Halibut is considered one of the best-tasting fish you can find. As Alaska is one of the premier halibut fishing locations in the world today, many of our visitors love to go out on the water and catch some halibut for themselves.
If you’re coming to the southeast part of the state on a cruise ship or as an independent traveler, consider a charter fishing expedition to catch your very own halibut! Icy Strait Point Excursions offers a great fishing experience for expert, novice, and first-time anglers.
A tour we think you'll love
About Icy Strait Point Excursions
We’re a locally owned and operated shore excursions company located in Hoonah, Alaska, and we love to provide cruise ship passengers with the opportunity to experience the best halibut fishing in Alaska.
Our vessels have a maximum of six passengers at a time, providing a more intimate and personalized experience. Our covered catamarans are also heated (even the restrooms!), so you can see amazing sights and fish for halibut in comfort.
Don’t miss out on reeling in the biggest halibut of your life while surrounded by stunning scenery. Book our excursion and get ready to go fishing of a lifetime!
When Is The Best Time To Go Halibut Fishing In Alaska?
Under state law, the Alaska halibut fishing season runs almost all year. The season opener is February 1st and fishing is available until December 31st every year. However, just because you can legally catch an Alaskan fish on a certain date, it doesn’t mean that it’s the best time to bait a hook and head down to the water.
In the winter months, the halibut travel to the bottom of deeper waters for their spawning runs. This is why the state doesn’t allow fishing in January: it makes sure that these runs aren’t disturbed and the halibut population can be replenished.
During the summer months, however, these fish swim closer to the shores so they can find food more easily. For this reason, mid May to mid September is the best time for catching halibut with the prime months being June and July, so you’ll want to plan your fishing trip in the summer. Conveniently, that also happens to be cruise ship season in Alaska!
Benefits Of Fishing Charters
An important decision to make is whether to use a charter fishing company or rent a boat and fish independently. For almost all visitors, angling on a charter boat is the best choice:
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Charter fishing captains are experienced, which means they not only know the local waters and the best kind of fresh bait but also the best place to catch a particular type of fish. King salmon and Pacific halibut, for example, have different preferences and might not be available in the same spot.
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These tours are almost certainly less expensive than renting a boat and all the necessary equipment like fishing poles and bait. It also saves you from checking tide tables, waiting for a slack tide, figuring out the best halibut fishing techniques, and other potential issues.
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Most halibut fishing trips last three hours, which means both cruise ship passengers and independent travelers will be able to fit Alaska halibut fishing into their schedules.
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Many charter companies will prepare the fish you caught for you at no extra charge and mail it to your residence, which means your room won’t smell like fish and bait for the rest of your trip!
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Captains will also know the legal catch limits for the State of Alaska to make sure you don’t accidentally catch too much. Each Alaska fish (i.e. silver salmon, king salmon, and halibut) has different limits and size requirements, which can be difficult to remember for non-residents.
About Halibut Fishing
Halibut fishing trips are like most other fishing adventures in many ways but there are a few key differences. First, halibut tend to swim in deeper waters than other Alaska fish, often further than 100 feet below the surface. This means you’ll need a long line and some quality bait.
Speaking of which, halibut are really good at smelling, which is why live bait usually gets better results than lures. Octopus, squid, and salmon heads are often used but perhaps the most popular choice is herring. Frozen herring is available in the sporting goods section at many grocery stores in Alaska for this reason.
Halibut Fishing Techniques
There are four common techniques used in halibut fishing, with each one being the best option in different circumstances:
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Drift fishing involves turning off the vessel’s engines and “drifting” through the waters with the current. This allows anglers to cover a wider area.
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Anchoring, as you’ve probably guessed, uses an anchor to keep the vessel in one location. This is particularly effective in deep water.
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Jigging involves using a weighted lure that moves up and down with the current. Most fishermen in Alaska prefer live bait but jigging can be effective in certain locations.
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Trolling is done by dragging the line through the water to trick the fish into thinking that the bait or lure is live prey swimming through the water. This technique is more commonly used for salmon but some locals also use it when halibut fishing.
Which Types Of Halibut Are Alaska Fish?
Three species of halibut exist in the wild: the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Greenland. As the waters of Alaska are part of the North Pacific Ocean, you’ll mostly find the Pacific variety here.
The Greenland variety does not spawn in the southeast part of the state, although it can occasionally be found in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. It’s also important to note that the “California Halibut” is not a true species of halibut because it is a flounder and not a flatfish.
Best Fishing Grounds For Halibut In Alaska
Halibut spawn in many parts of Alaska but they aren’t always easy to find. Here are some of the best spots for catching halibut in the state:
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Seward Harbor, located on the Kenai Peninsula in the southwest part of the state, is an excellent place to find halibut. Some of the biggest halibut on record have been found here. Unfortunately, most cruise ships don’t stop in Seward.
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Homer has earned the nickname of “Halibut Capital of the World” for a very good reason. Fishermen and anglers from around the world visit in the summer months to bait their hooks and catch halibut.
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Yakutat is one of the most popular Alaska halibut fishing locations because visitors can fish in the Situk River in the southeast panhandle, as well as in the Gulf of Alaska. This allows visitors to catch king salmon, halibut, silver salmon, sockeyes, and much more.
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Icy Strait Point near Hoonah is considered one of the top halibut fishing grounds in the southeast part of the state. For cruise ship passengers, in particular, this is generally considered the best spot because over 200 cruise ships stop here every year, unlike other parts of the state.
About The Area
Where is the city of Icy Strait in Alaska? Actually, it’s not a city at all! It’s a body of water (that has amazing halibut fishing!) located near the village of Hoonah, which has been inhabited by the Tlingit people for thousands of years.
Home to some of the best Alaska halibut fishing, Hoonah is located on Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska. We’re about 30 miles west of Juneau, the state capital. We’re often confused with the town of Icy Bay near Yakutat but the two cities are unrelated despite our similar names. Great minds think alike!
Another great part of taking a halibut fishing trip in Icy Strait is that it doubles as a sightseeing trip. Anglers can take in the amazing views while also getting a chance to see some wildlife. We can’t guarantee that you’ll see sea lions, humpback whales, sea otters, or bears while you’re going out or coming back but it’s a definite possibility!
Icy Strait Point Halibut Fishing
Icy Strait Point Excursions has provided cruise ship passengers and other visitors to Hoonah with quality experiences and productive halibut fishing trips for decades. We provide cozy, relaxed excursions that let you enjoy the untouched, natural beauty of the real Alaska.
Whether you’re coming to Southeast Alaska on a cruise, sailing on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system, or flying up, you’ll want to make time to stop by Hoonah and enjoy a fantastic, friendly, and locally operated charter fishing expedition with Icy Strait Point Excursions!
Now that you know everything you’ll need during the Alaska halibut fishing season, you’re ready to come on over and catch a big halibut. For the best halibut fishing in Alaska, book your next fishing charter with us today!
