Alaska's Kenai Peninsula offers a great mix for sport anglers -- a dozen species of fish and easy road or boat access.
Seward - Resurrection Bay fishing
Seward, a city of 2,500, is a popular fishing and cruise port. It is heavily visited by Anchorage residents yet maintains its own charm.
Location
Seward sits at the northern end of Resurrection Bay. It is 127 highway miles from downtown Anchorage, and the Seward Highway (Highway 1 and 9) has been named an All-American Highway by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Resurrection Bay is 15 miles long and lined with cliffs, with the water nearly 1,000 feet deep in places. Kenai Fjords National Park sprawls along the western side of the bay.
Top species and best times to fish
- King salmon June and July.
- Silver salmon July and August.
- Halibut May through October.
Fishing derbies
Seward has a halibut jackpot derby (May 1 to Aug. 1) and a silver salmon derby (mid-August). Tickets can be bought at fishing stores, charter boat brokers and often on the fishing boats. Prizes are worth thousands of dollars.
Get a license
Buy an Alaska fishing license online from the state or at many sporting goods, grocery and gas stations.
Other activities
- Alaska SeaLife Center
- Kayaking trips
- Wildlife viewing and cruises: sea lions, whales, harbor seals, sea otters, eagles, puffins
- Exit Glacier and Kenai Fjords National Park
Homer - Kachemak Bay fishing
Homer and Seldovia give anglers great access to Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet.
Location
Homer and Seldovia are about 15 miles apart on Kachemak Bay, on the western side of the Kenai Peninsula. Homer, on the northern side, is accessible from Anchorage on the Seward/Sterling highways (Highway 1); in fact, this bohemian town is famous for being an RV destination as "the end of the road." Travel time is about 5 hours.
Seldovia, on the southern side of the bay, is accessible by small plane and by water from Homer.
Top species and best times to fish
- King salmon -- Kings return to Kachemak Bay streams and to the lagoon at Homer from mid-May through early July. Homer has a March tournament for winter kings.
- Silver salmon -- Silvers return from early August through mid-September.
- Halibut -- Summer is the best time for deep-water fishing halibut in the bay and in Cook Inlet. Homer's halibut jackpot runs from May 1 through Sept. 1.
Get a license
Buy an Alaska fishing license online from the state or at many sporting goods, grocery and gas stations.
Other activities
- Kayaking in Kachemak Bay
- Hiking in Kachemak Bay State Park
- Bear viewing at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and Katmai National Park
- Beachcombing on the Homer Spit
- Clamming
The legendary king salmon is the big draw when it starts to arrive in the Peninsula's bays and rivers in late May. Red and silver salmon come later. Halibut fishing starts in April and runs through October. Rainbow trout, steelhead and Dolly Varden entice fly casters.
The Kenai Peninsula is a short drive south of Anchorage on the Seward and Sterling Highways. Seward is about 125 miles from the state's largest city, the headwaters of the Kenai River is about 100 miles and Homer is about 230 miles.
The highways are paved, and all services are available. Lodging -- from hotels to lodges -- is plentiful, as are campgrounds for tents and motor homes.
The Kenai Peninsula's most popular species keep anglers on the move all summer.
