Halibut fishing and more fun in Homer
“Go Packers!” – My husband greets the elderly man wearing a Green Bay Packers’ sweatshirt whose camped a few spaces from us. “Where are you from?” “Eau Claire, Wisconsin”, he says. “That’s where we’re from, too” my husband shares. We discover that we live within two miles of one another. It is a small world.
This morning, we decide to take a Halibut fishing excursion. The weather’s still gorgeous, sea’s are calm and we’re ahead of the main tourist season so it’s easy to pick up a charter. Our boat today is just the captain, two deckhands, a family with two children and Jhan and me. We motor for about an hour and begin fishing. Halibut are bottom fish, so we cast with a heavy lead weight to take our bait to the bottom 200 feet below. They’re definitely biting today. Every time my bait hits
bottom and I reel up just a bit, I have a fish on, and begin reeling the line, weight and fish up the 200 feet. The legal limit is two fish per person, so we spend the next few, very exciting hours pulling in fish and deciding whether they’re big enough to be one of our two keepers, or whether to throw this catch back in and begin again. My arms are sore and I’m sure I’ll have a bruise on my stomach where I’ve anchored my pole, but it’s definitely worth it.
The exciting fishing is surpassed only by the majestic mountain backdrop and the warm, calm, sunny weather.
This morning, we decide to take a Halibut fishing excursion. The weather’s still gorgeous, sea’s are calm and we’re ahead of the main tourist season so it’s easy to pick up a charter. Our boat today is just the captain, two deckhands, a family with two children and Jhan and me. We motor for about an hour and begin fishing. Halibut are bottom fish, so we cast with a heavy lead weight to take our bait to the bottom 200 feet below. They’re definitely biting today. Every time my bait hits
bottom and I reel up just a bit, I have a fish on, and begin reeling the line, weight and fish up the 200 feet. The legal limit is two fish per person, so we spend the next few, very exciting hours pulling in fish and deciding whether they’re big enough to be one of our two keepers, or whether to throw this catch back in and begin again. My arms are sore and I’m sure I’ll have a bruise on my stomach where I’ve anchored my pole, but it’s definitely worth it.
The exciting fishing is surpassed only by the majestic mountain backdrop and the warm, calm, sunny weather.
When we’re done fishing, as we motor back to the Homer Spit, deckhands clean the fish for us. We’ll be met on shore by a company that will freeze, pack and ship our 20 pounds of Halibut home.
We didn't catch this one but some halibut can get huge.
Tonight we return to the Salty Dawg, and meet a tug boat captain who’s enjoying his one day off. Again, fascinating stories and insight into a lifestyle very different from ours. It’s an amazing world that can take people in many directions.
Our last day in Homer, we take a scenic drive (somewhat of an oxymoron – ALL drives here are scenic) – but this excursion takes us to the top of a plateau above town for sweeping views. (If you’re there, Head east on Pioneer Ave. which turns into East End Road. Continue about a mile to East Hill Rd, turn Left, climb steeply til intersection and take a left onto Skyline Drive.)
Our last day in Homer, we take a scenic drive (somewhat of an oxymoron – ALL drives here are scenic) – but this excursion takes us to the top of a plateau above town for sweeping views. (If you’re there, Head east on Pioneer Ave. which turns into East End Road. Continue about a mile to East Hill Rd, turn Left, climb steeply til intersection and take a left onto Skyline Drive.)
We also stop at the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center which is well worth the stop to see the two short movies and exhibits of marine life and history of the area. I learn that Alaska was significantly impacted by WWII, when the Japanese invaded the Island of Attu in the Aleutians prompting the US to not only build the Alcan Highway but to also militarize almost every Alaskan seaport town.
I’m sad to leave Homer. I’ve become attached to this area in our few short days – but it’s time to continue on to other parts of the Kenai Peninsula.
A few relics of the past have been abandoned on the Homer spit.
I’m sad to leave Homer. I’ve become attached to this area in our few short days – but it’s time to continue on to other parts of the Kenai Peninsula.
A few relics of the past have been abandoned on the Homer spit.
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