Alaska Halibut Fishing: Riverside Adventures
When it comes to halibut fishing, Alaska doesn’t do things by halves. The largest halibut ever caught in Alaska was in Unalaska Bay in the Aleutian Islands, and weighed 459 pounds. That’s some fight on the end of your fishing line.
The average size halibut caught in Alaskan waters is around 15 to 20 pounds, although 150 pound catches aren’t unusual. Every so often a lucky angler pulls up a 300-pound plus monster from the ocean floor.
In Alaska, halibut fishing is an important enterprise for both commercial and sporting fishermen. They are found in the waters around the Kenai Peninsula, the Cook Inlet, the Inside Passage, Bristol Bay and near Homer, unofficially dubbed the halibut fishing capital of the world.
About Halibut Fish
Being the largest flat fish in Pacific waters, the halibut is highly sought after as a fishing trophy around the Alaskan coast. Female halibut grow faster and live longer than males, and the number of fish they spawn is dependent on their size. A 250-pound halibut will release far more eggs than a 20-pounder, and so a number of fishing charters practise catch and release methods with larger female fish.
Halibut move to deep water, which can exceed 900 feet, over colder months. As temperatures rise halibut move closer to the surface, searching for food along shallow banks and depressions in the ocean floor.
What you will need
Charter boats will provide reels and rods for excursions which can last an afternoon or overnight. Because of the sheer size of these fish, specific fishing equipment can be required. Short rods are a necessity, as a longer rod increases the fish’s leverage and can do damage to the angler’s lower back. Most will give you complimentary fish filleting and on board freezer space, but anglers have to organize their own Alaskan fishing licenses.
Charter boats do get extremely busy when fishing Alaska halibut, and reservations are recommended for the season between May and September. Reservations placed for several days are also suggested in case of unfavorable sea and weather conditions.
http://www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org/ - The Alaska Outdoor Council
Alaska: The 49th State
