Monday, July 1, 2019

2019 Alaska Vacation Journal (51)

2019 Alaska Vacation Journal (51)

07/01/2019  No Travel Day - Halibut Fishing Trip

Start Location:
Start Time: N/A
Mileage:  54,324
Cost Per Night: $37.50 USD
Weather: 54 - 65 F Sunny

Got up early to prepare for our Halibut Fishing Trip with Captain Mike Hopley, owner and operator of Alaskan Adventure Charters. Glen was our deck hand. Mike was recommended to us by our friends, Sandy and Dave French.

Mike uses his 48 years of fishing experience, knowledge of the local area, and attention to fine detail to make your Alaskan fishing vacation a dream come true. 

He and Glen lived up to their hype.

Our boat was pushed into the Cook Inlet at 9:00 a.m. We were fishing with Wally and son Anthony; and friends David and Phil. The first area we dropped anchor did not have any fish biting. Therefore, we took the boat about a half an hour west.

We fished there a bit. Then suddenly, the guys were bringing up halibut, left and right. I felt a couple of nibbles but did not catch anything. Before too long, Captain Mike informed the group that we were just one halibut from our limit.

Only Paul and I had our poles in the ocean. Then Paul had ‘fish on.’ I was happily watching Paul fight his fish; when I felt a huge tug on my pole . . . . I waited just a second then reeled in a tad. That did the trick because that halibut was good and hooked.

Captain Mike observed me struggling to wind in the line. He quickly hooked the harness on me so I could use my back as well to reel. We were down about a 180 feet. It was super hard for me to get that twenty-pound fish to the boat but I did it.


I literally waited until the very last moment to hook my halibut – what a fun fishing trip. Mike and Glenn were wonderful. After Captain Mike filleted our three fish, we harvested 27.6 pounds of halibut.

Paul barbecued a piece of halibut for my dinner – it was delicious.

Wildlife Spotted: Sea Gulls; Dog Fish; Halibut; a Dall's porpoise feeding, Chicken with her chicks at the fillet station.


Beautiful Sunny Day – Halibut Fishing Ninilchik, Alaska
Beautiful Sunny Day

Paul has been looking forward to this trip for awhile
Paul has been looking forward to this trip for awhile

Rack witnesses a successful excursion
Rack witnesses a successful excursion

Red Arrows indicate our big fish
Red Arrows indicate our big fish

Paul helped Captain Mike fillet our catch
Paul helped Captain Mike fillet our catch

Black Chicken with her babies
Black Chicken with her babies

A little brown sugar, garlic and soy – Yummy Halibut
A little brown sugar, garlic and soy – Yummy Halibut

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