GoToAK Video / Meteorologist Scott Elnes / Weekend In Kenai, Part Two: BOOM Halibut in Ninilchik

When you hear a gun go off in Cook Inlet, people rejoice. People know the gun is not being used in anger, but to help bring a sizeable halibut on board a vessel. That noise was heard in Cook Inlet when I was there, and it was on OUR boat!

After our Kenai King adventure, we headed down to Ninilchik to see one of the only shore launch (if not THE only) halibut fisheries in the world. First we stopped in at the Meander In B&B and had a grand time soaking up the views and hanging with Sugar, the friendly dog that greeted us at the doorway.

The Meander In sits right on the Ninilchik River with a view that is hard to beat. The river literally meanders through the valley below you, and our host Mike says that often times a mother moose returns to calve and can be seen for days at a time, and bears have been known to make their presence known as well.

Our 5 a.m. wake up call led us to the beach and a rendezvous with Saltwater Adventures. Skipper Barry Wright literally hung a sign on his jewelry business in downtown Anchorage (mid-tourist season) saying due to emergency halibut fishing, our business is closed and hasnt looked back since.

You HAVE to see the video of the shore launch, which is unique to Ninilchik. You literally are taken by John Deer to the shore and within minutes are on the fishing grounds. It takes SECONDS for the fish to show up. So many fish that we were able to be picky about what we kept and what we tossed back.

Oh, and yes, the BOOM of the pistol is caught on tape. But relax, you dont need to cover your earsjust open your eyes.

The limit for halibut is still TWO in Ninilchik and if you dont reach your limit, you get a FREE trip from Salt Water Adventures! We had NO problem reaching limit, if you know what I mean. Im literally nibbling on the bounty as I type this. The keyboard is getting sticky. Yummy.

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