Homer Alaska - News

No one knows that better than Olvera and Capt. Ben Martin of North Country Halibut Charters. Olvera, 25, caught her monster fish Aug. 28, while fishing with Martin aboard the Fringe Benefit.

"I know it sounds so mean to say, but I hope nobody catches anything and I hope no boats go out," said Olvera, who is keeping one eye on the clock as it nears the official end of the derby at 9 tonight.

Martin has his eyes fixed on the number of boats heading out of Homer in search of a fish bigger than Olvera's monster.

"These last couple weeks of September have been kind of long, but I think we've got it," said Martin. "There's very few guys out there. Probably two or three fishing. My boats already pulled out of the water and I'm completely packed up for the season."

Martin and his clients, including Olvera and her husband, John, were drifting for lingcod about 50 miles out of Homer, in 130 feet of water near the Barren Islands when Olvera hooked the halibut.

"At first she thought she was snagged on the bottom, which happens quite often, but when it happens the line usually spools off the reel really fast. That wasn't happening. It was taking line, but moving in a different direction from our drift," said Martin, who worked for eight years as a deckhand before becoming a charter captain four years ago. "So, when I looked at it, I was skeptical that she'd snagged the bottom."

Martin ordered others fishing on the boat to bring their lines in, giving Olvera center stage. She immediately began the hard work of lifting the fish from depths, a chore that took about 40 minutes.

"I got a belt on her and kind of sat there and coached her through it, telling her to ease the fish up, not force it, just work it really slowly," Martin said. "She got it all the way by herself. Her husband held onto her a little bit toward the end, but she never let anyone else crank that thing."

It took Martin and two others to lift the fish from the water to the boat. Measuring 87 inches from one end to the other, the halibut did a good job of filling the 28-foot boat's deck.

"I radioed a couple other guides and they said it probably weighed 300 pounds," Martin said.

Recognizing it was a money fish and knowing how quickly weight can be lost once a fish is out of the water, Martin moved the boat into an area he knew the others on board could catch their two-halibut limit in short order. Then he pointed the Fringe Benefit toward Homer Harbor, arriving about three and a half hours later.

"Luckily for us, it was a cloudy, misty day and the sun wasn't beating down on the fish. We kept it wet. Another hour out there and we probably would have fallen below the mark," said Martin.

To help pass the time between Olvera's catch and tonight's end of the derby, Martin has kept himself busy. Not so much so, however, that he's forgotten about the approaching deadline and his and Olvera's opportunity to be top money-winners.

I've been down on the docks a lot lately, helping put boats away," he said. "But every once in awhile, I glance over at the derby board and make sure I'm still there." Olvera, who serves with the Alaska National Guard 297th Military Police Company out of Wasilla and did a tour in Iraq from 2004-2005, also has plenty on her mind, namely a change of residence scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 9, the same day as the derby awards ceremony. She and John, who serves in the U.S. Army and is stationed at Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks, are due to sign a new lease Oct. 8, and complete the move the following day.

"I won't be able to go down (to Homer)," Olvera said. "It's like a 14-hour drive and we'll be moving. I could fly down, just me, but my husband wants to go, too, so I don't know."

Derby Coordinator Paula Frisinger knows that on this, the last day of the derby, "anything can happen. The derby isn't over until it's over."

At the stroke of 9 p.m., Frisinger will announce the official winner, with the prize money awarded at the Bidarka Best Western Inn Oct. 9. Exactly how big the prize will be is determined by the number of tickets sold.

"Things are looking really good this year, so I'm estimating it will be over $40,000," Frisinger said.

It's not too late to get in on the action. Every $10 ticket-holder, even those not fishing, is eligible for the "barndoor prize."

"Everybody that bought a ticket goes into a drawing with the winning one getting $500," said Frisinger said. "Anybody that wants to still buy a ticket can get in on it. Just come on down to the chamber."

The 2009 Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby was won by Tom Youngblood of Homer. Youngblood hooked into the 354-6-pound prizewinner June 26, while fishing with In-2-Fishin Charters Capt. Ron Hurley aboard the Sweet T. Youngblood's winning check was for $40,440. Hurley won $4,044.

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

SIDEBAR:

Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby

Standings for the month of September

As of Sept. 27

n First place, $1,000: Alan Eischens of Wasilla, 174.2-pound halibut caught Sept. 7 on the Mini Bandit, a private boat;

n Second place, $750: Susan Williamson of Homer, 158.2-pound halibut caught Sept. 16 while fishing with Alaska Premier Fishing Capt. Travis Larson aboard the Venturess;

n Third place, $500: Robert Culp of Lindale, Ga., 155-pound halibut caught Sept. 15 while fishing with Bob's Trophy Charters Capt. Josh Brooks aboard the Huntress;

n Fourth place, $250: Pam Hanshaw of Homer, 152-pound halibut caught Sept. 5 while fishing with Capt. Willie Eben on a private boat, Real Fun Sr.

Williamson holds bragging rights at lead lady angler for the month.

Tagged fish caught this month include:

n $10,000 tag: Lori Jarvis of Eagle River, caught Sept. 6 on while fishing with Nautilus Charters Capt. Lloyd Gailey aboard the Knot Yet, tag sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank;

n $500 tag: Marshall Smith of The Woodlands, Texas, caught Sept. 6 while fishing with Captain Scott's Sportfishing Capt. Scott Glosser aboard the Mako, tag sponsored by Sea Lion Cove;

n $500 tag: Robert Breshears of Burney, Calif., caught Sept. 10 while fishing with Captain Scott's Sportfishing Capt. Scott Glosser aboard the Mako, tag sponsored by Alaskan Cottages;

n $1,000 tag: Jonathan Morris of The Woodlands, Texas, caught Sept. 10 while fishing with Captain B's Alaskan C's Adventures Capt. Bryan Bondioli aboard the Ashtikan, tag sponsored by Bob's Trophy Charters;

n $1,000 tag: Danielle Gagmen of Fritz Creek, caught Sept. 14 while fishing with Captain Scott's Sportfishing Capt. Scott Glosser aboard the Mako, tag sponsored by Beluga Lake Lodge.

A total of 17 tagged fish have been caught since the derby began May 1, but only 12 have been caught by anglers with derby tickets.