Halibut Derby

Let the fishing begin

By McKibben Jackinsky For the Homer News Get your ticket, bait your hook and catch a winner. It’s almost that easy with all the prize-winning… Continue reading

 

(left to right) Homer Chamber of Commerce Board President Tom Stroozas, Derby Mascot King Hal, 2016 Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner Austin Nelson, Derby Coordinator Kim Royce and HCOC Executive Director Karen Zak pose with Nelson's derby photo and check for $15,419.50 at the Homer Halibut Jackpot Derby award event on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby awards thousands to lucky anglers

When Austin Nelson, a member of the U.S. Army and the angler who reeled up a 252.2-pound halibut in mid-August, found out he won the… Continue reading

 

Austin Nelson of North Pole caught his 252.2-pound halibut on Aug. 16, beat out the prior derby leader by a mere 1.2 pounds. He now will make upwards of $15,000 on his lucky catch.

Derby ends, North Pole angler named winner

After holding the top derby position for about a month, Austin Nelson of North Pole is officially the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner. His winnings… Continue reading

 

Austin Nelson of North Pole beat out the current derby leader by a mere 1.2 pounds. Nelson caught the new top halibut on Aug. 16.

North Pole angler snags derby lead

The pace is picking up in the race for the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner. On Aug. 11, Daniel Spies of Soldotna reeled in a… Continue reading

Austin Nelson of North Pole beat out the current derby leader by a mere 1.2 pounds. Nelson caught the new top halibut on Aug. 16.

North Pole angler stands to win $15,000 in derby

As the end of the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby draws near, the top place is still held by Austin Nelson from North Pole and his… Continue reading

Left-handed halibut are rare - there are about 1 in every 20,000 caught. Most halibut are flat with eyes on the right side.

First lefty halibut caught

Tyler Dullum of Reno, Nev., caught the first left-handed halibut of the 2016 season on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Dullum was fishing with Captain Bryan Bondioli… Continue reading

Left-handed halibut are rare - there are about 1 in every 20,000 caught. Most halibut are flat with eyes on the right side.
Greg Betts of Boise, Idaho, became the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby's new derby leader on July 30 with his 244-pound catch.

Angler takes Jackpot Derby lead with 244-pound catch

Greg Betts from Boise, Idaho took the lead spot in the Jackpot Halibut Derby with a 244-pound halibut. Betts was fishing with Capt. Mike Crawford… Continue reading

Greg Betts of Boise, Idaho, became the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby's new derby leader on July 30 with his 244-pound catch.

Derby update

Kim McCallum of San Antonio, Texas, brought in a 149.9-pound halibut. McCallum’s catch was 17.3 pounds short of the 167.2-pound derby leader. McCallum reeled in… Continue reading

Kim McCallum of San Antonio, Texas, caught a 149.9-pound halibut on July 26, however the fish falls short of the current lead derby weight.

Anglers miss derby position without tickets

Two anglers in the last week found themselves pulling giant halibut out of the ocean without a derby ticket to their names. David Pudlosky of… Continue reading

Kim McCallum of San Antonio, Texas, caught a 149.9-pound halibut on July 26, however the fish falls short of the current lead derby weight.
Lita Lubitsh-White of Anchorage poses with the 2016 tagged fish she caught on Sunday, July 17.

Anchorage woman catches 2016 tagged fish

The halibut derby had nine days of quiet before another angler brought in a fish, as the last fish worth money was a 2015 tagged… Continue reading

Lita Lubitsh-White of Anchorage poses with the 2016 tagged fish she caught on Sunday, July 17.
Gayle Muggli of Miles City, Mont. caught a 167.2-pound halibut on July 8 while fishing with Homer Ocean Charters.

Angler takes lead in derby by two pounds

Three days after the derby gained a new leader with a 165-pound halibut caught by a Washington State woman, Gayle Muggli of Miles City, Mont.,… Continue reading

Gayle Muggli of Miles City, Mont. caught a 167.2-pound halibut on July 8 while fishing with Homer Ocean Charters.
Patricia Perkins of Anchorage poses with the 2014 tagged fish she caught on July 2.

Washington state woman takes lead derby spot

Alisa Sands of Lake Stevens, Wash. snatched up the title of derby leader when she caught a 165-pound halibut on July 5. Sands caught the… Continue reading

Patricia Perkins of Anchorage poses with the 2014 tagged fish she caught on July 2.

Homer resident still holds top seat for halibut derby

Palmer resident still holds top spot in halibut derbyTwo more anglers caught tagged fish in the week of June 13. However, none overthrew Marcella Kolberg… Continue reading

First tagged fish of the season caught

Anglers visiting Homer from various spots in the Lower 48 caught four tagged fish in the past two weeks, according to Jackpot Halibut Derby coordinator… Continue reading

Andrew VanderPlaat of Pendleton, Ore., shows off his tagged halibut worth $500.-Photo provided

Oregon angler reels in $500 tagged fish

Last week’s big Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby news was the 335-pound halibut caught by 16-year-old Jackson Hobbs of Franklin, Idaho. This week it’s a 12.6-pound… Continue reading

Andrew VanderPlaat of Pendleton, Ore., shows off his tagged halibut worth $500.-Photo provided
Unhappy angler Bill Brock of Anchor Point shows off a photo of the tagged halibut he caught Sunday. Reason for his frown: Brock didn’t have a derby ticket. -Photo provided

Good, bad news in Homer jackpot Derby

There’s some good new and some bad news in this week’s Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby action. The bad news comes from Bill Brock of Anchor… Continue reading

Unhappy angler Bill Brock of Anchor Point shows off a photo of the tagged halibut he caught Sunday. Reason for his frown: Brock didn’t have a derby ticket. -Photo provided
Jason Mecham shows off the 111.80-pound halibut he caught, also on Aug. 3.-Photo provided

Oregon angler still holds big-halibut lead in derby

Oregon angler Ned Friedman can breathe a sigh of relief. He and his 227.8-pound halibut are still in first place in the Homer Jackpot Halibut… Continue reading

Jason Mecham shows off the 111.80-pound halibut he caught, also on Aug. 3.-Photo provided
Kevin Anderson of Crystal, Minn., brought in this 94.2-pound halibut July 21 while fishing with Capt. Mark Sutherland of Bob’s Trophy Charters.-Photo provided

Halibut spread derby message

When it comes to spreading the word about the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, why not let the halibut do it?  That was the case with… Continue reading

Kevin Anderson of Crystal, Minn., brought in this 94.2-pound halibut July 21 while fishing with Capt. Mark Sutherland of Bob’s Trophy Charters.-Photo provided
Capt. Greg Northover, left, and Ned Friedman show off Friedman’s 277.8-pound halibut.-Photo provided

Oregon angler takes derby lead with 277.8-pound fish

An Oregon angler has taken the lead in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby’s big-fish category with a 277.8-pound barndoor caught Monday. Ned Friedman of Chiloquin,… Continue reading

Capt. Greg Northover, left, and Ned Friedman show off Friedman’s 277.8-pound halibut.-Photo provided
With the tag securely clenched between his teeth, Jim Morgan shows off his catch worth $1,000. -Photo provided

Anchorage angler catches tagged fish worth $1,000

As last year’s third-place winner in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, Jim Morgan wasn’t in the running for cash prizes. This year the Anchorage angler… Continue reading

With the tag securely clenched between his teeth, Jim Morgan shows off his catch worth $1,000. -Photo provided
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