9-year-old leads Homer halibut derby with 104.4-pounder

A Fairbanks boy owns an early lead 11 days into the summer-long Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.

Darren Benedetti, 9, landed a 104.4-pound halibut caught while fishing Friday with on F/V Diamond Cape with Homer Ocean Charters.

Last year's winner was Austin Nelson of North Pole with a 252-pounder caught in August. For three straight years, the biggest halibut has weighed less than 300 pounds.

The prize for the biggest fish is $10,000, plus 50 cents for each derby ticket sold.

[Homer launches halibut derby, hopeful of a return to hefty winners]

[North Pole angler captures Homer halibut derby with 252-pounder]

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Benedetti's age as 12 years old. He is 9 years old.