248-pound halibut takes derby lead Photo provided

Friday was a day of firsts for Jesus "Skip" Torres III of Elmendorf Air Force Base. Not only was Friday the first time he had been halibut fishing, Torres caught a 248-pound halibut that has catapulted him into the lead of the Homer Chamber of Commerce Jackpot Halibut Derby.

"This was the first halibut of Skip's life and what a fish tale he has to tell," said Paula Frisinger, derby coordinator. "It took Skip about 45 minutes to bring it in and with total disbelief, to say the least, shocked that it was really real."

Torres also was fishing in the first Veterans Halibut Fishing Tournament, an event occurring simultaneously in three Alaska ports: Homer, Whittier and Valdez.

"…(H)aving an outstanding day fishing aboard the Ocean Hunter, they stayed out fishing all day and not realizing the time, didn't make it to the weigh-in time to take the port prize for the veterans tournament of $500," said Frisinger, adding that was the least of Torres' worries. "Where was he going to put all the halibut fillets?"

The 248-pounder also reshuffles derby leaders for the month of May. They are:

• First place, $1,000: Torres;

• Second place, $750: Cassandra Keyes of Taos, N.M., with a 199.4-pound halibut caught May 5 aboard the Huntress while fishing with Capt. Josh Brooks of Bob's Trophy Charters;

• Third place, $500: Stephen Christensen of Wasilla with a 183-pound halibut caught May 22 aboard the Huntress while fishing with Capt. Josh Brooks of Bob's Trophy Charters;

• Fourth place, $250: Chuck Redd of Wasilla with a 130.8-pound halibut caught May 10 aboard the Huntress while fishing with Capt. Josh Brooks of Bob's Trophy Charters.

Although no longer leading the derby, Keyes remains the leading lady angler for the month of May.

"She will have to make a decision whether she will take the second place or Lady Angler," Frisinger said. "She will not get both and we have a lady angler of 109-something waiting to find her luck."

One tagged fish, worth $500, has been caught this month. Three fish have been released.

In the Veterans Halibut Fishing Tournament, each port awarded the top halibut a $300 prize, with the biggest over-all halibut won a prize of $500. Timothy Heath of Elmendorf Air Force Base was the overall winner with a 112.2-pound halibut. The winner for the port of Homer was Scott Crook of Elmendorf AFB with an 81-pound halibut.

Other fish caught out of Homer in the veterans tournament included a 78.6-pound halibut landed by Roger Miller of Fort Richardson and a 65.2-pound halibut reeled in by Jamieson Barnes, also of Fort Richardson.

"The men and women were so impressed with Homer and what great fun they all had and very appreciative and what great captains and were so thankful for what everyone has done to make this an extraordinary day," Frisinger said. "They hope they do this again and I heard a lot of we will be back down to Homer."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.