Ketchikan Salmon Trip

With A Surprise 60lb Halibut

While trolling for salmon near Ketchikan, Alaska, my wife Sarah Campbell hooked into a surprise catch—a feisty halibut estimated at 50–60 pounds. Caught on salmon gear with 30-pound test line, the fish gave her a solid fight, making multiple strong runs before she brought it to the boat.

We were thrilled to land it, especially on such light gear. If it had been much larger, we likely would’ve released it—big halibut often have coarser flesh and aren’t considered as good to eat. This one, however, was the perfect size for the table—firm, clean, and delicious. A great example of the unexpected excitement you can find while fishing in Southeast Alaska!

While our specialty is providing top-tier salmon experiences, stories like this show why people love being on the water here. Even when we aren’t bottom fishing, the local resource is so healthy that a nice halibut might just decide to grab a trolled lure.

This Ketchikan salmon trip turned into a multi-species adventure when this hungry halibut decided to grab a trolled salmon lure. While we focus our charters on the “Salmon Capital” experience, the diversity of the Inside Passage always keeps things interesting.

View our Ketchikan Alaska Fishing Charter Rates for your next private outing. We specialize in Cruise Ship Fishing and provide the latest Ketchikan Fishing Reports to keep you updated on the action. See The Boat & Gear | 4 C’s to see how we’re rigged for success.