Gustavus, Alaska

Captain Mike Halbert runs customized sportfishing charters and whale-watching excursions out of Gustavus in the Glacier Bay area of Southeast Alaska, tailoring trips for all skill levels; he has fished these waters since 1985.

Glacier Bay Country Inn runs all-inclusive saltwater fishing packages from Gustavus, targeting halibut, king and coho salmon, lingcod, and yelloweye rockfish on the calm inside waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait—a short transit that virtually eliminates seasickness. Gustavus ranks among Alaska's top halibut ports, with trophy fish commonly exceeding 100 pounds and occasional catches over 300 pounds. Packages include lodging, guided fishing on 28-31 ft heated cabin boats, fish processing, and meals featuring local seafood.

Based in Gustavus at the mouth of Glacier Bay, this operation targets the king salmon that pour through Icy Strait from the Gulf of Alaska on their way to rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest—concentrating fish from hundreds of river systems into one passage. Coho, halibut, and rockfish round out the season from June through September. The short run to the fishing grounds and sheltered inside waters make Gustavus one of the most comfortable launching points for big-fish saltwater charters in Southeast Alaska.