We’ve posted some information below to help answer some of your questions. An excellent planning resource is the Homer Chamber of Commerce website. They'll send you the annual Homer Visitor's Guide, and their site is a useful tool to make your trip of a lifetime much more enjoyable.
Q: “Why ‘Poi Boy Fishing’?”
A: Well, since Kent is from Hawaii, and we love to eat poi, we figured it was a cute name for our business.
Q: “What’s the deal with your logo?”
A: We modeled it after an ancient Hawaiian petroglyph that symbolizes the fisherman. We took a little bit of artistic license by widening the body and putting both eyes on the top of the head to look like a halibut. A little Alaskan/Hawaiian fusion if you may.
Q: "Are Homer fishing charters safe?"
A: Two Homer charter boats sank in 2007. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Life rafts, satellite beacons, redundant systems, etc., are not required by law. As you shop around, ask other charter companies if they have a US Coast Guard 5 Star Safety Rating. We do. Ask them if they have a self-inflating life raft & EPIRB. We do. If they don’t have these life-safety items, ask them “why not?” We have first-hand experience with danger at sea. Read about the dramatic rescue we were involved with in March 2008. We don’t post these issues here to scare you, but to assist you in making the safest, most informed decision for you, your friends, and your family.
Q: "Do you guarantee that I’ll catch anything?"
A: No. We guarantee we’ll try our hardest to make your trip as safe, comfortable, and fun as possible. Since we’ve been in business, our guests have limited out on halibut every time except for two unlucky days. Remember, it’s called “fishing”, not “catching”.
Q: "When's the best time to fish in Homer?"
A: Visit this link to the ADF & G publication “Kachemak Bay”. This is a great overview of our fishery and includes run timings for all species. Halibut are available year round, May through September being the most reliable. We like mid-May to mid-July for king salmon, although feeder kings are always available in smaller numbers. Silver salmon show up in mid-July and are available through mid-August. Ling cod season opens on July 1st and is dynamite through August. Rockfish are available all summer.
Q: "Where should I stay?"
A: There are many options available, depending on your personal preference. Motor homes are a popular way to go. Great Alaskan Holidays and ABC Motorhomes offer the largest selection, and they're deeply discounted outside of the peak summer months. Our favorite campground is Kyllonen’s RV Park in Anchor Point, 15 miles up the road. There are many public and private campgrounds in Homer and on the Spit. Homer has one major chain motel and many independent ones. Our favorites on the Spit are Lands End Resort and Spit Sisters B & B. In town, we like the Driftwood Inn, Ocean Shores, and Best Western Bidarka Inn. There are lots of bed & breakfast businesses that are very nice.
Q: "Where should I eat?"
A: Homer has some pretty good eats. You can choose from Mexican, sushi, wood-fired oven pizza, and of course, seafood. Our personal favorite is Try my Thai buffet.
Q: "What's the weather like?"
A: Homer is the unofficial "banana belt" of Southcentral Alaska. Typically, our weather is mild and comfortable in the Summer, 40s at night, 60-ish during the day. We have nice sunny days, but we get our fair share of rain too. It gets breezy in the afternoons, so windblocker fabrics work best.
Q: “How do I get to Homer?"
A: Homer is accessible via a beautiful five hour drive from Anchorage on a modern, paved highway. There are many stretches of road that are 4-lane with passing lanes during the steep parts, and a 65 mph speed limit in some. Take your time though, and enjoy the sights along the way. Two regional airlines, ERA and Grant Aviation, serve the Homer airport from Anchorage. You can be here in 45 minutes and rent a car when you get here.
Q: "What kind of license do I need?"
A: A fishing license is required for all anglers 16 years of age and older. Additionally, a king salmon stamp is required if fishing for kings. Non-resident license and stamp fees are:
1-day sport fishing license...........$ 20 1-day king salmon stamp..........$ 10
3-day sport fishing license...........$ 35 3-day king salmon stamp..........$ 20
7-day sport fishing license...........$ 55 7-day king salmon stamp..........$ 30
14-day sport fishing license.........$ 80 14-day king salmon stamp........$ 50
Annual sport fishing license..........$145 Annual king salmon stamp........$100
You can buy your license online via this link to the ADF & G website, or locally when you arrive. We sell licenses on board, so you can wait until the day of your charter if you choose.
Q: “Will I get seasick?”
A: Sometimes the seas are idyllic, smooth, and glassy, but that’s not always the case. Roughly 10% of our clients experience seasickness. We recommend pre-medicating unless you know for sure that you are not susceptible to motion sickness. There are many over-the-counter remedies, but our experience has shown that the most effective is Scopolamine patches, worn behind the ear like a tiny band-aid. Unfortunately, it’s only available by prescription, but well worth the trip to your doctor. The patches last up to three days, provide time-release doses of the drug, and are usually very effective for preventing nausea.
Q: "What happens to my fish when we get back to the dock?"
A: We work with Coal Point Seafood Company and Ed’s Smokehouse & Fish Processing in Homer. Either company will pick up your catch boat-side, transfer it to their plant, custom process your fillets, vacuum wrap, and freeze. We recommend 1 pound portions for halibut, skin off, and ling cod, skin on. For salmon, we recommend whole fillets, skin on. They'll store your fish until you’re ready to leave, or they can pack and ship FedEx or UPS to your home or business. Anchor Point Seafoods offers the same service, but you have to run your fish the 15 minute drive up to their plant. These companies charge about $1-$1.50 per pound, plus shipping box and materials. FedEx or UPS charges are anywhere between $4 to $6 a pound depending on where you’re shipping to. The most inexpensive method is to check your fish in as part of your baggage allowance, 50# limit (a full 48 quart cooler will make it just under this limit). Airline baggage limits change frequently, so check with them and plan accordingly.
Hint: Check in a 48 quart cooler of clothes as your one bag allowance. Pack a roll-aboard bag full of clothes and a soft sided duffel in it as your one carry-on item. On your return home, pack your fish in the cooler, clothes into the duffel, check these two in, and pay the over bag limit fee (still cheaper than shipping).
Q: “Do you attend any trade shows where we can meet you in person?”
A: Yes. You can find us in March at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show in Wasilla, and in April at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show in Anchorage. We tried to exhibit in Sacramento in January of 2009, but we received poor and unfair treatment by the show’s management, International Sportsmen’s Exposition. For our friends in San Mateo, Sacramento, Denver, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, we recommend not attending any ISE shows.
Email us: poiboyfishing@alaska.net