ANCHORAGE TO HOMER, AK

July 19, 2011

On our way from Anchorage to Homer we drove past the Kenai River, often called the world's greatest sport fishing river, where we saw locals dip netting for the silver salmon that are running now.

We could see Mount Iliamna and Mount Redoubt, two of the volcanoes in the "Ring of Fire".  Mount Redoubt last erupted in March 2009. The other peaks are Mount St. Augustine and Mount Spur.

Once we arrived at our campground in Homer we packed for our overnight halibut fishing trip.  It was a sunny and very warm day here in Alaska but we anticipated it would be cold and windy out on the ocean so we had winter gear including hats, winter jackets, winter hiking boots and sandwiches.  We left for the dock at 2:45 p.m.  When we got there other fishermen also brought pillows, sleeping bags, and pole holder belts. 
We looked like a bunch of rookies!

We boarded the Nautilus at 4:00 p.m. after they checked to make sure everyone had a fishing license.  They handed us each four colored plastic ties that they would put around the tail of each fish we caught.  This would identify the fish that each person caught.  Our color was dark grey.  A single day fishing license cost $20.  With it you could catch two halibut fish per day.  On the overnight trip you could catch 4 fish as you would be fishing for 2 the first day and 2 the second day.  Upon boarding we were given instructions by the Captain about where we could be on the boat, sleeping quarters, and how to use the "head."  The head is the word for toilet.  There was a foot pedal that you had to use to allow salt water to enter the bowl.  We claimed a bunk and stored our backpacks. 

There was excitement in the air as we anticipated catching that 400# monster.

We would receive instruction on how to fish for halibut when we arrived at the first fishing site, an underwater plateau about 250 feet deep.  We would be handed a fishing pole with a 3 # weight and a heavy 3" hook with an inverted barb.  Believe me it was quite a surprise the first time you drop that hook and sinker over the edge of the boat -- IT ALMOST PULLS THE FISHING ROD OUT OF YOUR HANDS!

       

There are 1,000s of halibut fish in a hole.  Halibut are shaped like a typical fish and have one eye on each side of their head.  As mature, one eye migrates to the other side of the fish and they swim like a ray.  They are a spotty brown on top and white on bottom.  The funny part is their month is where is supposed to be and doesn't move anywhere. 

There was a crew of six aboard and they call the boat their home as they eat, sleep and work on board.  They only get a day off if it rains or there is a cancellation. They work very hard registering you,  prepping the frozen herring, reeling in fish, filleting all the fish, cleaning off the deck and then doing it all again after midnight.  They were very willing to offer assistance to anyone who was hooked onto another line, reeling in a fish, letting you hold it up for a picture all while they are trying to get your fish in the box.  The oldest person on the crew is 44 and the Captain is 34. 

There were 34 people who wanted to fish.  We were instructed to line up to receive a baited pole but only 20 got one.  You should have seen the surprised and disappointed look on the faces of those who didn't get one.  It was only later that we realized what the crew had said about fishing and giving your pole to someone else as you would want to rest your arm.  Anyway, once you had your pole you were supposed to walk to the front of the boat and fish off the starboard side.  Once someone caught a fish in the line you moved into their spot.  The fish were up so fast that you moved quickly alongside the boat to the rear.  It did not take long at all.  By the time you were to the rear you usually had your fish hooked and to the surface where a crew member helped you get it on board where they promptly clubbed it and put it into storage. 

After catching a fish you were happy to give that pole to anyone who would take it from you.  You had to carry that 3# sinker so no one got it in the head or knee while you were walking to your spot on the rail.  Reeling in that fish, even at 18# - 25#, was like reeling in your bathroom door flat sided.  That 250 feet of 80# braided line seeming to take forever and needed every ounce of strength you could muster -- even the guys who thought they were in shape.  I figured if the 90# Asian girls could reel it in, so could I.  

LOOK AT ALL THE FISH I CAUGHT!!

About 10:00 the Captain took us out to the Barren Islands to see if we could catch the big ones.  After midnight whoever wanted to get up was able fish in the kelp beds at only 70' to 100'.  As no one got a nibble after an hour or so I went to bed.  You could hear the water sloshing against the outside of the boat and you felt like you were being rocked in your mam's arms.  The crew said we would travel for another 2-3 hours so we crashed in our bunks below.