Halibut Charters Exceed Expectations Due to Rough Salmon Season

Even on a half-day fishing trip there’s no shortage of halibut

Tools

By Heather Hintze
Bio | Email

Story Created: Aug 17, 2012 at 8:10 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 17, 2012 at 8:10 PM AKDT

HOMER - Even on a half-day fishing trip there’s no shortage of halibut.

“I love to feel them bite, then the work begins when they bite. Like that right there – see,” screams Homer resident Rosie Burgess as she reels in a big one.

The Martin family has owned North Country Charters in Homer for 34 years and owner and captain Sean Martin knows the waters well. He said this year is on track to be the best season yet, in part because halibut charters are reeling in customers from the Kenai.

“There are a lot of fishermen this year and it may be a reflection of the number of salmon that didn't come back this year. The king salmon run was week and the silvers are just now showing up in Homer so there's a lot of people going halibut fishing,” said Martin.

Crewmember J.R. Tapia frantically moves around the boat as anglers struggle to reel in the fish.

“Slow and steady wins the race, that's the motto on this boat,” said Tapia.

Just minutes after the fishermen drop their lines, the halibut start biting. Many end up going back in the water as the anglers try to bring in the biggest catch. Sometimes they get something unexpected, like an octopus.

“Something new everyday. You never know what you're going to catch. It’s very rare. We've fished this spot two or three weeks and it's the first octopus we've seen here,” said Tapia.

North Country Charters has made more than 100 halibut trips this summer and is still going strong.

“We really put our heart in to working with people. But it takes a lot of energy and a lot of stamina to go,” said Gerri Martin, the company’s office manager.

Her husband Sean Martin agrees it’s a lot of work and is looking forward to the end of the season. “We work real hard for six months and the other six months are free,” said Sean Martin.

The anglers are happy with their haul of halibut, especially when so many salmon seekers have been sidelined this summer.
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

The deadliest catch said on Sunday, Aug 19 at 11:29 PM

fishing sucks been for the last 3 yrs. you think when the Japaneses had there nuclear melt down that,s when it started I wonder if that has some thing to do with it !

99516372
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

nali said on Sunday, Aug 19 at 9:53 AM

We fished for four days stright in Valdez and caught no halibut, no salmon. and most every other person we spoke to had the same experience. I wish I had their luck.

99481906
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Crazy said on Saturday, Aug 18 at 9:46 AM

look at the conservation efforts on alaska they stink no kings no silvers no trout and you get excited on 1200 halabit they will be next to go it needs a dramatic change gonna be like the big eye tuna almost extinct then protected now in 10 years they are back to being in good numbers we over fish and over hunt sometimes you have to let nature make a comeback.

99425146
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Big Dan said on Saturday, Aug 18 at 8:02 AM

Yo, Jim T, check the numbers, the entire sports fishing fleet hauls in a very small percentage of halibut compared to the long liners and the trawlers. The allowed trawl by catch is many times the sport harvest, and that by catch is discarded, not even brought to shore.

99419816
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Jim T said on Saturday, Aug 18 at 7:42 AM

And next we'll see a dramatic decrease in Halibut due to over fishing. Do the math, over 1200 fish for just this one charter outfit multiplied by all the charters in Cook Inlet and then throw in all the sports fishermen.... more trouble coming.

99418741
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Amazed said on Saturday, Aug 18 at 7:40 AM

Im not sure what they mean by sidelined Salmon seekers? With the exception of the Kings, which have been week for the last several years, the salmon have returned in record numbers. And silver are just starting. So ...??? I dont understand this logic. A bit of a misrepresentation of the situatiion I would say.

99418645
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.