Say, fishing aboard the vessel Waterwheels, landed a 28.5-pound fish to claim the top prize.

Photographer: Aaron Selbig, Homer News Robert Say, winner of the 2009 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament's top prize, poses with his 28.5-pound beauty.

"I'm speechless," said Say after claiming his check for $16,683. "This is my first time being a winner. We've been fishing in this thing for six years and only came in fourteenth one time. I'm psyched."

Although an agreement with his three shipmates on the Waterwheels to split the winnings will only leave him with $4,170.75 before taxes, Say said he already had plans for his share.

"I've been eyeing this Camaro for awhile and now I think I've got a good down payment for it," he said.

It was a lucky start for the crew of the Waterwheels. Seas were rough at the 9 a.m. start of the tournament, with 5 to 6-foot swells on Kachemak Bay proving a challenge for smaller boats, but with their lines in the water for less than 20 minutes, the Waterwheels boys already had two fish. Waterwheels Captain Joel Wheeler, who caught the first one, came in 15th with his 21.4-pounder.

Kevin Scheele of Eagle River, fishing aboard the Memory Maker, came in second with his 27.3-pounder while Robert Fisher of Anchorage claimed third with a 26.8-pound king. Gregory Stone, also of Anchorage, and Kenny Jones of Soldotna finished fourth and fifth respectively.

At the fun-filled weigh-in party following the day's fishing, Wheeler was awarded the John Hillstrand Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the late John Hillstrand, and took home $8,362.50 in side bet winnings.

A total of 804 anglers, aboard 227 boats, participated in this year's tournament, catching a total of 70 fish. The total catch was similar to last year, when 793 people brought in 72 fish.

The top 10 finishers, who each took home a cash prize, claimed a total of $60,225 while side bet winners took home $41,156.29. The tournament's sponsor, the Homer Chamber of Commerce, handed out a total of more than $110,000 in cash and merchandise.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com.