Full Day Offshore Halibut Charter - Alaska
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
Full-day offshore charter targets prized Pacific halibutBottom fishing with variety of baits and luresTake home two halibut plus potential cod catches
Picture this: you're 10 hours into prime Alaska waters, working the deep Pacific grounds where barn door halibut cruise the bottom like underwater bulldozers. This shared charter with Saltwater Safari Company gets you out to the productive offshore zones where the big flats hang out, plus you'll have shots at rockfish and cod that'll bend your rod double. June is prime time up here – long daylight hours, stable weather, and fish that have been feeding hard all spring. You'll head home with up to two halibut in your cooler and stories that'll last a lifetime.
This is serious bottom fishing in some of Alaska's most productive halibut grounds. You'll be sharing the boat with other anglers, which keeps costs down and adds to the camaraderie – nothing beats swapping fish stories with fellow anglers while you're waiting for that telltale thump on your rod tip. The captain knows these waters like his own backyard and will put you on structure where halibut love to ambush prey. We're talking 10 solid hours on the water, so you'll have plenty of time to work different spots and techniques. The boat is equipped with quality gear, but if you've got lucky lures or favorite tackle, bring them along. June weather is generally cooperative, but dress in layers – it can be 70 degrees at the dock and 50 degrees offshore with a breeze.
You'll be dropping heavy jigs and bait rigs down to where halibut patrol the seafloor, sometimes in 100-200 feet of water or more. The technique is all about feel – halibut don't slam baits like salmon. Instead, you'll feel a subtle weight, maybe a slight tapping, then suddenly your rod loads up as a big flat decides to swim off with your offering. We use everything from whole herring and salmon bellies to large leadhead jigs and spreader bar rigs. The key is keeping contact with the bottom while working your bait just off the deck. Rockfish are more aggressive – they'll often hit on the drop or give you that familiar head-shaking fight that screams "rock cod." Pacific cod are somewhere in between, with a steady pull that builds as they try to get back to structure.
Pacific halibut are the undisputed kings of these waters. These flatfish can live over 50 years and grow to massive proportions – we're talking fish that can weigh 200, 300, even 400 pounds, though most anglers are thrilled with anything over 50 pounds. June is prime time because halibut are actively feeding in shallower water after moving up from their winter depths. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim overhead. What makes them so exciting is the fight – first that slow, powerful run, then the dogging battle as they try to get back to the bottom. Plus, there's no better eating fish in the ocean.
Yelloweye rockfish are the trophy rockfish of Alaska – these bright orange beauties can live over 100 years and reach 30+ pounds. They hang around rocky pinnacles and ledges, often in deeper water than other rockfish. When you hook into a big yelloweye, you'll know it – they pull hard and steady, using their broad sides to fight the current. They're prized for their firm, white meat and impressive size.
Pacific cod are the workhorses of these waters, providing steady action when halibut are being finicky. They school up around structure and compete aggressively for food, so once you find them, you can often catch several. They fight with surprising strength for their size and are excellent table fare – this is the fish that makes fish and chips famous.
Black rockfish round out the mix with their scrappy fights and willingness to bite. They're smaller than yelloweye but make up for it with attitude, often hitting lures aggressively and fighting all the way to the boat. They school heavily, so where you catch one, you'll often find more.
June is one of the best months to target halibut in Alaska – the weather is stable, the fish are shallow and feeding, and you've got nearly 20 hours of daylight to work with. This 10-hour charter gives you real time to get into fish, work multiple spots, and maximize your chances at that fish of a lifetime. With the option to keep two halibut plus rockfish and cod, you'll have enough premium fish to last months back home. Saltwater Safari Company knows these waters and has built their reputation on putting anglers on fish. Don't wait – June charters book up fast as word gets out about the hot fishing. Grab your spot now and get ready for some world-class bottom fishing in Alaska's legendary waters.
This beautifully restored 53-foot Delta Marine Cruiser cuts through Alaska's Pacific waters with twin 600HP Caterpillar engines, reaching 22 knots as you head to prime halibut grounds. Built in 1992 and given new life in 2020, she's equipped for serious fishing with GPS navigation, radar, fish finder, and VHF radio to keep you connected and on target. The spacious deck accommodates up to 16 anglers comfortably, with plenty of room to work your lines and land those massive Pacific halibut. Her deep-V hull handles the offshore swells smoothly while you bottom fish the rich waters where halibut, cod, and rockfish roam. With onboard facilities including a head, you can focus on what matters most - dropping lines in productive water and filling the fish box during your 10-hour adventure in Alaska's legendary fishing grounds.
Sebastes MelanopsBlack rockfish are scrappy fighters that live in the rocky areas and nearshore structure from shallow water down to 200 feet. They average 2-5 pounds and have this dark coloration that actually lightens as they age. These fish are aggressive feeders and will school up, making for fast action when you find them. June's solid because they're actively feeding in the shallower zones. What guests like is how willing they are to bite and how they put up a decent scrap for their size. The meat is firm and tasty. Be careful of those dorsal spines - they're mildly venomous and will give you a nasty sting. Here's what works: jigs are deadly, but if you're using bait, anchovies or small pieces of whatever you've already caught will do the trick.
Gadus MacrocephalusPacific cod are honest, hardworking fish that fight well enough to bend a good rod but won't wear you out. They run 5-15 pounds on average and hang out near the bottom in 60-500 feet, usually around structure. Summer feeding makes June perfect timing since they're aggressive and will hit almost anything you drop down. What's great about cod is they're not picky eaters - they'll smash jigs, bait, whatever you're throwing. The meat is excellent, lean and flaky. These fish have that little barbel under their chin they use to hunt, and they're always hungry. Pro tip: cod are greedy, so don't overthink your presentation. Get your bait to the bottom with enough weight and bounce it occasionally - they'll find it and commit hard.
Hippoglossus StenolepisHalibut are the kings of flatfish and the main reason folks come to Alaska. These diamond-shaped bottom dwellers can hit 100+ pounds easily, though most run 20-40 pounds. They cruise sandy and muddy bottoms from 150-500 feet, hunting everything from salmon to crabs. Summer's prime time when they move shallow to feed actively. What guests love is the anticipation - halibut fishing is a waiting game until that rod tip starts bouncing, then it's game on. The white, flaky meat is world-class eating. My tip: when you feel that first tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them take it and start moving, then hit them hard. These fish have huge mouths but they like to mouth the bait first before committing.
Sebastes RuberrimusThese beauties are worth the deep water effort - yelloweyes live in rocky terrain from 60 to 1,800 feet, with the bigger ones hanging out deeper. They're one of the largest rockfish you'll find, averaging 5-15 pounds but we see plenty of 25-pounders up here in Alaska. What makes them special is that bright yellow eye and how their color changes from red to orange to yellow as they age - some live over 100 years. The meat has a sweet, delicate flavor that's hard to beat. June's a great time since they're active and feeding. Here's the key: bring stout tackle because once you hook one in those rocks, you've got to muscle it out fast. Heavy jigs work best, and don't be afraid to use serious weight to get down to them.
Seward, AK