• Sterling hunting-fishing enthusiast waits all summer long to find out he caught the biggest
Tribune staff

Chad Aldridge

Chad Aldridge received a phone call on Friday night at about 9 p.m., the soonest Homer Halibut Derby organizer Paula Frisinger could possibly get the news to him.
He had won the champ’s pot in the annual halibut derby contest, $28,260.
Since Aldridge caught his 350.8 pound halibut earlier in the summer on June 19, he had some serious waiting to contend with before finding out if his fish proved the largest.
“I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I kept telling myself someone would beat me. A 339-pounder caught was pretty close. It would have been a tight contest,” Aldridge said.
That halibut was caught on Sept. 25 by Chriss Ryherd of Soldotna.
In the end, however, Aldridge’s fish stacked up as the largest. “This was so completely unexpected, it really was,” he said Monday morning, after a weekend to think over how he might want to spend his winnings. “I really haven’t decided yet, what I’m going to do with it.”
Aldridge grew up in Sterling and served five years in the Navy Seabes, then returned to the Kenai Peninsula. He works at Prudhoe Bay in the Corrosion, Inspection & Chemicals Group. At 32-years of age, he’s married, but has no children.
“I live to hunt and fish. If I’m not on the water, it must be the off season because it’s just not right for me not to be out there,” he said. In previous years, he has fished the halibut derby with friends, but never came close to a prized fish.
“Chad told me he has had a long summer, and will be glad it’s finally over,” derby organizer Frisinger said. “I’m sure it is.”
The Homer Chamber of Commerce sold 14,130 tickets at $2 each for the jackpot of $28,260.
Of the September winners, first place ($1,000) went to Chriss Ryherd for his 339.6 pounder he caught Sept. 25 on North Country Halibut Charters with Capt. Sean Martin aboard the Irish.
Second place ($750) went to Aksel Buholm of Palmer for a 266.8 pounder caught on Sept. 24 on a private boat with Capt. Josh Brooks aboard the Huntress.
Third place ($500) went to Larry Keller of Homer for his 240.8 pounder caught Sept. 27 on a private boat with Capt. Josh Brooks also aboard the Huntress.
Fourth place ($250) went to Jeff Van Landingham of Eagle River for his 202.6 pounder caught Sept. 4 on Good Time Charters with Capt. Jeff Cundiff aboard the Tillie Jane.
The September Lady Angler Winner ($500) is Sheryl Warmblood of Eagle River who caught a 178 pounder on Sept. 17 on North Country Halibut/Spirit Charters with Capt. Mike Swan aboard the Beausoleil.
The September Released Fish Winner ($1,000) was Aksel Buholm of Palmer. He caught and released his halibut on Sept. 24 on a private boat with Capt. Josh Brooks aboard the Huntress.
A total of 53 halibut were released all season.
Aldridge’s monster halibut will also mark the end of an era in the 26-year-old tournament.
Catching the biggest barn door is no longer the focus, say organizers. Those big barn-door halibut are all females. Rewarding people for removal of big, productive females from the population has brought the derby some criticism, though halibut biologists note the few big fish harvested during the derby are a tiny fraction of the large number of big halibut killed in off Alaska’s coast each year.
“Everybody wants the derby to get away from the big fish, so we’re doing it,” said Homer derby coordinator Paula Frisinger. “I think it’s time for a change.”
Next year’s emphasis should be on catching tagged fish worth thousands of dollars, raffles and prizes for released fish, she said.

By Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

Chriss Ryherd (RIGHT)

Chriss Ryherd of Soldotna caught a 339.6 pound halibut Sept. 25, capturing first place for the month. He was fishing with Capt. Sean Martin of North Country Halibut Charters aboard the M/V Irish. His catch came close to challenging the season leader, Chad Aldridge who landed a 350.8 pounder June 19.
Also new in the standings is another Alaskan, Askel Buholm of Palmer who caught a 226.8 pound halibut Sept. 24. He was fishing with Capt. Josh Brooks aboard his boat, the Huntress. He is now in second place for the month.
Eagle River resident Jeff Van Landingham was dropped to third place with his 226.8 pounder caught Sept. 4 aboard the Millie Jane with Capt. Jeff Cundiff.
And, currently holding fourth place for the month, is lady angler Sheryl Warmblood of Eagle River. She caught her 178 pound halibut Sept. 4 aboard North Country Halibut/Spirit Charters’ Beausoleil with Capt. Mike Swan.
There was one released fish this month, bringing the total for the season to 53. No tagged fish have been landed this month.
“We had great action last weekend,” derby coordinator Paula Frisinger said in a press release. “It is turning out to be a big month. It goes to show you that the Derby isn’t over until it’s over, Sept. 30 this Friday at 9 p.m. Only two days left.”

• New lady angler
Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

With a little over a week to go in the Chamber of Commerce’s Jackpot Halibut Derby, the September standings changed by two over the weekend.
Sheryl Warmblood of Eagle River now holds second place with a 178 pounder caught Sept. 17 while fishing with Capt. Mike Swan aboard Beausoleil of North Country Halibut/Spirit Charters. She is September’s new lady angler.
Now in fourth place, Renee Lyons of Denver, Colo. caught a 97.8 pound halibut Sept. 18 fishing with Capt. Billy Joe Adams on his boat.
Dale Lichty of Miller, S.D. holds third place with a 173.6 pound fish caught Sept. 20 with Big Bear Halibut Charters’ Capt.Rob Hyslip aboard the Bear Force 1.
Jeff Van Landingham still holds first with his 202.6 pounder caught Sept. 4 aboard Mille Jane, fishing with Captain Jeff Cundiff of Good Time Charters.
As the contest nears it’s close, Chad Aldridge of Soldotna is still the leader with his 350.8 pounder caught June 19.
September tagged and released still stands at zero and the total released fish for the season is 52.

• The trail is set; more work remains on designated landing sites and other features
Lillian Connor
Homer Tribune

HOMER TRIBUNE/Lillian Connor - A young kayaker sets out to establish the first stage of the newly christened water trail.

The Kachemak Bay Water Trail was christened under blue skies Sunday and calm water, with good cheer and champagne, establishing a trail that will eventually extend as far as Seldovia with marked campsites along the way.
Dave Brann, the organizer and visionary who developed the water trail proposal, said he has been toying with the idea for five or six years.
“This last spring, I really got into it and started promoting the idea after I went to the Alaska Trail Rendezvous,” Brann said. The Alaska Trail Rendezvous is a meeting of trail enthusiasts from around the state held by the National Park Service.
“NPS gave me some websites with a comprehensive guide on how to develop water trails. It made me realize putting this together was possible,” Brann said. “I have walked the Homer side of the bay looking for potential campsites, and at present all of the campsites on the water trail, except the fishing hole campground, are within a state park.”
The completed trail, which marks accessible features, will be around 125 miles and will start at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Hole and end in Seldovia Bay with optional detours. Help from adventurers from kayakers to motorboats, are welcome and encouraged, Brann told a small crowd gathered at the inaugural event, timed to take place along with the Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Festival.
“This is a grassroots project. There are site information forms that boaters can take out with them to help gather more information about landing sites. It’s a great opportunity for people who have cabins to rent or bed and breakfasts to say they want to be a part of this,” Brann told the group.
After the talk, Brann poured champagne for those assembled to commemorate the event. Then participants got into their kayaks, a canoe and a rowboat to travel for the first leg of the trail system from the Fishing Hole to the airport beach. The journey took two hours in calm water under sunny skies.
The trail information forms can be found at the City of Homer parks office, located in the Public Works building across from the animal shelter. Brann put in an application for assistance with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program. If granted, NPS will provide two years of technical assistance. They will help form partnerships with parks, apply for grants and provide help with the process of putting together a water trail, also called a Blue Trail in a national movement to mark significant water ways.
According to Dave Brann, the NPS has helped to develop 82 water trails in the country in the past year. He hopes to hear back from NPS on the status of his application by October.
“By giving people end point information about campsites and designated areas to explore, it encourages people to complete the trail or explore a section of it,” said Brann. By next year he is hoping to have a website with campsite information, designated launch/landing sites and a brochure with a map of the water trail.

•Small but big enough to make the top four
By Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

Photo provided - Currently second place in September standings, Dale Lichty of Miller, S.D. (left) poses with his fish and Capt. Rob Hyslip. He caught the halibut Sept. 10.

Although the 358.8 pounder landed by Chad Aldridge June 19 still holds the lead in the Chamber of Commerce Jackpot Halibut Derby, there are two new place holders in the September line up this week.
Dale Lichty of Miller, S.D. now holds second place with a 173.6 pound halibut landed Sept. 10 while fishing with Capt. Rob Hyslip of Big Bear Halibut Charters aboard Bear Force 1. William Beirne, of Tehachapi, Calif., caught a 91.2 pounder Sept. 7 fishing with Capt. Eric Lehm of North Country Charters aboard the Storm Petrel capturing fourth place.
Jeff Van Landingham of Eagle River stills holds first with his 202.6 pounder caught Sept. 4 aboard the Tillie Jane while fishing with Capt. Jeff Cundiff of Good Time Charters. Third place goes to Sharon Chelewski of Grand Junction, Colo. She caught a 92.2 pounder Sept. 3 while fishing with Capt. Brett Weaver of Homer Ocean Charters aboard the Diamond Cape.
Derby coordinator Paula Frisinger reports that no new released fish have been entered in that contest and no tagged fish have been caught so far this month.

By Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

Photo provided - Racers at least had enough win to get them off the starting line Saturday for the last race of the season but after that the breeze dropped to under two knots, stalling three sailors at the can and delaying the finish. Photo courtesy Amy Russell

Breezes ranged from one to three knots Saturday, making for a very leisurely Labor Day weekend race for Homer’s sailors.
Ron Downing, winner of several races this season, was one of three racers stranded at the green can for nearly an hour. “Then we lost all wind 100 feet from the finish and were sucked toward the ferry dock so I had to turn on the motor (thus disqualifying.)”
Downing said that the initial plan for a course was abandoned due to lack of wind and they just “raced” from the Hickory dock around the green can shoal marker a little west of the Spit, 2.8 nautical miles.
Martha J placed first with actual time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 49 seconds, handicap corrected to 2:06:32; Stella took second with 2:20:18 corrected to 2:10:04; Winter Hawk, third with 2:41:18 corrected to 2:29:31; Alandra’s Lee fourth, 2:50:40 corrected to 2:39:33; Arctica, 2:56:31 corrected to 2:45:46; Dolphin 3:37:36 corrected to 3:27:06; Mariah, 3:35:10, corrected to 3:30:10. Heather’s Dance and Morning Star did not finish.
This was the last race of the season.

By Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

John Perez of McCall, Idaho landed a 229.2 pound halibut Aug. 21 to capture second place in the August standings in the Chamber of Commerce’s Jackpot Halibut Derby, according to Paula Frisinger, Derby coordinator.
He was fishing with Captain Brian Nollar aboard the Belle Ille of the Midnght Sun Charters.
Joanne Gitchel of Walker, Minn. still holds first in the August standings with a 271.8 pounder landed Aug. 4 while fishing with Captain George Eischens aboard his boat the Adak Venture. She also retains the title of Lady Angler for the month.
Coleman King of San Francisco now holds third place with his 190.4 pounder caught Aug. 9 aboard the Donna May with Captain Steve Button of Crystal Sea Charters.
In fourth place is Nicholas Carrico of Oroville, Calif. with a 268.8 pound halibut caught Aug. 2 while fishing with Alaska Fishing Adventures’ Capt. Fred Berney aboard the Grande Alaska.
The 350.8 pounder caught by Chad Aldridge of Soldotna June 19 is still the derby leader.
Seven halibut have been released so far this month, bringing the season total to 50, Frisinger said.
The tagged fish winner this month is Dave Weimer of Junction City, Kansas who captured a $500 fish sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital.

•New winner holds second in August standings
By Randi Somers
Homer Tribune

Two fishermen got lucky last week in the Jackpot Halibut Derby. Coleman King of San Francisco captured second place in the August standings with a 190.4 pounder caught Aug. 9 while fishing with Crystal Sea Charters’ Captain Steve Button aboard the Donna May.
And Dave Weimer of Junction City, Kansas landed a $500 tagged fish sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital.
Soldotna fisherman Chad Aldridge is still the derby leader with his 350.8 pounder caught June 18 while fishing aboard his boat the Seabee.
Joanne Gitchel of Walker, Minn. retains first place in the Aug. standings and the lady angler title with her 271.8 pounder caught August 4 while fishing with Captain George Eischens aboard his Adak Venture.
Nicholas Carrico of Oroville, Calif. holds third with his 168.8 pounder caught Aug. 2 on Tim Berg’s Alaska Fishing Adventures with Captain Fred Barney aboard the Grande Alaska.
In fourth with a 123.8 pounder caught Aug. 6 with Magic Water Charters’ Captain Peter Karwowski aboard the Sorceress is Homerite Kasey Dunkin.
Derby coordinator Paula Frisinger reports that there have been three released halibut so far this month for a total of 46 for the season.

The areas upstream of the two-mile regulatory markers on the Anchor and Ninilchik Rivers and Deep and Stariski Creeks opened on August 1 to fishing for Dolly Varden and steelhead/rainbow trout. Salmon may not be targeted or harvested upstream of the 2-mile regulatory markers.
Anglers need to be aware of the new regulation affecting all Kenai Peninsula streams: A coho salmon may not be removed from the water prior to release; a coho removed from the water counts toward the bag limit of the person hooking it, and must be retained.
An emergency order has been issued to reduce the sport, personal use and subsistence bag and possession limits for littleneck and butter clams in Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay from 1,000 littleneck clams and 700 butter clams to a combined limit of 80 clams.
The marine waters of Tutka Bay Lagoon within 100 yards of the Tutka Bay Lagoon hatchery net pens are closed to sport fishing.
Fresh water
Rivers
The lower portions of the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Stariski Creek are open to sport fishing except for king salmon including jacks. Ninilchik River is open to the harvest of hatchery king salmon but most kings have already spawned.
Silver salmon are starting to arrive in these streams. Fishing has been slow over the last week but should improve over the next couple of weeks. Salmon roe clusters and plug cut herring work the best but spinners and fly fishing flies also catch fish.
Fishing for Dolly Varden has been spotty in the lower stream sections but has been fair to good on the upper sections. Try using small bright spinners, fresh salmon eggs, or fly patterns that resemble fish such as muddler minnows or egg patterns. The daily bag and possession limit for Dolly Varden is two fish.
Steelhead trout hooked in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Stariski Creek and the Ninilchik River must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Pink and chum salmon are available in Kachemak Bay streams. Try Humpy Creek for chum salmon and Dolly Varden.

Lake Fishing
The numerous Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes provide great fishing opportunities. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the Sport Fish website and at ADF&G offices.
In the Homer area, try the Bridge Creek Reservoir for Dolly Varden. A variety of gear is effective including bait, spinners and fly fishing gear.
Salt water
Halibut
Halibut fishing is poor in Kachemak Bay, but fair to good if you travel to central or southern Cook Inlet from Homer or fish out of Anchor Pt. or Deep Creek. Sampled halibut landed over the past week averaged 17.5 pounds (ranging from 7.5 to 92 pounds).
Try fishing around and during slack tide. This allows anglers to keep their bait on the bottom using less weight. Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads and jigs also work well.
Reports of “mushy” halibut, where the flesh is very soft or flabby, sometimes with pockets of jelly-like tissue, are declining. Anglers report that the fish are mushy after being cooked as well. ADF&G has not yet tested these fish, but reports are similar to incidences in 1998 and 2005, which the ADF&G pathology lab diagnosed as a nutritional myopathy. The incidence of flabby or jelly-like flesh can be high for anglers fishing in certain locales, so if you catch a fish that feels flabby, release it immediately unharmed. You might consider moving to a different area to avoid these fish.

Salmon
Silver salmon fishing in Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay was fair to good last weekend at Flat Island, Point Pogibshi and offshore. Trolling has been the most effective way of targeting silver salmon.
Some small schools of silver salmon produced fair fishing at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.
Trolling success for king salmon has been poor in most locations. Some king salmon have been caught while trolling for silver salmon.
Popular trolling set-ups for king and silver salmon include herring, hootchies, tube flies, and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction.

Other salt water fishing
Lingcod fishing has been fair. Many anglers target lingcod near the rock piles and pinnacles by Elizabeth Island and Kennedy Entrance. There is a minimum size limit of 35 inches and a bag limit of 2 per day/2 in possession. A gaff may not be used on any fish intended for release.
Cod, pollock and a variety of flounders are plentiful off the end of the Homer Spit. Try using herring or jigs for the best success. Familiarize yourself with the identification of the different species so you know which ones will be good to eat.

Personal Use
The Kachemak Bay coho salmon gillnet fishery opens Tuesday August 16. A permit is required and available at the Homer ADF&G office.
The China Poot personal use fishery is closed.

Shellfish
No extreme tides this week.
Razor clams can be found on the sandy beaches from Kasilof to Homer and are exposed on minus tides. Tides of minus -2.0 feet or lower are suggested.
Littleneck and butter clams can be found in a variety of habitats from Jakolof Bay to Bear Cove. Try exploring new beaches for success. Typically, littleneck clams are found shallower in the substrate, up to 6”deep while butter clams found up to two feet deep.
The Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast sport and personal use tanner crab fisheries are open through December 31. A free permit is required and available at Fish and Game offices in Homer, Soldotna and Anchorage and at the Fish House in Seward. For tanner crabs, try west of the Homer spit in depths of 250-400 feet of water.
The Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast sport and personal use Tanner crab fisheries are now open. A free permit is required and available at Fish and Game offices in Homer, Soldotna and Anchorage and at the Fish House in Seward.
Shrimp, king crab and Dungeness crab fisheries in Cook Inlet are currently closed. Personal use (Alaska residents only) shrimping is open in the North Gulf coast and a free permit is required.

By Randi Somers

“Where has the summer gone?” Jackpot Halibut Derby coordinator Paula Frisinger asks rhetorically as she submits the mid-August standings.
Although Soldotna’s Chad Aldridge still leads with the 350.8 pounder caught June 19, some new monthly leaders have joined the winners.
Jeanne Gitchenl of Walker, Minnesota holds first place in the August standings with a 271.8 pounder caught August 4 fishing with Captain George Eishens aboard his boat the Adah Venture.
In second place, Nicholas Carrico of Oroville California caught a 268.8 pounder August 2 while fishing with Tim Berg’s Alaska Fishing Adventures aboard the Grand Alaska with Captain Fred Berney. In third is Homer’s Kasey Dunkin with a 123.8 pounder caught August 6 aboard the Sorceress with Captain Peter Karwowski of Magic Water Charters.
In addition to leading the August standings, Gitchenl is the new August Lady Angler.
So far there have been no released fish nor any tagged fish this month.