Halibut Fishing in Juneau, Alaska

The waters surrounding Juneau are known for their abundance of halibut. Many charter boat companies in Juneau offer fishing trips for people looking to catch these giant bottom dwellers. Most halibut caught in this area weigh between 25 and 50 pounds.

  1. Licensing

    • You must have an Alaskan fishing license to fish for halibut, or any fish, in the waters of Alaska. Many of the fishing charters sell state fishing licenses from the boat. As of 2010, the license fee is $20 per day or $80 for two weeks. (See Resources for application.)

    When and Where to Go

    • The Inside Passage just off of Auke Bay and downtown Juneau is teeming with halibut from June to September. Most charter boats take fishermen up and around the islands in the Inside Passage. Anglers can book full-day or half-day trips.

      After September, the halibut population diminishes as they head to deep waters to spawn. Spawning usually occurs from December through February at the edge of the continental shelf at 200 to 300 fathoms deep.

    Fishing for Halibut

    • Most of the fishing charter boats come with equipment. However, anglers hiring a boat to sail themselves have to load up with the right equipment. Typically, anglers should have at least three units of leaded ground line (skates) in lengths of 100 fathoms. Each skate has 100 hooks attached to make the gangens. These are then tied to a ground line and laid on the ocean bottom with anchors at each end, called a set. Frozen herring, octopus or other fresh fish are used to bait halibut. The wait is 2 to 20 hours before pulling up the set. For halibut, the set is usually brought up by a hydraulic puller. As soon as the halibut is on board, it is cleaned and put on ice to retain freshness.

    Halibut Size

    • The halibut caught around Juneau generally weigh between 25 and 50 lbs., and according to HiTime Charters, this size is ideal for vacuum packing the fish and freezing for home cooking later. Most anglers, however, catch halibut in the 15- to 20-lbs. range. Still, halibut of more than 150 lbs. have been caught off the coast of Juneau, and the current Alaska state record for sport-caught halibut is 450 lbs. To qualify for Alaska's trophy fish program, the fish caught (halibut or otherwise) must weigh at least 200 lbs.

    Alaskan Halibut

    • More than 1.5 million pounds of halibut are caught annually in Alaska. Most anglers prefer to catch this giant fish in southeast Alaska, near Juneau.