The Southern Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association annual halibut derby wrapped up on Sunday in Ketchikan, with the largest fish coming in at 147 pounds, 6 ounces.

The lunker was caught by Garry Garrison, who will take home the first place cash prize of $2,500. Garrison also caught the third largest fish, a 135 -pound, 6 ounce halibut.

Second place went to Les Ramsey, who caught a 144 pound, 6 ounce halibut.

On the women’s leaderboard, Sophia Stichle won first place with a 72 pound, 5 ounce halibut. And in the Kids Division, Tallyn Latterly was first with her 34 pound, 1 ounce halibut.

The smallest halibut weighed in was a 6-pound, 6-ounce chicken caught by Michael Greer.

Pam Roth, executive officer for the building association, said the derby seemed to go well in its fourth year. They’ll know more once they count the tickets sold.

“Unfortunately our first two years we lost money,” she said. “Last year we broke even, so we’re really hopeful that this is our breakthrough.”

According to organizers, 113 fish were weighed during the final weekend. Over the three-weekend derby, anglers checked in 237 fish.
Roth said smaller leader weights from the first two weekends might have challenged people to participate the final weekend. This was the second year that a prize was offered for the biggest fish. Previously the derby offered only hidden-weight prizes, for a weight chosen randomly after the derby is complete.

Roth said that drew some complaints.

“So we changed the structure of our derby to have the biggest fish for those people who complained mightily wanting to get a big fish, and our hidden weight,” she said. “And the hidden weight allows people that don’t necessarily want to get a big fish to come in and weigh a fish and then they can win that second prize. And that second prize is any fish between 20 pounds and 150 pounds.”

The hidden weight will be chosen this week. Roth said a picnic and awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Ward Lake. A raffle ticket drawing also will take place at 3 p.m. during the picnic.

Proceeds from the derby go toward the association’s scholarship program.