April 21, 2026 — With spring in the air and higher prices for halibut and black cod, optimism is blooming at Alaska’s largest firm selling fishing boats and permits.
“We are heading into this year with some real optimism,” said Doug Bowen, founder and consultant for Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer, the biggest marine brokerage in Alaska. “We are seeing better prices for halibut, sablefish and salmon.”
Early spring harvests of halibut brought fishermen $9.25 a pound in Homer and Seward, the highest price ever, Bowen said.
“We are up to a much better start than in the last couple of years,” said Maddie Lightsey, Bowen’s daughter, who serves as president and owner of the company. “The industry on the whole was on the bottom for a while. 2025 was kind of a rebuilding year, with people still trying to recover from the crash. We are seeing a lot more people trying to sell boats than to buy.”