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When fishing in Homer, the first thought that comes to mind is usually a deep sea charter to reel in a massive Halibut. But, there are plenty of fishing spots that don't require you to angle from a boat. You can fish from the shore for King, Silver, and Pink Salmon, Dolly Varden, and Rainbow Trout. This is the guide will tell you where to go, how to get there, and what you can catch. The Baggersee in Raunheim is surrounded by forest all around, which makes it particularly beautiful. On a large sandy beach you can also swim in summer.
No saugeye were collected during the May 2019 survey. In the fall of 2019, a night survey was completed to collect saugeye and were collected at a rate of 14 per hour and ranged in length from 7 inches to 21.5 inches. If you prefer to organize things yourself, there are several fish processing companies in town. They will fillet, vacuum-seal, and flash-freeze you fish, ready for transport and in line with FAA guidelines. You can then take it on your plane, or have it shipped straight to your doorstep. These sheltered waters are just a short hop across Kachemak Bay and hold a range of species.
See the top baits that hook Largemouth bass here.
Rockfish live around the islands, while small Halibut hide in deeper waters. This fly fishing heaven is home to Steelhead, Salmon, Dolly Varden, and more. It has easy road access to plenty of spots to cast from. You can only fish certain sections, though, so read up before you go. It’s all fine and dandy knowing what to catch, but how are you going to do it? For most of the fish on offer, you’re going to need a boat.
By now, you should have a good understanding of Homer’s fishing scene. Here are a few final pointers to help you organize your vacation. Also on the Spit, but worth mentioning separately. Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is stocked each year with King and Silver Salmon. It’s one of the best places to fish from shore during the summer.
Baits and catches from Homer Lake
Presented below are Tour Companies that offer guided fishing trips and/or fishing equipment rentals for lakes and rivers in and near Homer. Click on any name for more detailed information. Most charters don’t start until summer, but freshwater anglers can enjoy ice fishing for Salmon and Dolly Varden. If you’re the hardy type, head to the Spit for Halibut and other food fish.
Monster Chinooks roam the waters around Kenai Peninsula and the weather is calm enough to target them easily. Homer slowly emerges from its winter hibernation in April. Ocean anglers start to head out in search of Halibut, Rockfish, and King Salmon while freshwater fishers step off the ice and onto the river banks.
Caribou Lake
An eight-hour Salmon or Halibut charter will cost you around $300–$350 per person. Combo trips are a little extra, especially if you’re targeting Rockfish. Even so, a 10-hour Halibut and Rockfish combo won’t usually be much more than $400 per person. Don’t forget, you can save a fair amount of money by booking the whole boat if you already have a group. Combo trips are the ultimate way to load up on fish. You can target Halibut and Salmon, Halibut and Rockfish, or all three.
Lastly, trips are categorized mainly by what they target. There aren’t really any downsides to charter fishing other than the fact that you can’t catch Halibut on Wednesdays . Of course, charters are always going to be more expensive than fishing on your own. But if you came all this way, it’s worth investing a little extra to enjoy world-class angling.
What to Catch: Homer’s Top Fish Species
These charters generally last 10 hours, but you can also head out on overnight adventures to fish the most remote spots and reel in two days’ worth of fish. Homer is famous for its Flatfish, but you shouldn’t overlook the amazing Salmon fishing here. King and Silver Salmon hit trophy sizes in the waters very close to town. You can also catch every other Pacific Salmon species during their summer spawning runs. Salmon trips are great fun, and are a no-brainer on days when Halibut is closed for harvest. This is the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World” after all.
But they also offer a variety of other ways to enjoy the waters off Kachemak Bay, from wildlife cruising to paddling a kayak or hiking in Kachemak Bay State Park. If you’re on a half-day boat, you’ll pretty much know when you’ll be done. Full-day trips may not return until dinnertime, though most charters are back between 3pm and 5pm. Charters work differently in Homer than in many places. For starters, half day trips aren’t really a thing here. On top of that, shared charters are more common than private ones, although you can book the whole boat at a discount if you’re in a group.
Species like Rockfish and Dolly Varden are actually around all year long – if you can reach them. Time your trip right, and you can catch a serious amount of fish! Homer sees some pretty big changes over the course of the year – and we’re not just talking about the Alaskan weather. Fishing is highly seasonal here, as are many lodges and charter operators. Because of this, timing your trip right is key.
Halibut closes for harvest on Tuesdays from mid-July, as well as the year-wide Wednesday closure. Homer's summer fishing season is in full swing, and boy, are you in for a treat. Monster Halibut and Rockfish are taking baits on the bottom. During the most recent fish survey, the catch rate of white crappie dropped to only 4 per hour. The management objective is 25 to 50 white crappie per hour. The average catch rate since 2011 is 61.7 white crappie per hour.
Expect the Spit area to be crowded, but there are a good number of places to eat. Expect processing and shipping of fish to be about $7.50 a pound. I met a few fishermen in Seward that were unsuccessful so I am glad I drove to Homer. For the nonfisher people in your party consider booking in advance a flight from Homer to Katnai to see the bears catch salmon. My wife was disappointed that all flights to Katnai were full. Lingcod season is open, and anglers rush offshore to bag some delicious deep-water food fish.
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