Make A Plan For Your Fishing Trip
GETTING TO HOMER
There are 3 ways to get to Homer, Alaska:
- Drive- It is a 4- 4 ½ hour drive from Anchorage to Homer or 225 road miles on the Sterling Highway which is a pretty scenic 2 lane highway. The roads are good. Watch out for moose! Stop halfway in Kenai or Soldotna to stretch your legs or fish along the roadside!
- Fly- Most people fly into Anchorage via a major airline and once there you can take a commuter from Anchorage to Homer. It is a 40 minute flight. There is 1 commuter airline with service to Homer: RAVN Air at www.flyRAVN.com or 1-800-866-8394. The airport is just a 5 mile cab ride to our office on the Homer Spit.
- Ferry- The Alaska State Ferry , the Tustamena is a beautiful ship. Check its schedule via the Alaska Marine Highway System at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs
Thinking of renting a motorhome? Check out ABC Motorhome and Car Rental in Anchorage at www.abcmotorhome.com or 1-800-421-7456. They have very reliable service.
LODGING
There are many places to stay in Homer and we can help you find lodging! Just ask! Bob’s has 2 rooms that we rent conveniently above our office on the Homer Spit which you can view here.
If we are full we recommend checking with Glacier View Cabins for rooms! Relax on your private deck or spend the evening at one of our fire pits taking in the incredible view of Kachemak Bay and the Homer Spit at www.glacierviewcabins.com.
A Fisherman’s Resort is also nice and not too far away: www.afishermansresort.com.
“A Room With A View” which is nice for couples at www.aroomwithaviewhomer.com.
For a very unique lodging experience for small groups, consider Alaska Adventure Cabins at www.alaskaadventurecabins.com.
Lands End Resort is on the Homer Spit close to the harbor and fishing.
You can also visit the Homer Chamber of Commerce website for many other lodging options.
FISHING LICENSES
Fishing licenses are not included with the charter and if you plan on fishing for King Salmon, you will need a King Salmon Tag as well.
To obtain your licensing, you can do one of two things;
A: Go online and purchase your license here.
B: During check-in, pick up your licenses at our office.
Rates for licensing for calendar year 2018;
Alaska Residents
Annual Fishing License: $29.00
Annual King Salmon Tag: $10.00
Non-Resident Fishing License
1 Day: $25.00
3 Day: $45.00
7 Day: $70.00
14 Day: $105.00
Annual: $145.00
Non-Resident King Salmon Tag
1 Day: $15.00
3 Day: $30.00
7 Day: $45.00
14 Day: $75.00
Annual: $100.00
WHAT TO BRING
Alaska weather can change fast and it’s best to be prepared!
- Plan to layer your clothing- it can go from warm sunshine to overcast and cool in a matter of minutes. If you’re coming from someplace warm it’s hard to think about packing a jacket, so you can always buy some Alaskan clothing once you are here as a reminder of your trip.
- Bring rubber sole shoes- sneakers or small boots will work. We don’t expect you to get wet, unless it is raining, but rubber soles will keep you from slipping.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen. It can be bright with all the sunshine we may have.
- Camera
- Raingear, just in case. If it is windy it can act as a wind breaker. We don’t usually have much rain in Homer, but weather is weather so be prepared.
- Although we spend most of our time fishing in calm water, occasionally it does get rough. Seasickness is a possibility for some people even if there are ground swells that can get you feeling queasy. If you have a tendency to get sick, before leaving home you might consider asking your doctor for the Medicated Patch that is worn behind the ear- it works very well for most people, or you might consider taking over the counter medications such as Non-drowsy Bonnine or Dramamine, just in case. Don’t use both! The preventative medications usually work best when they are in your system the night before your charter. Don’t wait to start your treatment right before getting on the boat! It may not work. Sometimes ginger products will help as well as wrist bands.
If you happen to forget or would like hand-made Alaskan quality gear you can visit Nomar, a local outdoor equipment shop. Most all of their apparel is made right here in Homer, Alaska. Their website is www.nomaralaska.com.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
You will need to pick up a lunch and/or snacks and beverages for your charter. The boats in Homer do not sell food in the galley but there is always water on the boats. You can easily find lunch and/or snacks in the following places:
- Safeway Grocery Store is located on the Sterling Highway in Homer. They have everything a usual grocery store supplies. Their hours are 5:00AM until midnight.
- Boardwalk Bakery is conveniently located on the Homer Spit across the street from Bob’s Trophy Charters. They open at 5:00AM but close by 3:00PM. You can “call in” your order and it will be ready for you to pick up in the AM. Their phone number is 907-235-2131. They are a grab and go, not an eat-in spot. They are located closer to the 6 pack fishing boats, but you can stop in there on the way to the larger vessel docking area.
- Labaleine is open from 5:00am- 4:00pm (closed on Mondays) and they have a sit-down menu as well as a “to go” menu. They are down Spit Road on the left, just a minute past the Salty Dawg Saloon. They are located closer to the larger vessel docking area. Their phone number is 907-299-6672.
- You can also find numerous other dining options through the Homer Chamber of Commerce website.
