For 34 years, the Homer Chamber of Commerce has held the Jackpot Halibut Derby running through the summer months. In 2020, this has shifted to the First Annual Homer Halibut Tournament on July 2 and 3. It will be a two-day fishing tournament to see who can pull in the biggest “barn door” and come home with the jackpot.
The cost to enter is $100 per person, and that includes both days. Anglers can also enter side tournaments for a multi-species grand slam and other challenges. There will also be prize drawings throughout the tournament. The first-place prize is 35% of the entry fees, so the more fishermen who show up, the bigger the potential prize.
Tournament headquarters and weigh-ins will be held by the Deep Water Dock in the Homer Harbor at the end of Freight Dock Road. There will be an event area set up in that same section of the harbor. This year, the public events such as food trucks, beer gardens, music, and award ceremonies will be announced closer to the event date so they can be conducted in compliance with COVID-19 Alaska State Health Guidelines.
The Homer Halibut Tournament will normally be held the first Friday and Saturday of June. For the inaugural 2020 tournament, the date was moved to July to better comply with the state Health Mandates. The Homer Chamber’s goal is for as many people to “enjoy fishing in Alaska’s premier fishing waters.”
