Coming north on an Alaska halibut fishing trip can be exciting and a bit overwhelming. Dressing properly for your halibut fishing trip can make the difference between a good time and an uncomfortable time. The weather in Alaska no matter what time of year can be unpredictable. There are two certain precautions that one can take to make sure he or she isn’t caught off guard.

First, always dress in layers. Even in the peak of summer the mornings can be darn right cool, sometimes even cold. Your base layer should always be a quick wicking synthetic. I always advise against cotton fabrics. Cotton isn’t near as breathable nor has the wicking power of the synthetic garments. Cotton, when wet takes forever to dry and can leave the fisherman uncomfortable for the extent of the halibut fishing trip. So stick with synthetic base layers. After the base layer you may add as many long sleeve shirts as the weather report calls for. The beautiful thing about dressing in layers is that you can shed off layers anytime you wish and put layers back on when you are feeling chilly. There are many great types of light-weight fleeces being made today. The best type of fleece you can have on is one that is light-weight and that can stop the wind. When you are heading out to the halibut fishing spots you might be on the back deck of the boat, usuallly in the morning. The back deck can be quite cool and the wind can chill the bone. A good fleece will stop the wind and make you feel nice and cozy. In addition to the layers, a medium to light-weight coat should be brought along. You’ll sure wish you brought one on a cold Alaskan morning.

Wearing the proper pair of pants can also be critical for comfortable. I highly advise against the wearing of jeans. Cotton jeans when wet are miserable and won’t dry for the entire time of your halibut charter. Again, try and wear a synthetic blend pair of pants. As for footwear, I recommend a light-weight wool sock and a waterproof boot of some kind.

Finally, one of the most important precautions to take on any fishing trip is to bring along the best rain gear that you can afford. Both the pants and the jacket are a must due to the unpredictable weather in Alaska. It can look beautiful out in the morning and by mid-day it’s pouring rain and the temperature could drop ten degrees or more. Always bring rain gear, if you don’t bring anything else, always bring rain gear.

Always dress in layers and always bring rain gear. Those two precautions will ensure you being comfortable on your halibut fishing charter, leaving you to fully concentrate on catching those huge halibuts.