After landing a 9.09-pound, 31-inch-long togue on Saturday, Michael Hemingway, of Turner, stunned the crowd by winning a drawing among successful fish-catchers for a snowmobile.

On Tuesday, he stunned people again when he gave away both the snowmobile and the 16-foot boat and trailer he won for the derby.

Hemingway gave the boat, valued at $9,800, to Camp Sunshine under the stipulation that they use it and not raffle it off for money.

“It’s for the kids,” said Hemingway. “I want them to use it to take them fishing.”

“Hemingway said he was already planning to haul two fishing boats he owns this summer to Camp Sunshine for the same purpose.

Hemingway is an executive chef for Sodexho food industries and has worked with Camp Sunshine through his job. He said he has worked as a chef professionally for 18 years but has been cooking all his life.

“I believe it’s one of the best causes you could ever strive for,” said Hemingway.

“I’m not doing it to secure a place in heaven, I’m just doing it because I have a boat and they don’t,” he said.

Hemingway gave away the snowmobile from Richardson’s Ski-Doo to his neighbor and fishing pal, Steve Murch.

“I consider him one of my sons,” said Hemingway.

Hemingway also said he quit smoking Sunday night, Feb. 25, on his way home to Turner, throwing out half a pack of cigarettes.

In an ironic twist, derby organizer Tom Noonan said he smoked his last cigarette on Feb. 26, 1976, almost 31 years to the day before Hemingway quit. Thirty-one is also the number of inches Hemingway’s winning togue measured.

Hemingway did decide to keep the fish he caught, saying it will be tasty filleted.

Derby winner donates prizes