Full Day Halibut and Salmon Fishing Charter
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
Fullday shared charter targeting Pacific Halibut and SalmonEight hours fishing Kachemak Bay using trolling and bottom techniquesProfessional equipment, fish cleaning, and filleting services included
Ready to get your lines wet in some of Alaska's most productive fishing waters? This full-day shared charter with Big Butt Charters puts you right in the heart of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet, where trophy halibut and salmon are waiting. Starting at 6:30 AM sharp from Homer's harbor, you'll spend eight solid hours working the waters that have made Alaska fishing legendary. Whether you've been chasing fish for decades or just picked up your first rod, this trip delivers the goods with professional guidance and top-notch gear included.
Your day kicks off before sunrise at Homer's docks, where the salty air and diesel engines tell you it's game time. The crew gets you squared away with everything you need – rods, reels, tackle, and the local knowledge that makes all the difference. You'll be sharing the boat with other anglers, which creates that classic fishing camaraderie where everyone's pulling for each other to boat the big one. The 8-hour journey takes you through Kachemak Bay's protected waters and out into Cook Inlet, where the real action happens. Expect to be hands-on all day, working different depths and structures as conditions and fish activity dictate. The crew handles navigation, fish finding, and all the technical stuff while you focus on what you came for – catching fish. When you roll back to the dock around 2:30 PM, they'll clean and fillet your catch so you can head home with coolers full of Alaska's finest.
This charter runs a mixed bag of proven techniques that put fish in the boat consistently. For salmon, you'll be trolling with downriggers and planers, working the water column where kings and silvers cruise. The crew knows exactly which depths to target based on season, weather, and fish activity – sometimes you're working 30 feet down, other times you're hitting 150 feet or deeper. When it's time to target halibut and rockfish, you switch gears to bottom fishing with heavy tackle and circle hooks. These flatfish can weigh anywhere from 20 to 200+ pounds, so you need gear that can handle the fight. The boat's equipped with professional-grade rods rated for big fish, and the crew knows every productive ledge, reef, and drop-off in the area. They'll anchor up on structure or drift fish based on current conditions, always adjusting tactics to put you on active fish.
Pacific Halibut are the main draw here, and for good reason. These massive flatfish can reach 400+ pounds and fight like freight trains once hooked. Peak season runs June through August when they're feeding heavily in 80-200 feet of water. What makes halibut special is their incredible table quality – firm, white meat that's considered some of the best eating fish in the world. The fight is something else too, with powerful runs and that characteristic head-shaking that tells you you've hooked into something serious.
Chinook Salmon, known locally as kings, are the prize catch for any salmon angler. These chrome-bright fish average 15-30 pounds but can push 40-50 pounds or more. They're most active from May through July, feeding on herring and other baitfish in the upper water column. Kings fight with bulldogging runs and aerial displays that get your heart pumping. The meat is rich and oily, perfect for grilling or smoking, and there's serious bragging rights that come with landing a trophy king.
Vermilion Rockfish add consistent action throughout the day, especially when targeting bottom structure. These bright red fish average 2-5 pounds and fight harder than their size suggests. They're abundant from May through September and provide excellent eating with flaky white meat. What's great about vermilion rockfish is they school up tight, so when you find one, you're usually into multiples.
Yellowtail Rockfish and Black Rockfish round out the mixed bag, both offering steady action when working rocky bottoms and underwater ledges. These species range from 1-8 pounds and are perfect for filling out your cooler. They bite aggressively on jigs and bait, making them ideal for newer anglers to cut their teeth on while waiting for the bigger targets to show up.
This shared charter delivers exactly what serious anglers want – access to world-class fishing waters, professional equipment, expert guidance, and the chance at trophy fish that'll have you talking for years. The May through September season gives you flexibility to plan around your schedule, and the all-skill-level approach means everyone from rookies to seasoned pros will have a blast. With fish cleaning included and a track record of putting clients on fish, Big Butt Charters has earned its reputation in Homer's competitive charter scene. Don't forget to grab your Alaska fishing license and King Salmon stamp before you show up, pack some snacks and drinks for the day, and get ready for some of the best fishing Alaska has to offer. Book your spot now and get ready to experience why Homer is called the halibut fishing capital of the world.
Your fishing platform for this Homer halibut and salmon adventure is a proven 29-foot Raider sport fisher that cuts through Cook Inlet waters with authority. Twin 300 HP Yamahas push this boat quickly to productive fishing grounds, getting you on the fish faster and keeping you there longer. The vessel handles six anglers comfortably while you work both trolling spreads for salmon and bottom rigs for those barn-door halibut Alaska's famous for. Modern electronics including GPS, radar, and fish finders help locate the schools, while downriggers get your gear to the right depth. When nature calls during the 8-hour day, there's an onboard toilet so you don't miss fishing time. Built for serious angling in Kachemak Bay's varying conditions, this boat delivers the stability and reliability needed when you're battling big fish in Alaska waters.
Sebastes MelanopsBlack rockfish are solid fighters that typically run 4-5 pounds and make excellent eating. Their dark gray to black coloring helps them blend into the rocky structure they call home, from shallow nearshore areas down to 400 feet. They're aggressive feeders that aren't picky about what they eat, making them reliable targets throughout our fishing season. What guests appreciate is their willingness to bite and their firm, white meat. These fish school around rocky reefs and jetties where the current moves bait around. Summer months offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. Here's a local secret: when you're bottom fishing for halibut, don't be surprised if these guys hit first - they're opportunistic and will grab bait meant for bigger fish.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the heavyweights of the salmon world, averaging 15-30 pounds but capable of much more. These silver-sided fish with black-spotted fins fight hard and taste even better with their rich, orange-pink meat. During our May through September season, they're moving through Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay on their spawning runs. What guests love most is the pure power - when a big king hits, you know it. They prefer deeper water and are light-sensitive, so early morning and evening bites are often best. We troll with downriggers to get our gear down where they're feeding. Local trick: use bright colors like chartreuse and blue on sunny days, but switch to darker purple and black combinations when it's overcast.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific halibut are the kings of Alaska flatfish - these diamond-shaped bottom dwellers can reach massive sizes, with 100-pounders fairly common and giants pushing 300+ pounds. We target them in 150-500 feet over sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey like cod, salmon, and crab. Summer is prime time when they move into shallower feeding areas. What makes halibut special is the combination of incredible size, strong fights, and outstanding white meat that's prized by chefs worldwide. They're patient hunters that lie in wait, so fishing for them becomes a waiting game. Key tip: use heavy sinkers to get your bait down fast, then bounce your rod tip occasionally to create movement - that action often triggers strikes from these bottom-dwelling giants.
Sebastes MiniatusThese bright red beauties with black mottled backs run 14-22 inches and pack great flavor in their white meat. You'll find them hanging around rocky bottoms and reefs from 100-500 feet deep, though we've pulled them from 900 feet. They're not picky eaters - small fish, squid, and krill keep them happy. What makes them fun to target is they're reliable biters and excellent table fare. Unlike some rockfish, they handle the trip to the surface better since they can adjust their swim bladders. Summer months are prime time when they're actively feeding. Pro tip: when bottom fishing, use a two-hook rig with squid strips and keep your bait moving slightly - they like a little action to trigger that strike.
Sebastes FlavidusYellowtail rockfish are easy to spot with their distinctive yellow fins and greenish-brown backs that fade to white bellies. Most run 11-15 inches, but we see some pushing two feet. They school up over rocky structure and can be found anywhere from shallow water down to 1,800 feet, though we typically target them in 200-600 feet around Kachemak Bay. What's nice about yellowtails is they don't suffer barotrauma like other rockfish - they can release gas from their swim bladders, so they survive the trip up better. They're active during the day and have mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Simple tip: use a long leader with a float above your top hook to keep your bait off the bottom where they're actively feeding.
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