Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby Will Be Retired After This Year’s Event

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

After 34 years, the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center Board of Directors has decided to retire the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby at the close of this year’s Derby on September 15, 2019.  

The Inaugural Homer Jackpot Derby began on Memorial Day, May 26, 1986. The winner that year was a local fisherman, Tony DeMichelle who won $5,000 for his 312-pound fish.  While the Chamber has always celebrated the largest fish weighed, the tournament was diversified by awarding prizes for both tagged fish and released fish.

The Chamber is grateful to all the sponsors and volunteers who have supported and made the Derby successful for so many years.  Don’t despair, Homer is is still the “Halibut Capital of the World” and the Chamber plans to premiere a two-day Halibut Tournament in June 2020.

Historical information on the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby can be found at homeralaska.org/jackpot-halibut-derby.html