Two Brothers Two Days Two Halibut Two 200 Pounders
Brothers team up to tackle derby By McKibben Jackinsky Homer Tribune   Learning from someone else's mistake could have been a valuable lesson for brothers Terry and Bob O'Brien, of New Jersey. In Homer for the halibut, they each decided to purchase a $10 Homer Chamber of Commerce Jackpot Halibut Derby ticket after Doug Judge, charter captain of The Restless, related another fisherman's sad tale.   "On June 20, I had someone catch a 310-pound halibut, but didn't have a ticket," said Judge, who has been a charter captain for 15 years. Of the six fishermen on the boat that day, five purchased tickets. The sixth fisherman saved $10, but lost a shot at the prize money. That was all the O'Briens needed to convince them to enter the derby.   While fishing with Judge on July 14, Terry O'Brien reeled in a 208-pound halibut. Back out on the water the following day, Bob one-upped his brother with a 217.2-pounder, missing out on the month's prize money by just a few ounces.   The chamber sells an estimated 17,000 derby tickets every year for the May 1-Sept. 30 event. Out of each $10 ticket, $2.75 goes toward prize money for the biggest haIibut and 25 cents per ticket goes to the captain of the boat catching the prize-winning fish. Reprinted Courtesy of Homer Tribune July 21st, 2004