"As soon as he hit it, he knew he had a big fish," Hurley said.

After 20-30 minutes of exhaustive reeling, Youngblood hauled aboard a 96-inch, 354.6-pound barn door. That puts him -- for now -- in the derby's lead spot.

However, as Youngblood is painfully aware, there's plenty of fishing time remaining before the derby, which began May 1, finally ends Sept. 30.

"It's going to be about six months," Youngblood said, anticipating the seemingly long wait to find out who takes home first prize.

The biggest fish caught since 2007, Youngblood's 354.6-pound lunker is definitely a strong contender for the derby. It's the fifth-largest halibut catch since the derby started in 1986, and one of five halibut weighing more than 350 pounds. The record derby halibut was a 376-pound fish caught in 1996 by Jerry Meinders of Willmar, Minn.

Fishing with Youngblood Friday was former derby coordinator Linda Winters. When Winters worked as derby coordinator, she couldn't enter the derby, so this was the first time she had bought a ticket.

Winters, now living in Montana, was visiting with her husband, Jack, and brother Monty Boston.

Only Youngblood got a halibut bite. His fish was the first catch of the day, and, knowing he had a contender, Hurley raced back to port.

"It was a great day," Jack Winters said. "I didn't catch a fish, but it was a great day and I loved it."

Not content to sit on the sidelines, Youngblood isn't calling it quits. He definitely has plans to keep fishing in the derby.

"Oh yeah," he said. "You never give that up."

Paula Frisinger, coordinating the derby for the second year, said June was an exciting month, with more excitement to come.

"I think we will be seeing a lot of big halibut coming in," she said Friday.

"July and August are really rocking fishing months. It is still anyone's fishing adventure."

Following are standings for the month of June:

* First place: 354.6 pounds, Thomas Youngblood of Homer, caught June 26 on In-2-Fishin Charters with Capt. Ron Hurley aboard the Sweet T;

* Second place: 235 pounds, David Moore of Gill, Colo., caught June 13 on Poi Boy Fishing and Wilderness Lodge with Capt. Kent Haina aboard the Last Laugh;

* Third place: 203.2 pounds, Anthony Hady of Fallbrook, Calif., caught June 28 on Alaska Anglers Charters with Capt. "Hammer" Jonathan Larson aboard the Diamond Cape;

* Fourth place: 198.2 pounds, Joe Richards of Leominster, Mass., caught June 14 on Big Bear Halibut Charters with Capt. Brandon Hyslip aboard the Bear Force II.

* Top lady angler for the month: 158.6 pounds, S. June Schatz of Fort Rice, N.D., caught June 16 on Alaska Adventure Fishing Charters with Capt. Doug Judge aboard the Restless.

Tagged halibut caught during June were:

* Ana Reid of Homer caught June 1 on Bob's Trophy Charters with Capt. Brad Gibbs aboard the Tuff Stuff, sponsored by Adventure Alaska Car Rental, worth $500;

* Brenda Timmer of Fairbanks caught June 6 on Ocean Hunter Charters with Capt. Keith Kalke aboard the Ocean Hunter, sponsored by Alyeska Tire, worth $1,000;

* Rahn Redman of Shelton, Wash., caught June 16 on a private boat with Capt. Reid Meyers, sponsored by Capt. Greg's Charters, worth $1,000.

Greg Baisch of Donnelly, Idaho, caught and released a halibut June 20 on Manns Charter Service, with Capt. Mike Manns aboard the Arctic Addiction.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at Michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com.