Idaho Man Collects Check For More Than $15,000 For Homer Halibut Derby Win

Homer Halibut Derby

Congrats to Idaho’s Sam Mills, who brought home a cool $15,000 and change for winning the recently concluded Homer Halibut derby.

Mills and his wife Katrina accept the winnings. Photo by Karen Howorth/Homer Chamber of Commerce

Here’s more from our friends at the Homer Chamber of Commerce:

The 2017 Jackpot winner is Sam Mills of St. Maries, Idaho, whose halibut weighed in at 240.0 pounds.  Sam and his wife Katrina returned to Homer for the awards ceremony to accept Sam’s check for $15,241.  Sam was fishing on the peninsula in July while Katrina was at home for their anniversary, she came accompanied Sam as a belated anniversary gift.

Sam’s charter captain, Captain Chris Andrews of the Nautilus II of Alaska Coastal Marine, was responsible for helping Sam catch the BIG ONE. He was awarded $1524.10 for doing so. Rosanna Hunting from Central Charters was awarded $1000 for selling the winning derby ticket.
There were 10,482 tickets sold which included 173 youth tickets.  In early spring, sponsors and volunteer captains tagged and released over 75 halibut in preparation for the 2017 season.  Tagged fish were valued at $250, $500 and $1,000.  Anglers who caught a prior year tag received $100.  There were three 2017 tagged fish caught paying out a total of $2,500; one 2016 tag and two 2015 tags caught.
Unfortunately, no anglers caught the $10,000 Homer Chamber of Commerce or $50,000 GCI tagged fish this year.  Five youth winners were drawn at the “After Season Party” Wednesday, September 20, 2017.