Finally, a hefty 250-pound-plus halibut has grabbed the lead in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.
Ned Friedman of Chiloquin, Oregon, landed a 278-pound flatfish Monday to wrest the lead in the summer-long tournament from Molly Malthby of Michigan, whose 197-pounder had owned the top spot since early June.
Friedman fished Monday on Greg Northover's boat FV Quintessence of Alaska Arctic Sun Fishing & Hunting Expeditions.
Oddly enough, an hour before Friedman weighed his fish, Mark Meaders enjoyed a brief stint in the top spot with a fish less than a pound heavier than Malthby's.
Friedman's fish is bigger than the 236-pounder that won last year – but far smaller than the 323-pounder that captured the 2012 derby.