Weather & Harbor Conditions Update
Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament – Harbor Conditions Update, March 20, 2026
Like much of Alaska, Homer continues to experience unusually cold temperatures for this time of year. These conditions over the past several days have increased the thickness of ice in the side areas of the harbor, and very little of that ice has moved out.
While the extended forecast is beginning to improve—with daytime temperatures expected to reach the upper 20s and 30s this weekend—overnight lows are still forecast to remain in the teens. Based on current harbor conditions and the forecast, it is highly unlikely that the ice will clear sufficiently to safely hold the tournament on the 28th.
As a result, the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament will be postponed to Saturday, April 4.
This decision ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for our anglers while also providing clarity for travel and work planning.
We recognize that moving the tournament into April means anglers will need to follow the fishing regulations that take effect on April 1. Holding the tournament in March is always our goal, but this year’s weather and harbor conditions present too many safety concerns to do so responsibly.
Here is a little history of the past delays for the tournament. The Tournament has been delayed 8 times in its history: 4 times it was delayed one day, 3 times one week, and it has not been delayed 2 weeks since the very first tournament in 1994.
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these challenges. The safety of our anglers, participants, and harbor users remains our highest priority.
If you are currently registered and unable to attend on April 4, please email wkt@homeralaska.org with your name, team name, and best contact information.
Updates will be sent directly to registered and past tournament anglers. You can also follow the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information, or contact the Homer Chamber of Commerce at 907-235-7740.
Thank you for your continued support of the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament.
Join Us for the 2026 Winter King Tournament
How to Register
- Review the "Currently Registered Teams" list below to see if your boat has already been registered.
- If your boat is NOT listed, click on "Register a New Team" and fill out the registration form.
- If your boat IS already listed, choose your boat under "Register to an existing boat" to register yourself to that boat.
- If you do not know your boat, click "Register to an existing boat" and choose the boat named "Don't Know Boat Name" to register yourself. We will assign you to a boat later.
- Side Tournaments: You can add the Boat Side Tournaments anytime after you register for the tournament. Side Tourneys are entered by Boat/Team not by individuals and you can select up to 5 categories. You can see the live Side Tourney entries in the green tab on the right side of this page.
- Adding Side Tourney Selections: If you have already registered your Boat/Team, select "View Currently Registered Teams" on the registration page. Select your Team name then click "Edit Team". You will need to enter the email address that the Team was registered under. Select the Team Name (not an angler). You can now select up to 5 categories for your Team. Then follow the instructions to make your payment.
- To View Teams Registered In The Side Tourneys, along the right side of this Registation page, there is a green bar that says "Boat Side Tourneys". Click that link and you can see the Teams registered under each of the Side Tourney categories.
*** If your boat was registered in the last tournament, start typing the boat name under "Register a New Team" and it should come up. Do not create a new name if possible. Thank you ***
Registration Fee
The cost to register an angler in the tournament is $150.
Winter King Salmon in Kachemak Bay
The Homer Chamber of Commerce and the Winter King Salmo Tournament Committee regularly consult with our area biologists to ensure this one-day tournament does not have a negative impact on the native Lower Cook Inlet king salmon population. Please review this statement about WINTER KING SALMON IN KACHEMAK BAY to better understand this fishery.
Rules
- Tournament rules: Click here to view & download the rules.
- The Youth Category is for those aged 12 and under.
- King Salmon Restrictions in the Cook Inlet Salt Waters: Click here to view Emergency Orders. Recent EOs go into effect on April 1.
- All prize-winning fish will be gutted and inspected.
- Vessels and anglers violating ANY tournament rules and State/Federal guidelines will be permanently banned from entering future tournaments sponsored by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
Weigh In and Event Area Information
The Event Area is on the west side of the Harbor called the Deep Water Dock, just south of the Harbormasters Office. Using the Outer Dock Road, you can drive down to the event area to offload your fish to be weighed, then continue on to the parking area. You can view a map of this area using the link on the right side of this page.
2026 Registration Form
2026 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament Registration
