Fish the Kenai River for salmon one day and the waters off Homer for halibut the next. A full day on the Kenai with us is $300 per person, and a full day of halibut fishing out of Homer with Homer Halibut Hunters, our Homer halibut operation, is $400 per person. Book both and you get 5% off: $300 plus $400 is $700, or $665 per person after the discount, plus sales tax.
The two days
Day 1: the Kenai River. A guided day for sockeye or silver salmon, depending on the date, with all gear included. Full day (7 hours) $300 per person, or 3/4 day (5 hours) $250 per person. From mid-July, when the Kenai is full of sockeye, a 3/4 day is often all you need, and it runs twice a day, morning or afternoon.
Day 2: Homer. Homer Halibut Hunters runs four boats a day from the Homer Spit, with the same local team you fish with on the river. Choose the trip that suits you:
| Homer trip | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 3/4-day halibut | $350 |
| Full-day halibut | $400 |
| Halibut and salmon combo | $450 |
| Halibut and rockfish combo | $450 |
| Multispecies: halibut, rockfish and salmon | $500 |
Prices don't include sales tax.
Where you meet
You drive yourself to each trip, so it works wherever you are staying, in an RV, a hotel or a rental:
- Kenai River: the Pillars Boat Launch, about halfway between Soldotna and Kenai. From Soldotna, take the Kenai Spur Highway toward Kenai and turn left on Silver Salmon Drive.
- Homer: the Homer Harbor boat launch on the Homer Spit. Meeting time: Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time. As you come onto the Spit, turn left at Freight Dock Road.
When to go
- Halibut fishing out of Homer runs from May 15 to September 30, and is best from June 1 to September 15.
- Kenai sockeye usually peak in the last week of July. See the Kenai River run timing.
- Kenai silvers: the early run from August 1 to August 31, the late run from September 1 to September 30.
- Early in the season (May 15 to June 10), many guests book two days of halibut. In that window we pair Homer with a day on the Kasilof River instead of the Kenai.
Weather on the halibut day
The open water off Homer depends on the weather. Sometimes we have to cancel a halibut trip, and sometimes we change it to a shorter trip in more protected water:
- If we cancel for weather, a mechanical problem or safety, you get a full refund or we reschedule you.
- If we downgrade your trip, we refund the difference in price within a week.
- We decide on the morning of the trip when we have to, and the night before whenever we can.
September has more weather days than midsummer. When the weather cancels a halibut trip, we do our best to reschedule you.
Taking your fish home
For guests who fish with us, we process, freeze and ship fish for $3.49 a pound. Most guests find it cheaper to check their fish on the plane in an airline-approved box. Read how to ship your catch.
How to book
The two days book separately: the river day with Kenai Sportfishing, the halibut day with Homer Halibut Hunters. For the 5% multi-trip discount, call us at (907) 268-2925, email info@kenaisportfishing.com, or send the package request form, and we’ll fit the days to the best fishing for your dates.
Kenai River salmon: $300 full day, $250 3/4 day
Homer halibut with Homer Halibut Hunters: $350 3/4 day, $400 full day
More halibut trips are on our Homer halibut fishing page and at Homer Halibut Hunters.
Questions about the Kenai and Homer combo
How much does a Kenai River and Homer halibut combo cost?
A full day on the Kenai River is $300 per person and a full day of Homer halibut fishing is $400 per person. Book both and you get 5% off, so the two days come to $665 per person, plus sales tax.
Who runs the halibut trip?
Homer Halibut Hunters, our halibut operation in Homer. It runs four boats a day from the Homer Spit.
Where do the Homer halibut charters meet?
At the Homer Harbor boat launch on the Homer Spit. Meeting time: Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time. As you come onto the Spit, turn left at Freight Dock Road.
What happens if the halibut trip is cancelled for weather?
You get a full refund or we reschedule you. If we change your trip to a shorter one in more protected water instead, we refund the difference within a week.
When is the best time for a salmon and halibut combo?
Late July for Kenai sockeye, or August and September for Kenai silvers. Halibut fishing out of Homer is best from June 1 to September 15.