Halibut Fishing in Alaska: Small Group, Farther Waters

You bring the fish in yourself, rod bending against the weight of the deep.

Halibut fishing in Alaska puts a rod in your hands on a hardtop aluminum cabin cruiser with 5 or 6 other guests and a licensed guide, fishing depths of 200-400 feet or more on the halibut flats. The guide positions you to entice the fish and instructs you on the hook, but the fight is yours. If the rod bends, you feel the power of the ecosystem pulling back. The boat travels farther into distant, productive waters than most half-day charters, which means better odds at halibut, rockfish, cod, and other deep-sea species, plus coastal scenery and wildlife like whales, sea lions, and porpoises. The Inside Passage shelters you behind islands when weather moves in from the open sea.

The experience

What makes halibut fishing different from casting off a dock is the depth and the rig. You're dropping heavy leads and large hooks baited with fresh bait down 200-400 feet or more, where the scent spreads along the tide and reaches fish in the twilight of the seafloor. Halibut, rockfish, cod, flounder, sharks, and skates live down there. The instant something takes the bait, the rod tells you, and then it's your hands on the rod, your strength against the fish's. The guide will advise and help land it, but the fight itself is all yours.

The boat is a hardtop aluminum cabin cruiser that holds 5 or 6 guests and the guide. Unlike most half-day charters in Alaska, this operation doesn't ration fuel: the guides go where the fishing is most active, which often means traveling farther into more distant and productive waters. That distance buys you better odds at the fish, more of the coastal landscape, and a real chance at spotting whales, sea lions, and porpoises along the way. The Inside Passage's geography is the advantage: there's almost always an island to hide behind if weather blows in from the open sea, so the trip runs even when conditions are rough.

All fishing gear is provided: rods, reels, hooks, leads, and bait. You wear a rain jacket, rain bibs, boots, hat, and gloves, all included. Bring a valid fishing license (or purchase one at checkout if you don't have one), and the guide handles the rest. The trip runs 5 hours. Snacks and water are on board. The guide is a Merchant Mariner licensed professional who fishes these waters and knows where the fish are moving.

What’s included

• All fishing gear, rods and reels.
• rain jacket, rain bibs, boots, hat and gloves.
• snacks and water.
• Merchant Mariner licensed guide in English.

Information

Lasts 5h, from US$ 476.19 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 25 Apr 20272 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 67 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Baranof Fishing Excursions

Is this one for you?Book this trip if you want to fish farther into productive waters than half-day charters typically go. The distance is what gives you better odds at halibut and a real chance at wildlife, and the small group means the guide can position each person where the fish are moving.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

135 verified traveler reviews

5 ★131

4 ★2

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What depth do you fish for halibut in Alaska?

Halibut fishing in Alaska on this trip means dropping to depths of 200-400 feet or more, where the bait scent spreads along the tide and reaches halibut, rockfish, cod, and other deep-sea species living on the seafloor.

How many people fish on the boat at once?

The boat holds 5 or 6 guests plus the licensed guide, making it an intimate group rather than a crowded charter.

Do I need my own fishing license?

An Alaska fishing license is required. You can bring your own or purchase one at checkout before the trip.

What happens if the weather turns bad?

The Inside Passage shelters the boat behind islands, so there's almost always a place to fish even when weather blows in from the open sea.

What fish can you catch besides halibut?

The deep waters hold rockfish, cod, flounder, sharks, and skates: all species that take the bait and fight on the rod, and all part of the diverse ecosystem on the seafloor.

Is there a limit on how many halibut you can keep?

Halibut is limited to 1 per person per day, and the fish must be either up to 37 inches or over 80 inches to keep.