Sutton man kicks of halibut derby

If you're going to be the first entry in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, it's a good idea to have a big fish.

Mark Clark, a Sutton resident, officially got the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby under way on May 1 when he weighed in the first fish of the contest -- a 202-pound halibut.

"It's certainly one of the largest we've seen that early in May," derby organizer Linda Winters said. "Normally, the bigger fish don't start showing up until the later part of May and into June."

While the halibut would need to be at least 100 pounds heavier to contend for the overall title, based on previous derbies, Winter said Clark may win some money.

"I bet he finishes in the top five for the month of May," Winters said. "That's a pretty good sized fish, especially for the first fish of the derby."

Clark was fishing on the "Wildcat," operated by Captain Mike's Charters in Homer.

Derby tickets are $10 each, and $2.75 of every ticket goes into the overall jackpot. This year's top prize should be around $45,000, based on last year's sales.

In 2003, the jackpot was $46,302. In addition to the overall prize, there are five monthly prizes, ranging from $1,000 to $125.

For the fourth year in a row, the derby is offering a chance drawing for catch and release fisherman.

To be eligible, an angler must catch and release a halibut weighing at least 80 pounds, have a derby ticket and register the catch at derby headquarters. At the conclusion of the derby, a drawing from all the participants will take place, with the winner pocketing $10,000.

There are also 101 tagged fish swimming around, but you better have a ticket to cash one of those winning tickets in.

"We've already had one tagged fish caught by someone who didn't have a derby ticket," Winters said. "It happens every year. At least the guy released the fish, so it's still swimming around out there, waiting to be caught by someone who has a ticket."