Salmon Fishing Year round in Homer Alaska

Winter King Charters Winter King Charters primarily targets winter kings(chinook), silver(coho) salmon, halibut, and ling cod. Pink salmon (humpies), red salmon (sockeye), spawner kings, and rockfish are also occasionally landed. You might even catch an octopus!

You don’t have to be an expert fisherman in order to have a great day catching fish on the Winter King. We will walk you through the basics before fishing and coach you as you reel in that monster.

King Salmon

Winter (feeder) king salmon are present year round in Kachemak Bay . These fish originate primarily in West Coast , British Columbia and Southeast Alaska streams and hatcheries, and are here in the bay taking advantage of our ample supply of bait fish. The meat of winter kings is rich in fat and is far superior in flavor to that of spawning kings. Because they are feeders, their size ranges from small “jacks” to 50 plus pound “toads.” An average winter king weighs 15 to 20 pounds.

Spawning king salmon move into the bay in early May, headed either to various rivers further up Cook Inlet, or to one of several terminal fisheries present in Kachemak Bay . While Winter King Charters does not specifically target spawning kings, we do catch a few while fishing for feeders, silvers and even halibut.

Winter King Charters trolls for kings using downriggers, which lower the bait to a precise, controlled depth. Bait will vary from herring to a variety of artificial lures, including plugs, spoons, hoochies, and tube flies. Fishing for kings requires patience and attention, with relatively few bites during your day. Fortunately, the reward is worth the wait!

Kings are in season year around with a daily limit of 1 to 2 fish, depending on fishing location. Between April and October, there is a 5 fish limit for the season.

Silver Salmon

Schools of silvers move into Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay from late July through early September, with peak fishing in mid to late August. These fish are spawners in the 10 to 20 pound range, returning to various rivers on Cook Inlet , or the terminal fishery at the Homer Spit “Fishing Hole” Once you find them, the action is usually non-stop, with doubles and triples the rule and not the exception. Silvers are great eating.

We troll for silvers in much the same way we do for kings, but primarily use tube flies with single circle hooks. We also carry fly rods and light spincasters in addition to our trolling gear. Regardless of the gear used, silvers are guaranteed to provide some memorable fishing.

There is a limit of 3 silver salmon per day

Winter fishing

Winter King Charters loves to fish for kings and halibut in the winter! Our heated cabin makes your trip to and from the fishing grounds a comfortable one and provides refuge from the elements on the days when it is too cold to stay out on deck. Winter temperatures can vary, but quite often hover around 32F. Check out our winter rates!

On the right: Team Winter King with  05 Winter King Tournament catch. 
Jack Hendrickson's catch was good enough for 5th place.

Private boat trips

Large or small groups can charter the entire boat. Closing the boat to a single group allows greater flexibility in your trip activities. We can customize your trip to include whale or bird watching, clamming, hiking, or perhaps a lunch ashore in Seldovia or Halibut Cove.