On a typical Fishing Charter with Captain Travis of Blount Adventure…
The day starts early, we try and get out of the harbor before the rest of the fleet. You will meet Captain Travis at the top of Ramp 3. (see link below)
Once the group has arrived, you will head down the ramp to the Obsession with the Captain.
Everyone will have their fishing licenses collected by the deckhand once onboard- purchase your fishing license here
Captain Travis will explain to everyone the safety features and equipment on the boat and run through the plan for the day. Weather and tide change constantly so Travis will choose the area to fish for the best bite and conditions.
The boat ride from the Homer harbor can be anywhere from 30minutes to 3hours depending on weather, season and where the fish are. The first species of fish targeted will completely depend on tide and weather.
On the way out to the fishing grounds keep your eyes peeled for marine life.
GUARANTEED OTTER SIGHTINGS OR YOUR MONEY BACK!!!!
Kachemak Bay is home to over 7000 Sea Otters. These animals have the densest fur in the world with over 1million hairs per square inch. They eat almost exclusively mollusks and crustaceans.
Resident and Transient Orca are frequent visitors to our waters.
Killer whale sightings are common in Kachemak Bay, Cook Inlet and the outer coast of the Kenai Penninsula.
Humpback whales photographed from Capt. Travis’s Drone
Baleen whales are a very common sight here as well. Pacific Fin, Minke, Grey and Humpback whales all feed on the same small fish Halibut, rockfish and salmon hunt so fishing close to whales is the norm.
Stellar Sealions on Flat Island
Once the 1st run of Red Salmon show up in early June we start seeing Stellar Sealions on Flat Island consistently.
This is our fishing area.
Kachemak Bay, Southern Cook Inlet, the Chugach Islands, the Barren Islands and even parts of the Kodiak Archipelago have many different habitats for fish and wildlife.
Puffins, Aucklets, Murres and Murlets are a daily occurrence.
Black Bears are common to see when cruising out.
If weather allows we will head to the outer coast passing miles of prime bear habitat.
Fishing will likely start with a bang.
We like to target rockfish first when we can.
For those who have never fished for these voracious fish, brace yourself this will be something you never forget.
It is very common to catch a limit of rockfish for the entire boat in 20mins or less. “Drop down hook a fish (or two) reel them in repeat”.
It is also very common to hook other species while fishing for Rocks. Most of the time the first halibut, salmon and lingcod of the day bite while targeting rockfish. For 7yrs now, the largest halibut of the season was hooked while targeting rockfish.
Next we target halibut.
Halibut can be found all over the place in depths ranging from 10ft to 1000ft but we try and keep it in 300 or less. We will likely drop anchor near a tidal surge area or kelp forest and bring the halibut to us using the scent of freshly cut bait. Halibut fishing can be a workout especially if you hook into a beast.
We catch halibut with a variety of gear types, depending on your skill level you may use jigs, fresh dead herring, octopus or even salmon carcasses for bait. Halibut fishing typically starts slow and reaches a crescendo right as the last fish are landed.
Then we’re on to salmon. The sassiest of all Alaskan fish.
Salmon fishing is typically done one of two ways. Either trolling with downriggers or mooching. When trolling we set 3 or 4 lines at various depths and use the boat to “troll” and once the salmon strikes the bait, it is you vs. the fish. King Salmon have huge “Gas Tanks” and often fight for 15-30mins or more. General rule of thumb is one minute per pound with kings. (Record on Captain Travis’s boat is 75minutes for a 64lb giant) Trolling is a great way to see the country. Whales and birds are often very close to where salmon are biting.
When the Silver Salmon are in (typically 2nd week of July), we start to “mooch” for salmon more than troll. Its very similar to jigging for rockfish but with slightly different gear. Everyone holds their own rod, they feel the strike and set the hook. This can be utter chaos with 6 salmon on simultaneously spoiling everyone forever. This is a style of drift fishing typically done in areas with high concentrations of bait fish. It usually means catching limits faster than trolling freeing up more time for other fish.
Some of the most stunning landscapes on earth are the backdrop for each trip.
In our area you can see 4 active volcanoes, the Harding Ice Field, dozens of fjords, glaciers, uninhabited islands, sheer sea cliffs and a huge variety of unique Alaskan scenery. Alaska’s landscapes are their own characters that you get to witness out on the water. “Pictures just don’t do it justice” is a phrase I hear everyday.
Finally once all the fish have been caught, or we have tried every possible way to catch any that remain, we will head to the dock.
Your fish will either be laid out on the boat or will be hung up at the dock for an end of day total catch photo, then we fillet your fish and send them to the local processors to be vacuum packed and frozen.
If you want to eat some of your catch the evening after your charter let us know. We can either point you to the best restaurants that will cook your catch, or you can check out our recipes page to make some fresh fish where you are staying.
One thing that helps us out a great deal at the end of the day is if you have a good trip and leave us a review on Facebook, Google or TripAdvisor. Ask us about discounts on future charters for writing us a review!!!