24.5-Pound Salmon Wins Homer Winter King Tournament

The following press release is courtesy of the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center:

On Saturday, March 2, the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center held the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament which celebrated its 25th Anniversary.

Here are the stats from the event:
379 Boats
1,264 Anglers
170 Fish Caught
105 Fish Weighed, from the winning fish of 24.6 pounds to the smallest of 5.85 pounds

Top 3 Anglers:

1. Charlie Edwards of Fritz Creek, Alaska, with a fish weighing 24.6 pounds  fishing on the Optimist with Captain Daniel Donich of Daniel’s Personalized Guide Service. Edwards also won
the top White King category. Edwards was also entered in the maximum side bet categories. Edwards payout is $56,902.50 Edwards has been fishing the tournament for all 25 years, fishing with Captain Donich off and on for those 25 years. Edwards’ usual
fishing crew had boat problems this year so fortunately the Optimist had space for him.
Captain Donich and Edwards have a great relationship, Edwards is a welder and during the busy fishing season if the Optimist needs any work done Edwards is able to do any welding work and have the Optimist back in the water so fishing can continue. Edwards
was awarded the NOMAR champion red vest and his pick of Oakley Sunglasses.

2. Jerry Huff of Soldotna, Alaska, with a fish weighting 20.95 fishing with 2017 Tournament Champion Ron Johnson on the Olyjohn. Huff won 3 side bet categories with winnings of
$35,367.00

3. Janet Donnell of Sterling, Alast with a fish weighing 20.75 fishing on a private boat. This was Donnell’s first tournament. They purchased a new boat and decided to give the
tournament a try. Donnell wins $11,376.00 in cash.
4. Todd Bareman of Anchor Point with a fish weighing 20.10 aboard the Catcher
5. Vernon Pate of of Kenai with a fish weighing 20.10
6. Zachary Marley of Homer with a fish weighing 19.70 aboard the Fly Dough. Marley also took home the Kids Prize.
7. Bill Pawliski of Anchor Point with a fish weighing 19.45.
8. Johnlars Lindberg of Anchorage with a fish weighing 19.20.
9. Mike Shea of Eagle River with a fish weighing 19.15 aboard the Aquaholic.
10. Sean Carpenter of Homer with a fish weighing 19.5.
11. Bryan Shields of Anchorage with a fish weighing 18.8 aboard the Diamond Cape.
12. Curt Schmidt of Soldotna with a fish weighing 18.55 aboard the Fish Magnet.
13. Brad Connely of Anchorage with a fish weighing 18.55 aboard the Pole Bender.
14. Robby Switzer of Homer with a fish weighing 18.5 aboard the Kinak.
15. Blake Larson of Kenai with a fish weighing 18.45 aboard the Tunnel Vision.
16. Tanner Stengel of Homer with a fish weighing 18.4 aboard the Kinak.
17. Shane Benya of Homer with a fish weighing 18.25 aboard the Brown Chicken Brown Cow.
18. Emily Stafford of Homer with a fish weighing 17.70 aboard the Kinak.
19. Elwood Brehmer of Anchorage with a fish weighing 17.4 aboard the High Card Murder.
20. David Bacon of Anchorage with a fish weighing 17.40 aboard the Klam Daddy.

The total payouts were over $160,000 in cash and prizes.
We would like to thank our Major Sponsors: Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware, K&L Distributors, Alaska Brewing Company, NOMAR, Oakley Alaska and Coal Point Seafood.
Other major donors: Denali North Events, Serendipty Event Rentals, Coal Point Filters, Ohlson Mountain Water, Loopy Lupine and Alaska Waste, Yeti and local internet provider SpitWSpots.
This year there has been substantial efforts towards king salmon conservation. The Tournament committee and Chamber Directors are committed to the long term sustainability of the winter king fishery and we want to say a special thank you to the anglers this year who have supported the tournaments conservation efforts by harvesting one fish.