Saltwater Captain’s Tips: The Pro’s Guide to Alaska Saltwater
By Troy Letherman
[emember_protected custom_msg=’This content is available for subscribers only.’]
Kodiak Combos
Old Harbor, Alaska
Captain: Jeff Peterson
Primary Vessel: Fiberglass 34-foot Ocean Sport Fishy Fishy
Experience in Alaska: 45 Years
Fishing Season: Year-round
Species Targeted: King salmon, halibut, lingcod, Pacific cod, rockfish
Unique Aspects of Fishery: Remote, sheltered water providing a year-round fishery
Favorite Fishing Technique: Trolling
All-time Bests: Client-caught 75-pound saltwater king salmon; client-caught 8-foot halibut
Born and raised on Kodiak Island in the village of Old Harbor, Captain Jeff Peterson grew up on his father’s fishing vessel and then took control of his first boat at the age of 13, making him one of the most experienced skippers on the island. His clients fish some of the most productive king salmon water to be found anywhere in Alaska, trolling with downriggers to target these oversized ocean bruisers. He also favors hunting for halibut in shallower depths, and in 2008 he boated a 300-plus-pound barn door that was caught in just 50 feet of water. If he were to fish the Alaska salt at any other location in the state, Jeff says it would have to be Homer, and during the Winter King Salmon Derby specifically. Why? Well, to explore a new area and a new king fishery, of course. And oh yeah, there’s the derby incentive, or “Money,” as Jeff says.
Glacier Fishing Charters
Seward, Alaska
Captain: Will Gentry
Primary Vessel: Fiberglass 37-foot Baja King Cat (catamaran) Noble Eagle
Experience in Alaska: 12 years
Fishing Season: May through September
Species Targeted: Halibut, lingcod, silver salmon, king salmon, rockfish
Unique Aspects of Fishery: The variety of species
Favorite Fishing Technique: My favorite technique is jigging, whether we are targeting lingcod or monster halibut. Anchoring, chumming and waiting for a big halibut to bite is a close second!
All-time Bests: In my first year in business for myself, a season full of ups and downs, tons of hard work and all kinds of late nights, we were rewarded one day with a 118.1-pound halibut average, with the largest fish tipping the scales at 271 pounds! The best part of the day was the pace the giants were coming into the boat. We ended with a limit of halibut, monster lingcod (all over 50 pounds), big yelloweye rockfish and a limit of silvers that were coming so fast and furious we used bait-less red Gamakatsu hooks and still couldn’t keep them off the line.
Captain Will Gentry spends his summers chartering clients to halibut, lingcod, king and silver salmon hotspots throughout Prince William Sound, providing both overnight trips and day- and half-day adventures. If he had the time for any personal angling outside his preferred fishing locale, Captain Will wouldn’t travel too far from Seward. “If I had a few days off to fish anywhere in a Alaska, I would spend the time in Ninilchik fishing in Cook Inlet during small, 12- to 16-foot tides for giant halibut. Cook Inlet is full of big halibut in the spring, and the fishing can be amazing. You have to hit it right—small tides and good weather are keys to catching big fish. Plus, you only need to travel 22 to 30 miles to get into a great bite.” Like all the captains interviewed here, however, it’s still his home water that keeps Captain Will excited to get up and fish every day. “But in reality, with a few days off I’d likely spend the time fishing out of Seward on my boat, looking for new spots to catch big halibut. To me, Seward is still the best place in Alaska for a lot of fish—and some big ones!”
Bob’s Trophy Charters
Homer, Alaska
Captain: Dave Morris, Owner
Primary Vessel: 50-foot Delta Nauti-Lady, Captain John Phillips 35-foot Bertram Tuff Stuff, Captain Cory Loos 37-foot Tollycraft Kachemak King, Captain Trenton Peck 34-foot custom-made catamaran Katilak, Captain “Katilak” Mike Alred
Experience in Alaska: 24 years
Fishing Season: May through mid-October Species Targeted: Halibut, lingcod, salmon, rockfish
Unique Aspects of Fishery: The “Halibut Capital of the World” speaks for itself, and along with that we’re just a small mom-and-pop operation trying to excel in customer service, treating people with respect and trying to show them a good time
Favorite Fishing Technique: Bottomfishing in shallow water for halibut; trolling for kings
All-time Bests: Several years ago, Captain Dave guided a group of 10 anglers who were painters for fuel depots in the Pacific. One day they hauled in 1,659 pounds of halibut and so decided to make lingcod their target for the next day. The last fish of the day, however, turned out to be a massive 330-pound flatfish, a halibut that would have won first prize in the lucrative Homer Halibut Derby…if only the angler had purchased a derby ticket. Undeterred, the angler replied, “I’m not in it for the money; I was in it for the monster.”
Anglers who choose to fish with Bob’s Trophy Charters can do it all, even though halibut are the primary target, Bob’s offers a range of combos and other options, including everything from half-day Kachemak Bay adventures to multi-day treks into the Gulf of Alaska. About having the opportunity to fish elsewhere in Alaska, owner Dave Morris says that he already enjoys getting away to fish the waters near Afognak Island—one because it’s untouched, pristine water, and second, “Because I can get away from the phones.” Mentioning that he’s motored one of his boats from Seattle to Homer, Dave explains, “I’ve seen everything along the way, and while there are a lot of interesting places in Alaska, it all gets prettier as you go north.” After living in and fishing from Homer for 24 years, he makes no bones about his preference for the locale. “We’re committed to and in love with Homer. In fact, I’m nearing retirement and my plan is to buy a new boat just for personal use and to spend the days fishing right out my front door.”
Fish Kodiak Adventures
Kodiak, Alaska
Captain: Rick Baker
Primary Vessel: 25-foot Sport Fisher C Grace
Experience in Alaska: 34 years
Fishing Season: May through mid October
Species Targeted: King salmon, halibut, lingcod, silver salmon, sockeye salmon, yelloweye, black rockfish
Unique Aspects of Fishery: We provide first-class lodging off the beaten path, right near some of the most productive saltwater migration corridors; others try to reach these spots, but we’re already here
Favorite Fishing Technique: Trolling and mooching for kings, and doing the same for halibut on light tackle
All-time Bests: Captain Rick says big kings are his forté, and the results prove the point, with Rick boating the largest overall king salmon in the 2010 Kodiak King Salmon Derby, the 72.7-pounder pictured here. In 2008, Kodiak Fishing Adventure’s clients caught 15 of the top 25 big fish in the derby, and in 2009, Rick took home the Captain’s Cup for the most king salmon entered by a guide. For big halibut, Captain Rick encourages his guests to let the bigger fish go, but a flatfish highlight was definitely catching a 250-pound fish on a G. Loomis GL2 salmon rod (with just 30-pound test).
Captain Rick Baker launches each day from his remote Kodiak lodge near Pasagshak and targets trophy-class kings, as well as halibut, lingcod and rockfish, and then silver salmon in the fall. Having fished the area for over three decades, Rick’s quite happy fishing in and around the waters of Kodiak, and if he gets a day off, he’s out there prospecting for new hotspots, always searching and learning more about his home fishery.
There are of course numerous other prolific saltwater fisheries around the state, featuring both Alaska’s renowned coastal beauty and the variety of species that makes our marine angling environment so special. And in every one of these locations, there’s a captain operating with the local knowledge, fishing skill and dedication to service that keeps folks returning to Alaska by the hundreds of thousands each season.
If an Alaska saltwater adventure is on your docket for 2013—and it certainly should be—give one of them a call. Then lean back, grip the rod handle securely and find out what a hundred pounds of halibut feels like at the end of your line.
###
Troy Letherman is editor of Fish Alaska magazine. [/emember_protected] [emember_protected scope=”not_logged_in_users_only”]
- Need to subscribe? Now’s a good time! Check out our current subscription specials!
- Already a subscriber? Login below to access all of our online articles and content!