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Shore Fishing Techniques for Homer, Alaska

Shore Fishing Techniques for Homer, Alaska
You don't need a boat to enjoy great sport fishing along the shores of lakes and rivers winding through Homer, Alaska, one of the great wildlife habitats of the world. Homer is famous for gigantic halibut, although shore anglers go after several species of salmon, including the prized king salmon, plus pink and silver salmon.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:
  • Medium-duty rod and reel or fly-fishing rod and reel
  • Fishing license
  • King salmon stamp permit (if fishing for this species)
  • tackle, bait, lures and flies.
Step 1
Go plunking (bottom fishing) for salmon to produce good catches of pink and silver salmon when baiting 2.0-4.0 hooks with roe (salmon eggs). Twitch the bait and allow it to settle on the bottom. There is no need to cast more than 20 feet from shore.
Step 2
Fish the shallow waters near the mouth of Homer Spit for king, pink and silver salmon stocked annually by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Salmon eggs and herring are effective natural baits. Diving plugs and pink or chartreuse streamers are deadly artificial lures for salmon stocked in these waters.
Step 3
Fish the smaller bays and coves of Kachemak Bay using salmon eggs and herring. Flipping (drift fishing) is a good technique for shore fishing in the Kachemak. Cast upstream and allow the bait to drift along with the current as you point your rod tip at the moving bait.
Step 4
Drive about six miles northeast of Homer Harbor to fish for king salmon in the Halibut Cove Lagoon from May through June. Salmon eggs and wet flies are the baits of choice.
Step 5
Catch sockeye (red fleshed) salmon in China Poot Bay during the peak July-to-August period using silver and red spoons and spinners.
Step 6
Flipping and shore plunking can produce good catches of pink salmon in Tutka Bay nine miles south of Homer.

Tips & Warnings

 
Make sure you understand the prevailing rules and regulations before wetting a line in Homer. Alaskan fisheries are well-regulated, and the rules can change several times during the year, varying with the species of salmon.

Article Written By James Clark

James Clark began his career in 1985. He has written about electronics, appliance repair and outdoor topics for a variety of publications and websites. He has more than four years of experience in appliance and electrical repairs. Clark holds a bachelor's degree in political science.

Write for Trails.com

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