and June also.   Lingcod don't open until July 1st, so if you're interested in catching one of those, you must come in July or August.

July 4th to Labor Day is an extremely busy time for Homer, as many folks flock to the Kenai Peninsula to river fish for sockeye.  It's a fantastic time to be around and fish, but if you're looking for a little quieter visit, early June or September might be your speed.  The halibut and rockfishing is excellent all summer, and king salmon can be caught year-round.

​​​​

When is the best time to book?

If you're looking at one of the prime days (July and August), the best time to book is as soon as you've decided the day you want to come fish.  Prime days sell out as early as a year in advance, and most of these days are filled by April. 

​​

What should I bring along?

Raingear, warm clothes (this is Alaska)

Good shoes, waterproof are not required but nice to have

Lunch/drinks, snacks (beer and wine are ok)

Fishing license (with king stamp if we are trolling)

Good attitude!

​

What should I NOT bring?

Illegal drugs, including marijuana 

Hard liquor

Animals

Styrofoam coolers

BANANAS!

​

Will I get seasick?

Hopefully not, but everyone is different.  We try and avoid the worst weather, but it's Alaska and rare that we are fishing in flat calm seas.  If you're prone to it, Scopolamine seasick patches are great, and Bonine or Dramamine are good as well. Read the directions as usually they work best when you take some the night before.​

​

Ready to book, or have any questions we didn't answer here?

You can use our online booking software to check out availability, or feel free to call at (907)299-8926 with any other questions, or email us at slacktidefishingak@gmail.com