Homer Alaska Salmon & Rockfish Captain's Choice
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
8hour shared fishing trip targeting salmon and rockfish speciesAll equipment, bait, and professional fish cleaning services includedFamilyfriendly experience suitable for all skill levels
Get ready for a full day of fishing some of Alaska's most productive waters with Big Butt Charters. This 8-hour shared trip takes you into the legendary Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay, where salmon runs meet rocky bottom structure loaded with colorful rockfish. Starting at 6:30 AM sharp, you'll be working multiple techniques to fill your cooler with a mixed bag of species that'll keep your rods bent all day. We're talking Chinook salmon on the troll and hefty rockfish coming up from the depths – it's the kind of variety that keeps even seasoned anglers guessing what's coming up next.
This trip runs from dawn to mid-afternoon, giving you prime fishing time when these fish are most active. We'll start early to beat the crowds and hit the best spots while conditions are calm. The beauty of this Captain's Choice format is flexibility – we follow the fish and adapt to what's biting best that day. Some mornings we'll start trolling for kings along the shoreline structure, other days we might head straight to the rockpiles where the bottom fish are stacked up thick. Your captain knows these waters inside and out, reading the tides, weather, and seasonal patterns to put you on fish consistently. The shared trip format keeps costs reasonable while still giving you access to top-tier fishing grounds that produce year after year. Families love this trip because it offers steady action for kids and enough variety to keep experienced anglers engaged. When you're not fighting fish, you'll have front-row seats to some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Alaska.
We run a two-pronged approach that maximizes your time on productive water. For salmon, we're trolling with downriggers and divers, pulling spoons, plugs, and cut herring through the strike zone. The key is covering water efficiently while maintaining the right speed and depth – something our experienced crew handles while you focus on feeling for that telltale king salmon grab. When we switch to bottom fishing, we're dropping heavy jigs and baited rigs down to rocky structure where rockfish, lingcod, and Pacific cod hold. The bottom fishing is more vertical, requiring different techniques like jigging motions and reading your rod tip for subtle bites. All rods, reels, and terminal tackle are provided, along with everything from weights to hooks to bait. Our gear is commercial-grade and perfectly matched to local conditions – heavy enough to handle big fish but sensitive enough to detect light biters. The crew handles all the technical stuff like rigging, netting, and fish care, so you can concentrate on fishing. Professional cleaning and filleting services mean you'll head home with vacuum-packed fillets ready for the freezer.
Chinook salmon are the crown jewel of this fishery, with fish ranging from scrappy 15-pounders up to genuine hogs pushing 40 pounds or more. These kings are incredibly strong fighters, making long runs and testing your drag system to its limits. Peak season runs from mid-May through July, when mature fish are staging before heading to spawning rivers. What makes Homer chinooks special is their incredible condition – bright, chrome-sided fish loaded with energy from feeding heavily in the rich waters of Cook Inlet. They hit hard and fight harder, often jumping and tail-walking when first hooked.
Vermilion rockfish are absolute stunners, with their bright red-orange coloration making them one of the most beautiful catches in Alaska waters. These fish typically run 2-4 pounds and are found along rocky reefs in 100-200 feet of water. They're excellent eating with firm, white meat that's perfect for fish tacos or grilling. Vermilions are relatively easy to catch once you find them, making them great confidence builders for newer anglers.
Yellowtail rockfish offer excellent sport on lighter tackle, with their aggressive feeding behavior and willingness to hit a variety of baits and jigs. These fish school heavily around underwater structure and can provide fast action when you dial in the right depth. They average 1-3 pounds but make up for size with quantity – it's not uncommon to boat a dozen or more in a single drift.
Black rockfish are the workhorses of the rockfish family, growing larger than their colorful cousins and putting up a solid fight from deep water. These fish can reach 8-10 pounds in local waters and are known for their excellent table qualities. They're often found mixed with other rockfish species but tend to hold in slightly deeper water and around more pronounced structure.
This Captain's Choice trip represents some of the best mixed-species fishing Alaska has to offer, combining the excitement of salmon fishing with the steady action of bottom fishing. The 8-hour format gives you real time to work different areas and techniques, while the shared trip pricing makes world-class Alaskan fishing accessible to more anglers. With all gear provided and professional fish cleaning included, you just need to show up with your Alaska fishing license, some snacks, and drinks for the day. The early 6:30 AM start time means you'll be fishing prime hours and back at the dock by 2:30 PM with time to explore Homer or prep your catch. Whether you're a visiting angler looking to experience Alaska's legendary fishing or a local wanting to get on some quality fish without the hassle of running your own boat, this trip delivers consistent results in some of the most beautiful water you'll ever fish.
Get ready to chase salmon and rockfish aboard our 29-foot Raider sport fisher, built for serious fishing in Alaska's productive waters. Twin 300 HP Yamahas power you quickly to prime fishing grounds in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay, while our GPS, radar, and fish finder help locate the best action. You'll troll for hard-fighting Chinook salmon and drop lines for rockfish, lingcod, and Pacific cod using our quality rods and tackle. The boat comfortably handles up to 6 anglers with downriggers for precision trolling and a toilet for convenience during the 8-hour trip. Our crew knows these waters and will put you on fish while handling all the technical work - you focus on landing dinner. We'll clean and fillet your catch so you leave with restaurant-quality fillets ready for the grill.
Sebastes MelanopsBlack rockfish are aggressive feeders that make perfect targets for our bottom fishing techniques. These dark gray to black fish average 4-5 pounds and about 18 inches, hanging around rocky reefs, jetties, and rough current areas in Cook Inlet. They're not picky eaters and will hit jigs, cut bait, or squid strips without hesitation. What's interesting is they school with other rockfish species and can live up to 50 years. The firm white meat is excellent table fare. They stay near structure from shallow water down to several hundred feet, making them accessible on most trips. One thing to remember: use medium tackle with a sensitive tip so you feel the bite quickly. These fish will grab your bait and head straight back into the rocks, so set the hook fast and keep steady pressure to pull them away from cover.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the prize of our waters, and for good reason. These silver-sided giants with black-spotted backs average 15-20 pounds but can push 30+ in Cook Inlet. We target them trolling in the upper water column since they're light-sensitive and stay deeper during bright conditions. Early morning and evening fishing produces best results. What guests love most is the raw power - kings fight hard with long runs and head shakes that'll test your drag. The rich, orange-red meat is top-shelf eating. Summer months from June through August give us our best action. Here's a local trick: when trolling, vary your speed every few minutes. Kings often hit when the lure changes pace, so don't just set your speed and forget it. That speed change triggers strikes.
Sebastes MiniatusThese bright red beauties with their black mottled backs are a favorite target in our deeper waters. Running 14-22 inches and weighing up to 15 pounds, vermilion rockfish hang around rocky bottoms and reefs from 100-500 feet down in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay. They're aggressive feeders that'll hit squid strips and small jigs readily. What makes them special is their incredible longevity - some live over 100 years - and they often stay territorial to the same rocky areas for years. The meat is excellent table fare with firm, white flesh. My tip: when you're fishing deeper structure, drop a two-hook rig with squid strips and work it slowly along the bottom. These fish don't move fast, but once hooked they put up a solid fight on the way up.
Sebastes FlavidusYellowtail rockfish are one of our most reliable catches, schooling in good numbers over rocky structure throughout Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay. These greenish-brown fish with bright yellow tails typically run 11-15 inches, though some reach over 20. Unlike other rockfish, they don't suffer barotrauma when brought up fast since they can release gas from their swim bladders naturally. You'll find them from shallow reefs down to 200+ feet, often mixed with other rockfish species. They're active during the day and hit jigs, small spoons, and bait readily. The meat is mild, flaky, and sweet - great for families. My advice: use a long leader setup with at least 30 feet of line and keep your lure moving through the water column since they'll chase it up from the bottom.
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