The anglers have read or heard about the Kenai Peninsula, or at least the Kenai River. All types of fishing are available on the Kenai Peninsula, Spin and Fly casting, open ocean trolling and bottom fishing. There are 5 species of Pacific Salmon. Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, and Arctic Grayling populate the river systems on the Kenai. Plus Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay support an abundance of Halibut, Black Sea Bass, Yellow Eye, and Ling Cod, all which will keep you busy. So many fish and so little time.
Available choices , to the angler on the Kenai Peninsula are endless. The World Record King Salmon was caught on the Kenai River in 1985 and weighed in at 97lbs. 4oz. Most of the river fishing is done from drift boats on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, stopping along the way in the hot spots to fish a deep hole or just to jump out and grab a bite to eat on the bank. The guides on the Kenai River are only allowed to fish from 6am until 6pm, which is the reason most outfitters offer half-day charters. Even if you don’t break that World Record your chances to take home one of our Kenai King Salmon are good. The Kasilof is often shed from the banks, as is the Russian River when the Reds are running. A word to the wise, this is True “Combat Fishing” as are any of the rivers in Alaska that are accessible by the road system. Roads, rivers, and salmon runs equal one thing in Alaska, people!!! However, it is still possible for you to have a memorable Alaskan fishing experience and avoid the crowds. Most of the guides have been with their respective lodges for years and know the rivers well. You can stay with most of the lodges on the Kenai anywhere from 2 to 7 days, making it an affordable trip for just about anyone.
Salt-water fishing out of Seward, Homer and Deep Creek will probably be one of the high points of your Kenai Peninsula fishing trips. Out of Seward and Homer you are in for a good 3-4 hour boat ride to reach the fishing grounds but it is worth the trip. Montague Island boasts some of the best Halibut fishing in the State, as do the Barren Islands out of Homer. At Montague, you will probably be fishing in shallow water for your Halibut and the sight of a 100lb Halibut slashing around the surface of the water like a trout is remarkable. The boat ride from Deep Creek is a little shorter (1- 1 ½ hrs) but the fishing is always productive. Boats are launched right off the beach in Deep Creek, and with twin, 225hp outboards; it doesn’t take your skipper long before you are bouncing the bottom for that Barn Door halibut.
Halibut is at slack tide so your departure times from Deep Creek will vary from day to day. The guides usually try to fish both tides each day so you could leave at 4am or as late as 6pm depending on the tide. The boats out of Homer and Seward usually depart at 6am and you can plan on being back on the dock by around 5pm. When the Silvers are in, the Seward Silver Salmon Derby August is worth the trip. Resurrection Bay is packed with fish and those dime bright silvers right from the Ocean don’t get any feistier.
