First Halibut of the Season - Alaska - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Kardinal_84 · 05-10-2015, 07:50 PM

Nothing to brag about other than its the first halibut of the season. Maybe 15 pounds. But at 10.99 a pound even in Alaska for Headed and gutted halibut, that's easily a hundred dollar bill on top of some really good eats! Launched in good weather, landed in good sized breakers and white caps.

It only gets better and bigger from here through July! Woohoo!

https://youtu.be/uum0-1DvrSk

FISH11 · 05-10-2015, 08:55 PM

Good eats there. Congrats.

chancy94 · 05-10-2015, 10:03 PM

Nice one man!

nickc5 · 05-11-2015, 06:20 AM

What part of Alaska are you in? I'll be on the Kenai out of RWs lodge June 21-28!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kardinal_84 · 05-11-2015, 06:42 AM

I'm in Anchorage. Grew up in Kenai though. You should have a blast! Maybe if ya have a day, we can get ya out!

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

nickc5 · 05-11-2015, 09:28 AM

NICE man!!! I'm flying into Anchorage and driving down to the lodge. I won a 5 night stay which includes 3 salmon charters in a tournament i won in California. Im going to be staying for a few extra days to explore and see what else Alaska has to offer.

Catching some Alaskan Halibut on a yak would be sick! Let me know how we can link up. Also, any tips and general information that would make my trip even better would be great. Im really looking forward to this trip.

How can i contact you?

Kardinal_84 · 05-11-2015, 10:56 AM

Sweet. Let's get ya out!! Start with my email. Guidesak at hotmail dot com. I'm not a guide so no worries. Lol. If you are not average size bring up a dry suit. Bring one anyways. Lol. If all else fails I'll loan you a mini x or an outback. The mini x is easier transporting and you'll be able to fish about anywhere. Outback obviously is more ideal but a harder vacation transport. Perfect timing for halibut i'd think.

I'll have to look at dates again. I plan hours ahead for fishing so it's hard to wrap my mind around fishing next month. lol.

Let's fish!!!

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

grey zone · 05-11-2015, 05:41 PM

Nice fish Rudy, I'll be up there at the end of next week and will be trying for rainbows. I hope 2016 I can get to the halibut fishing.

Kardinal_84 · 05-11-2015, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey zone

Nice fish Rudy, I'll be up there at the end of next week and will be trying for rainbows. I hope 2016 I can get to the halibut fishing.

Sweet!! Make sure you holler when ya get here! 2016? Uh no. This year! Let's fish!!!!

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

grey zone · 05-11-2015, 07:08 PM

I like the way you think!

Kardinal_84 · 05-12-2015, 08:57 AM

Lol. It just seems like a major angling sin to be so close for so long and not try it. Wind and current can be a major pain and dangerous but if you shorten your window of exposure and pick a good day, it doesn't get any easier to catch a few good halibut than cook inlet. 30 to 50 ft of water and through the month of May, there are good kings too!!!

Not directed at you specifically but it would be CRAZY for anyone in your situation not to give it at least a try!!!!!

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

Kardinal_84 · 05-12-2015, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey zone

Nice fish Rudy, I'll be up there at the end of next week and will be trying for rainbows. I hope 2016 I can get to the halibut fishing.

Next week? Like 22nd?
Where do you plan to rainbow fish? The Upper and Middle Kenai is going through their trout closures and the lakes are just starting to open up.

Keep in mind, I sponsor a kayak derby this year at the end of May. 30 & 31 to be exact. It'll be halibut only. Probably no better time than when a dozen or more folks are on the water. Cook Inlet always seems less intimidating with company.

I thought you said Sterling right? Maybe we can go check out Hidden Lake after it opens up. I want to try and add Lake trout to the list of fish caught from my kayak. They just aren't as good of eating as Kings or halibut. And yah, I am a meat fisherman first and foremost. I know too many people who enjoy fish, aren't as fortunate as I am to get out and fish, nor can they pay 25 bucks per pound for fillets of halibut or toll kings either. Hopefully thats not a problem with all the folks.

grey zone · 05-12-2015, 12:28 PM

I will be arriving on the 22nd and staying through the 30th. I read somewhere that you were hosting a halibut tournament the last weekend of May. The first thing that I will be doing is looking for a truck to buy, I need a vehicle.

I'm going to fish the middle Kenai. I'm on the south shore between river mile 39-40 which is slightly before you get to Sterling from Anchorage. My subdivision is a mile past the end of Funny River Rd. and that puts me about 18 miles from Soldotna. I have access to the river through my subdivision so I thought I would put my waders on and walk/wade the shore while the water levels are low and try out some new flies. I picked up some sculpin patters, dolly lamas and some washed out flesh flies. I know the rainbows are spawning now and all the tributaries and a mile above the lower Kiley river is closed but the river is open to rainbow fishing where I'm at. I caught several rainbows last July in this area while fishing sockeye. I don't know my idea will work but its fun riding the quad down to the river and trying for a few hours.

Kardinal_84 · 05-13-2015, 07:25 AM

Got it. Well maybe you can show me a spot on the middle River! I lived in Kenai 1971 to 1984. I know every rock and tree from the pillars down. My first time EVER fishing the middle Kenai (except swiftwater for reds) was three years ago!! Lol. Meat fisherman so I know very little about the upper and middle Kenai.

I have sponsored a derby the past two years for kayaks. A dozen to twenty folks. Need more participation. I've won my own derby both years. Not cool. Lol. Talk about narcissistic fishing....run your own derby to win it. Haha. It'll be halibut may 30&31 at whiskey gulch.

Well stay in touch! Spoke with Nick from the boards. Hope to fish with him too.

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

Fishin Phil · 05-13-2015, 05:10 PM

Nice report Rudy. Keep them coming.

Kardinal_84 · 05-13-2015, 06:23 PM

Oh grey zone, I'm no fly fisherman but through June through August, try some big bright articulated bright red (not washed out) flesh flies. Big bows are keying in on scraps tossed into the river by anglers cleaning the Reds.

Almost guaranteed to catch a big bow if you can find a section of river accessible by bank anglers fishing Reds and target the bows below where people are cleaning their fish.

When bait is legal, people hammer the big ones on shrimp. You never hear about it because if someone says they do it, they get BLASTED by the purists. But the flies seem to work pretty dang well.

AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

05-10-2015, 07:50 PM	#1
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	First Halibut of the Season - Alaska Nothing to brag about other than its the first halibut of the season. Maybe 15 pounds. But at 10.99 a pound even in Alaska for Headed and gutted halibut, that's easily a hundred dollar bill on top of some really good eats! Launched in good weather, landed in good sized breakers and white caps. It only gets better and bigger from here through July! Woohoo! https://youtu.be/uum0-1DvrSk

05-10-2015, 08:55 PM	#2
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,642	Good eats there. Congrats. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

05-10-2015, 10:03 PM	#3
chancy94 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 62	Nice one man! __________________ Explore More http://voidventure.blogspot.com/

05-11-2015, 10:56 AM	#7
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	First Halibut of the Season - Alaska Sweet. Let's get ya out!! Start with my email. Guidesak at hotmail dot com. I'm not a guide so no worries. Lol. If you are not average size bring up a dry suit. Bring one anyways. Lol. If all else fails I'll loan you a mini x or an outback. The mini x is easier transporting and you'll be able to fish about anywhere. Outback obviously is more ideal but a harder vacation transport. Perfect timing for halibut i'd think. I'll have to look at dates again. I plan hours ahead for fishing so it's hard to wrap my mind around fishing next month. lol. Let's fish!!! AlaskaKayakFisher.com Guidesak.blogspot.com My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

05-13-2015, 05:10 PM	#15
Fishin Phil Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 288	Nice report Rudy. Keep them coming. __________________ God, Family, Your Health, You're Fishing.

05-11-2015, 06:20 AM	#4
nickc5 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Placentia Posts: 186	What part of Alaska are you in? I'll be on the Kenai out of RWs lodge June 21-28! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-11-2015, 06:42 AM	#5
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	I'm in Anchorage. Grew up in Kenai though. You should have a blast! Maybe if ya have a day, we can get ya out! AlaskaKayakFisher.com Guidesak.blogspot.com My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

05-11-2015, 09:28 AM	#6
nickc5 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Placentia Posts: 186	NICE man!!! I'm flying into Anchorage and driving down to the lodge. I won a 5 night stay which includes 3 salmon charters in a tournament i won in California. Im going to be staying for a few extra days to explore and see what else Alaska has to offer. Catching some Alaskan Halibut on a yak would be sick! Let me know how we can link up. Also, any tips and general information that would make my trip even better would be great. Im really looking forward to this trip. How can i contact you?

05-11-2015, 05:41 PM	#8
grey zone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 158	Nice fish Rudy, I'll be up there at the end of next week and will be trying for rainbows. I hope 2016 I can get to the halibut fishing.

05-11-2015, 07:08 PM	#10
grey zone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 158	I like the way you think!

05-12-2015, 08:57 AM	#11
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	Lol. It just seems like a major angling sin to be so close for so long and not try it. Wind and current can be a major pain and dangerous but if you shorten your window of exposure and pick a good day, it doesn't get any easier to catch a few good halibut than cook inlet. 30 to 50 ft of water and through the month of May, there are good kings too!!! Not directed at you specifically but it would be CRAZY for anyone in your situation not to give it at least a try!!!!! AlaskaKayakFisher.com Guidesak.blogspot.com My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

05-12-2015, 12:28 PM	#13
grey zone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 158	I will be arriving on the 22nd and staying through the 30th. I read somewhere that you were hosting a halibut tournament the last weekend of May. The first thing that I will be doing is looking for a truck to buy, I need a vehicle. I'm going to fish the middle Kenai. I'm on the south shore between river mile 39-40 which is slightly before you get to Sterling from Anchorage. My subdivision is a mile past the end of Funny River Rd. and that puts me about 18 miles from Soldotna. I have access to the river through my subdivision so I thought I would put my waders on and walk/wade the shore while the water levels are low and try out some new flies. I picked up some sculpin patters, dolly lamas and some washed out flesh flies. I know the rainbows are spawning now and all the tributaries and a mile above the lower Kiley river is closed but the river is open to rainbow fishing where I'm at. I caught several rainbows last July in this area while fishing sockeye. I don't know my idea will work but its fun riding the quad down to the river and trying for a few hours.

05-13-2015, 07:25 AM	#14
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	Got it. Well maybe you can show me a spot on the middle River! I lived in Kenai 1971 to 1984. I know every rock and tree from the pillars down. My first time EVER fishing the middle Kenai (except swiftwater for reds) was three years ago!! Lol. Meat fisherman so I know very little about the upper and middle Kenai. I have sponsored a derby the past two years for kayaks. A dozen to twenty folks. Need more participation. I've won my own derby both years. Not cool. Lol. Talk about narcissistic fishing....run your own derby to win it. Haha. It'll be halibut may 30&31 at whiskey gulch. Well stay in touch! Spoke with Nick from the boards. Hope to fish with him too. AlaskaKayakFisher.com Guidesak.blogspot.com My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

05-13-2015, 06:23 PM	#16
Kardinal_84 Alaskan Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 73	First Halibut of the Season - Alaska Oh grey zone, I'm no fly fisherman but through June through August, try some big bright articulated bright red (not washed out) flesh flies. Big bows are keying in on scraps tossed into the river by anglers cleaning the Reds. Almost guaranteed to catch a big bow if you can find a section of river accessible by bank anglers fishing Reds and target the bows below where people are cleaning their fish. When bait is legal, people hammer the big ones on shrimp. You never hear about it because if someone says they do it, they get BLASTED by the purists. But the flies seem to work pretty dang well. AlaskaKayakFisher.com Guidesak.blogspot.com My personal pages...I'm not a guide.