Charter for halibut in Homer or Seward?

[Scottystyle]

Hey yall.  So heres the situation... looks like we might be doing a bucket list trip up to Alaska for halibut.  Was wondering if you have any recomendations on a charter. I appreciate any help 

[WSU]

pro fish n sea out of Seward is good.  Homer is supposed to be awesome too.

[duramax]

Went out with Ninilchik Charters out of Homer and Ninilchik year before last. They were great and had cheap cabins to sleep in.

http://www.ninilchik.com/

[GoldTip]

I have fished both Seward and Homer multiple times.  Seward is gonna be your best bet for a barn door type of fish, but a 120 to 140min boat ride each way makes it an all day endeavor, with a 2 Halibut limit.  Seward is where I have caught all of my fish that went over 120lbs.  Seward is the side where you will  most likely take some rockfish home as well. Homer/Ninilchik, can be a much more enjoyable day in that the halibut is still at a 2 fish limit, but you are looking at boat ride of 20-40 minutes and your fishing.  Much more likely to be in smaller fish in my opinion, but they are also better eating.  Less likely to do any fishing for Rockfish also on the Homer side.  Costs of charters is pretty equal between Homer or Seward also.  If I am fishing a charter on the Seward side, I always go with Saltwater Safari.  if fishing the Homer side I usually go out of Deep Creek with Chihuly's.  Otherwise I fish with family up there on either side.  Good luck.  Also remember, any Halibut over about 80lbs tastes like crap compared to a 25-30lb chicken.

[Scottystyle]

Thanks for the help, will check those out !

[cohoho]

Lived there for 10 years and always ran with Admiral Charters, out of Seward, he has a great self righting boat, that out runs every boat in the harbor and rides flat and smooth.  Although it is a big boat he will not take more that six pack, unlike some of the other guys up there that will stack like cord wood on board and go to the first chicken hole available to get your Halibut...  He goes the distance to Montague, but it is worth it.  Every trip I did with him, I always got a +100lber, one trip we had 12 butts that went 100lbs plus...   

Homer water runs are closer for sure, but drive was a lot further when we did meat runs from Anchorage.  If your making it an experience I would go to Homer.  But make sure they are not chicken hole guides. (Big fish with the right boat) When your going is a big factor.  Timing it with a salmon runs is excellent or atleast during ling Cod time frame.

Things have changed since I left in Summer of 07...

That notion of bigger fish taste worse, is slightly true. (although-never had a bad halibut) I prefer the smaller fish to kill around 40-50lbers, but big fish are fun...period!  Plus derby money is great in Homer.

[cohoho]

The reason I say Homer for that once "Bucket List Trip", is also fish the Kenai along the way, depending upon your timing of going....  Or better yet do both and add a Salmon Shark trip out of Seward!!!!  How many days you going?

[Scottystyle]

The reason I say Homer for that once "Bucket List Trip", is also fish the Kenai along the way, depending upon your timing of going....  Or better yet do both and add a Salmon Shark trip out of Seward!!!!  How many days you going?

Thanks ! We are going up as a family for probably a week, looking into a vacation home, planning on hitting theKenai Park if thats what its called. Halibut fishing one day, want to ship some fish back,  but not a ton bexause its spendy, so looking for more quality fishing.  Probably going to be 3 or 4 fishing, rest of the family not.