Meet Captain Clint Smith – Honest, Caring, Selfless
Welcome aboard! I’m Captain Clint Smith, and my favorite saying—or maybe my “captain’s wisdom”—is simple: “Let’s wet a line.” That’s my invitation to you to leave the stress behind and enjoy a day on the beautiful Alaskan water.
Captain Clint Smith - My Journey To Homer
For a long time, fishing was my sanctuary. What got you into fishing, and how did you end up in Homer? Fishing was my stress relief from my career. I spent years perfecting my craft, doing competitive tournaments on the Sacramento Delta and later running charters on the Pacific Ocean. I got a call about fishing up here in Alaska, and honestly, I’ve been here every summer since. There is simply nowhere else on earth like it. I grew up in California, but spent time in South Carolina and Idaho—the offer to run a charter boat here is what brought me to Alaska.
My love for the outdoors started with my old man. Who or what inspired your love of the outdoors? Definitely my dad. He loved to take us fishing when I was a boy, and he was also an avid bow hunter. He instilled that love of God’s Creation in me from a young age.
My Guiding Philosophy: Safety, Fun, and A Full Deck Of Fish
What’s your favorite part of guiding guests on halibut charters? I love meeting the people and trying to make sure they have a safe and great time. My mission is simple: I try to make sure everyone gets their fish! At the end of the day, fishing is fishing so you never know what they day is going to bring but one thing is for certain – 100% effort and professionalism. When we’re heading back to the dock, and I see a deck full of smiling faces and full coolers, that’s what it’s all about for me.
My focus is always on you having the best experience possible, regardless of your background. How do you make sure everyone—from beginners to pros—has a great time? I will work with everyone to make sure they have fun and catch fish. I’ll happily give tips to pros if needed, but I specialize in working patiently with beginners. I want you to feel comfortable and confident handling the gear.
How would you describe your guiding style or personality on the water? I am very open to questions and will try to explain everything to you. I want you to understand what we’re doing and why. Most importantly, I’m a Captain who prioritizes safety above all else. I will call the day if I believe it is unsafe to run safely. That commitment to your well-being comes first. We all understand the excitement of fishing in Alaska and the expense involved but there’s no fish worth getting injured or worse.
And for anyone joining me, here is one tip I’d give to first-time anglers fishing in Alaska: Listen to the crew. They are there to make your time fun and exciting. They will do everything to help you have the time of a lifetime, so follow their lead!
Stories from the Deck
I’ve had a lifetime of professional fishing, going on my eighth season fishing in Alaska, and those years have given me some fantastic memories.
Describe a memorable fishing story or guest experience. Oh, I’ve got a couple of classics! One day, I was watching a 15-year-old girl sing to the fish that she missed. The song was “Baby Come Back.” Her family was just laughing until she got an 85-pound fish on the hook moments later! The timing was perfect.
Then there’s the story of the big one. What’s the biggest halibut you’ve ever helped a guest catch? What was memorable about that day and catch? The biggest fish was with a 17-year-old that just wasn’t watching the rod. When I told him to reel it up, he stated that it was stuck on the bottom. I told him straight up, ‘It’s not stuck—it’s in a fish’s mouth—reel!’ It turned out to be a 387-pound halibut! It took him thirty minutes to land, and he actually had to reel it up twice before we got it in. Those moments of pure excitement are why I love this job.
Do you have a favorite fishing superstition or ritual? Yes! Absolutely NO BANANAS ON THE BOAT! It’s a classic for a reason.
A Typical Day & Life Off the Water for Captain Clint
What’s a typical day like for you during fishing season? I’m up at 0430, drive to the dock at 0530, and immediately get on the boat making sure all gear is ready. I’m looking at the weather before leaving the dock, and then we’re out! I’m usually home around 1900, eat dinner, and get ready for the next day.
What’s your go-to meal or favorite thing to eat after a long day on the water? Salad and chicken strips. I’m a simple man!
When the Alaskan season wraps up, where do you call home in the off-season? Montana. The off-season is all about family. How do you spend your winter or off-season? Taking care of family and fishing with the grandkids. Since it is still season in the Pacific, we’re often out there wetting a line together! I love to fish and I love sharing it with my family, friends, and clients. Being able to do this in Alaska – well, it’s the greatest, most beautiful office in the whole world.
If you weren’t fishing, what kind of work or lifestyle could you see yourself doing? I’d be in my shop. I love working on cars and building sandrails. That’s my other passion.
Quick Q&A: Getting to Know Clint
What does being part of the Homer Halibut Hunters crew mean to you? We are a team, like family.
What do you enjoy most about working with guests from all over the world? The cultural differences between us and working together to get their fish. It’s a great feeling of shared accomplishment.
What music, podcast, or playlist gets played most on the boat? We will find out if we have a radio this year, then we will ask the customers!
Favorite species of fish to target (besides halibut)? Giant white Sea bass and Tuna.
If you could fish anywhere else in the world, where would it be? Australia. I’ve never fished there.
Quick Q&A: Getting to Know Clint - Part 2
Favorite local spot in Homer (restaurant, view, or activity) and Why? The Spit. There are restaurants and shopping options for everyone.
What’s one thing you think every visitor to Homer should experience (besides halibut fishing)? Go check out the Glacier! It’s truly unforgettable.
Do you have any pets or family members who often join you on adventures? Just my wife’s Shih Tzu. He rides motorcycles with me and goes deep-sea fishing with me! He’s a true adventurer.
How would your friends describe you in three words? Honest, caring, selfless.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about becoming a fishing guide or deckhand? Stay drug-free. You will be responsible for your customers and crew.
What’s one life lesson fishing or working on the water has taught you? Enjoy your time in God’s Creation. Fish or no fish, enjoy the time of peace on the water.
From California Tournaments to Alaska Summers
Clint’s been around fishing for as long as he can remember. His dad was the one who first took him outside—fishing trips, bow hunting, anything that got them outdoors together. Back then, guiding wasn’t even on his radar. Fishing was simply the thing that helped him unwind from a demanding career, a way to clear his head.
But like a lot of good things, it grew. Stress relief turned into tournament days on the Sacramento Delta, then into running charters on the Pacific, and before long he’d built a reputation as someone who understood water, weather, and people in equal measure.
Then he got a phone call:
“Want to fish in Alaska?”
He said yes once.
And he’s come back every summer since.
These days, Clint holds a 100 Ton Master’s License, stays CPR and First Aid certified, and has spent season after season fishing the waters of Kachemak Bay, Cook Inlet, and the Gulf of Alaska.
If you weren’t fishing, what kind of work or lifestyle could you see yourself doing?: Work in my shop building sandrails and work on cars.
Ready to Wet a Line?
Captain Clint Smith brings seven years of Alaskan experience, a 100 Ton Master’s License, and a genuine desire to make your trip safe, fun, and memorable. Whether you’re chasing that first-ever halibut or aiming for a trophy catch that rivals his famous 387-pound surprise, he provides the calm expertise and patient guidance you need.
His philosophy, taught to him by his father and reinforced by years on the water, centers on two things: enjoying the peace of the ocean and sharing the wild beauty of Alaska.
As his friends say, he’s honest, caring, and selfless—the perfect qualities in a captain responsible for delivering the trip of a lifetime. When he heads home to Montana for the winter, he takes those memories of the sun setting over the Kenai Peninsula and those big smiles from his guests with him, only to return the next summer ready to make more.
So, when you step aboard, know you’re not just taking a charter—you’re joining a member of the Homer Halibut Hunters family for a day of making lasting memories out on the water.
All that’s left to do is ask: “Let’s wet a line!”