The commercial sector is in charge of monitoring the biomass of Halibut in the Pacific. The info from Ian Stewart (lead scientist for the International Pacific Halibut Commission) was Quoted from: Alaska fish radio…referencing the bio mass of halibut as IT looks from COMMERCIAL fishery surveys and data collection. The Upsides for sport fishing is that we are not looking for the volume so much as increase in average catch for the fish we land on charters. Located in the Central Gulf looks like the place to be moving ahead…and little know FACT is historically,

Yakutat has the Highest average per charter boat landing for years already.

“Because we are moving past a period of low numbers of fish recruitment from 2006 through 2010, Stewart said stock declines are projected over the next several years. But there are some encouraging signs –

Trends seen in the survey on both coast wide halibut weights and catches ticked upwards by 6 percent.

That’s based on what was pulled up per units of effort, meaning a standard “skate” of gear that is 1,800 feet long bearing 100 hooks.

Total weights in the Central Gulf were up 24% – but other Alaska regions didn’t fare so well.

Weights per unit were down 5% in Southeast and down 6% in the Western Gulf. They were a mixed bag of small 2% to 3% changes along the Aleutians, but weights increased by 8% in the Bering Sea.”}

This data shows a decline in weights in SOUTHEAST Alaska areas such as Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Hoonah, Craig etc..ALL of the lower panhandle down 5%. Also the western Gulf witch is generally Homer,Seward, Whittier, Valdez, Kodiak, All  Central fishing ports seeing a 6% average weight drops. This is over a large testing procedure that shows THOUSANDS of landed halibut and the results.

So IF you still wondering where to go for you best chance at larger halibut and easy access to the CENTRAL GULF fishing area,

you should consider Yakutat Alaska as your best bet when it comes to Ocean Charter Fishing.

Scott Chadwick
YakutatCharters.com