Multispecies Halibut Trips
Halibut, Rockfish, Salmon & Lincod
Our Multispecies halibut charters can be a great trip at certain times of the year and at other times it’s best to focus on our combo halibut trips or single species combo trips. The way we usually make this decision is understanding when the king salmon and silver salmon are in our coastal saltwaters and when they have already moved through it or have not yet arrived. When the salmon have reached the river systems is far easier to target them in the rivers than it is in the saltwater.
King Salmon are entering the watersheds of the Kenai Peninsula, such as the Kenai River, Kasilof River, Ship Creek, and many more, starting around May 15. The last of these will enter those same rivers around August 15th. It takes them approximately 3-4 weeks to pass through the saltwater to those rivers. Therefore, fishing for king salmon after July 15th in the saltwater is not ideal as most of the fish have already passed.
Using the same logic, the silver salmon will start entering the saltwater around Homer, Alaska, and Kachemak Bay around, July 15 and will continue until around September 15th when the majority of the silver salmon will have arrived in the river systems north of Homer, Alaska
Multispecies Halibut Trips
Is This The Right Trip For You?
Our Multispecies Trip is the ultimate sampler for those who want to fill the freezer with diversity, targeting up to four species: Halibut, Rockfish, Salmon, and Lingcod (Lingcod after July 1st). Because we are working against a ticking clock to fit in time to target salmon, which is usually the last species targeted for the day, this trip is best for anglers who are happy with “good eaters” rather than holding out for a trophy. To ensure we have time to target salmon, we ask our multispecies guests to be less selective with their halibut; instead of releasing several fish in search of a “monster,” we aim to secure your limit efficiently so we can have time to target salmon. In the past, guests who spent too much time hunting for a single giant halibut were disappointed when time ran out for salmon—we want to make sure you get the full experience you paid for!
If your heart is set on a trophy or you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, our Halibut-Rockfish Trip (including Lingcod after July 1st) is the better choice. Since we “typically” (it’s still fishing folks!) secure our rockfish limits quickly, the majority of our day is dedicated to the halibut grounds. This allows us the luxury of time to be more selective, giving you the chance to pass on smaller fish while waiting for a heavier strike.
A Note on Realistic Expectations
Regardless of the trip you choose, it’s important to keep local averages in mind. While Homer is the “Halibut Capital of the World,” the days of every boat landing a deck full of 100 lb fish are decades in the past.
The Average “Large”: Whether you’re fishing with Homer Halibut Hunters, or any other charter in Homer, the average “one of any size halibut” is between 25 – 40 lbs. However, these fishing grounds are home to barn doors and one can strike at any time.
Salmon: King salmon fishing stocks are in distress all over the world and Alaska has not been spared from this. We have not been able to harvest a Kenai River king salmon in half-a-decade or more. In the last several years, nearly every river on the Kenai Peninsula, and all the rivers flowing into cook inlet have been completely closed to king salmon fishing – not even catch and release, to protect these stocks. Saltwater fishing for kings has been allowed but also under heavy restrictions. The limit used to be two king salmon per person per day (which has been an unrealistic goal for years) and now the limit has been reduced to 1 king salmon per person per day. Also, the best areas to target those king salmon in the Kachemak Bay area, have been closed to King Salmon fishing entirely. The point here is that with declining numbers, and the best areas closed to king salmon fishing, the idea of putting a king on the boat for every angler is also an unrealistic expectation.
It is for these reasons that we recommend the halibut-rockfish trip as our preferred trip choice for our anglers looking for a big day of fishing and the best opportunity for some nice rockfish and good sized halibut.
A Note About Lingcod On Our Combo Fishing Trips
Lingcod are voracious predators, feeding on nearly anything they can fit in their mouths, including invertebrates and many species of fish, such as herring and salmon. One of their favorite foods is smaller octopuses, and they also readily devour large rockfish. For this reason, lingcod are found in the same general areas that we target rockfish. However, specifically targeting these potential monsters is inconsistent and therefore we treat lingcod as an “extra” fish on our trips. Any of our rockfish trips have a very good chance of catching a lingcod since all these fish are found in the same area. Lingcod can only be retained after July 1st and must be minimum of 35″ in overall length.
Regarding these multispecies trips, they are usually going into fairly open waters. Nothing is more important than your comfort and safety. However, sometimes the weather prohibits having a comfortable and safe day of fishing on these trips. When weather prohibits us from making the long range trip we will convert that trip to a downgraded excursion before canceling the trip altogether.
Our Multi-Species Fishing Grounds
Not surprisingly, knowing where to fish is where it all begins. We are so fortunate to have such a massive and fertile fishing area at nearly 4,500 square miles. The fishing grounds begin almost as soon as we leave the Homer harbor extending as far north as Ninilchik and as far south as the Barren Islands.
These waters are home to millions of halibut, rockfish, lingcod, shark, Octopus, Skates, and more.
Where we fish depends on the type of combo fishing trip we’re taking that day, previous days fishing quality, and of course, we always keep a mindful eye on the weather. But, the entirety of the area in red are areas we might fish on your trip.
Homer Multispecies Fishing Trips Limits
2026 Halibut Limits(expected):
- 2 Halibut: one halibut can be any size and the second halibut must be 27 inches or less, which is approximately a 10 lb fish. No annual limit
- No charter halibut fishing allowed(expected):
- On Wednesdays and Tuesdays without special permit – which we have!
2026 Rockfish Limits(expected):
- 3 per person per day
- Only 1 may be a nonpelagic rockfish (yelloweye, tiger, copper, quillback, silvergray, china)
2026 Salmon Limits(expected):
- 2 King salmon per person per day
- 5 King salmon per year from the waters around Cook Inlet
- 3 Silver salmon per day
2026 Lingcod Limits(expected):
- 2 Lingcod per person per day over 35″
- Lingcod can only be kept starting July 1st
Make sure to check out our Release A Monster program as well as our participation in Every Halibut CountsLimits