The city of Homer likes to brag that it is the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World." It's hard to argue.
Every summer, anglers catch more than 150,000 halibut in the nearby waters of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. It's not uncommon for those fish to weigh more than 100 pounds, with the biggest growing to more than 300 pounds.
On top of that, Homer hosts one of Alaska's most lucrative fishing derbies. Last year's winner earned $45,475 for his 348.2-pound halibut.
But don't get tunnel vision with the promise of huge halibut when visiting Homer. Kachemak Bay offers much more than a feast of flatfish. King, silver, sockeye and pink salmon return to the bay every summer, while beaches of clams can add a unique twist to the fishing experience.
Most of the fishing requires a boat, but Homer offers bank anglers a chance to catch fish too. And Kachemak Bay, with its deep, green waters, glaciers and snow-peaked mountains, is one of Alaska's most picturesque backgrounds for fish photos.
Located on the southern and western tip of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is 225 miles by road from Anchorage. The town caters to tourists, offering an assortment of restaurants, accommodations and charter boat operators. June and July are the busiest months -- coinciding with the best fishing and weather.
Halibut fishing requires a boat to reach the areas where halibut congregate. Visitors who want to participate in the action will most likely need to hire a charter. Here are some tips when searching for a charter:
• Decide how many people you want on your boat. Some charter boats carry six anglers, while bigger boats carry 12 or more. Smaller boats offer more personal time with the captain, while bigger boats provide more deckhands for help.
• Find out how long the captain has been fishing out of Homer. New captains can be good, but established operations have been around a long time for a reason.
• Ask how far you will be traveling before you start fishing. This is a trade-off. The farther out you go, the better the fishing -- usually. But longer travel time means less fishing time. Also, if you are prone to seasickness, you may want to stay closer to port.
There are more than 100 charter boat operators that fish out of Homer, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Many anglers pony up $10 for the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby. Last summer, the tickets led to more than $180,000 in prizes.
Homer may be famous for its halibut, but salmon fishing in Kachemak Bay is popular too, especially for king salmon. There are several opportunities to catch kings in and around Kachemak Bay.
• Trolling in the main bay. Many of the same charters that fish for halibut offer salmon trips. Some offer combination trips that allow anglers to fish for halibut and salmon on the same excursion.
• Halibut Cove Lagoon. Stocked kings return here starting in early May and ending at the beginning of July.
• Homer Spit lagoon. Kings and silvers return from mid-May to mid-September.
