LICENSING & REGULATIONS for charter fishing in homer, alaska

 
 

FISHING LICENSEs

All adult anglers must purchase and possess a sport fishing license to participate in Alaska sport and personal use fisheries. Options include 1-day, 3-day, 7-day or 14-day licenses, as well as annual licenses.

We recommend that you purchase your fishing license online once you have arrived in Alaska, or at least a few days prior to your trip date. It is easy to purchase at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s website or in-person at Ulmer’s Hardware on the Homer Spit.

If your trip includes salmon, you must purchase a King Salmon Stamp in addition to your license or you will not be permitted to fish for salmon.

If you have access to print your license, this is preferred, however a clear copy on your phone (if electronically signed) will suffice.

Alaska resident youth under the age of 18 and nonresident youth under the age of 16 are not required to purchase a license, but must possess and complete a Harvest Record Card.

REGULATIONS & BAG LIMITS

Please note, regulations are subject to change. We will update this page as new information is available.

Halibut

Pacific halibut are regulated in combination through international groups, federal government agencies and state authorities.

The 2023 halibut sport fishing regulations are as follows:

  • 2 fish per day

    • 28-inch maximum size limit on one fish (approximately a 10lb fish)

    • No size restrictions on the other fish (may be over or under the 28-inch length)

  • No annual limit

  • Wednesday closures: Charter vessel anglers may not catch and retain halibut on all Wednesdays for the entire season.

  • Tuesday closures: Anglers may not catch and retain halibut on Tuesdays between July 20 and August 15.

Rockfish

  • 3 per day, only 1 per day may be non-pelagic

Salmon

  • KING SALMON — Summer Fisheries (April 1–August 31)

    • 1 per day (of any size) South of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40’ N)

    • There is a combined annual limit of 5 king salmon 20 inches or longer

      • If you retain a king salmon 20 inches or longer, you must immediately record that harvest on your license

      • A king salmon 20 inches or longer that is removed from salt water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish.

      • You must not remove a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the water before releasing it.

  • SILVER SALMON

    • 3 per day

  • ALL SPECIES

    • 6 per day