North Country Charters is one of the oldest charter operations in Homer, family run since 1979 and one of the few in the port that is woman co owned. Owners Sean and Gerri Martin began running halibut trips in 1978 and built North Country into a deep fleet of named boats and captains, from the big Irish that fishes a larger group down to six packs for private trips. The crews come up well in the reviews for being attentive with first timers, and the company handles the full job at the end, cleaning, filleting, and arranging processing and shipping. Across more than 340 TripAdvisor reviews it has one of the longest track records in Homer.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 North Country is a strong choice and one of the most established names in Homer, carried by decades of operation and a deep, capable fleet. It suits anglers who want a long running local operation, a range of boats to match a group, and the convenience of processing and shipping handled for them. It ranks in the strong tier rather than higher for two honest reasons that pull at value and service: the prices are not posted online, so you have to book through the reservation system to see a rate, and a handful of reviews describe real friction, a crowded big boat where not everyone could fish at once, a crew that quit early on a slow day, and one that allowed smoking on board. None of that is a safety issue, and the weight of decades of reviews is positive. For the newest boats compare Homer Fishing Adventures; for the top of the port see Maverick. The full field is on the Homer ranking.
The boats
North Country runs a multi boat fleet under a roster of named captains, which is the strength and the complication. The headline boat, the Irish, is the large boat that takes a bigger mixed group and books private for up to 22, and the fleet also includes six packs such as the Tuff Stuff, a 35 foot Bertram under Capt. Jay Keller, and the Irish Mist. The fleet has turned over its captains and boats over the years, as a 45 year old operation will, so the specific boat and captain you draw depends on the trip and the season. The big boat gives you a stable platform and a cheaper seat; the six packs give you a smaller group. The one thing to confirm is how many anglers are booked on the big boat, since the rail can get crowded.
The fishing and what you target
North Country fishes Pacific halibut as the mainstay, on full day and long range trips and a three quarter day option outside peak season, under the 2026 Area 3A charter limit of two a day, one of any size and one under 27 inches, with retention closed Wednesdays and Tuesdays from June 2 to August 25. Combo trips add king and silver salmon, and the boats fish rockfish and Pacific cod on the bottom. The long range option reaches farther grounds for a better shot at bigger halibut. The menu is broad and matched to the port, and the deep fleet means there is usually a boat sailing for whatever is open.
Trips and prices
This is the weak point on transparency: North Country does not post dollar rates on its site. Booking runs through its reservation system, where you see the price and where child, senior, and group rates apply, and the rates land in Homer’s normal full day range rather than above it. The Alaska license, the halibut stamp, and the processing fee are separate, but the crew cleans and fillets your catch and the company arranges processing and shipping, which is a genuine convenience and one reviewers praise. Not posting a price is a real mark against an operation in a port where several competitors post theirs in full, and it is part of why value scores lower here. Our cost guide sets Homer’s going rates in context, and the party boat versus private charter guide helps you choose between the big boat and a six pack.
The crew
The crews are the heart of North Country’s reputation. Reviewers describe captains and deckhands who are attentive to novices, encouraging, and willing to go the extra mile, and many report limiting out on halibut. The processing and shipping are handled smoothly. The honest qualifiers are a small cluster of service complaints that recur enough to note: a party of six on the big boat found only three could fish at once and felt the boat was oversold, a full day trip that the crew ended early at around one o’clock, and a captain who allowed smoking on board. These are service and experience complaints rather than safety issues, and they sit against a long, mostly positive record, but they are the kind of inconsistency that keeps the score in the strong band rather than higher.
Booking and what to know
North Country books through its reservation system from the Spit at 4287 Homer Spit Road, and child, senior, and group rates apply, so it is worth asking. Decide between the big Irish and a six pack, and on the big boat ask how many anglers are booked so you know what to expect at the rail. Bring warm waterproof layers, food and drink, and motion sickness medicine, and buy your Alaska license and halibut stamp ahead. The crew cleans and fillets your catch and the office arranges processing and shipping, which is one of the smoother parts of the trip. Confirm the day before in case the weather moves your date.
How we scored it
North Country earns its 7.8 on one of the longest track records in Homer, a deep fleet, attentive crews, and full processing and shipping. Track record is its strongest factor, reflecting decades under one family. It is held in the strong tier by unposted prices, which weigh on value and transparency, and by a handful of recurring service complaints about a crowded big boat and effort on a slow day. See how we scored this boat and the rest of the Homer charters we rank.