Kids' Pink Salmon Derby
Janaea Koch of Valdez Reels in 7.78 pound Pink Salmon to Win Kids Derby
More than 600 hot dogs, 275 snow cones and eight pounds of popcorn were consumed by the crowd of children and families gathered at Dock Point in Valdez for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby Barbeque Saturday. After several weeks of drizzly weather in Valdez, the skies parted for a day of fishing, followed by a barbeque put on by the Valdez Fish Derbies. With 228 children coming to the weigh-in station to register, it took awhile for the results to be tabulated after weigh-in closed at 5pm.
While parents and children anxiously awaited results, they enjoyed free popcorn and snow cones and jumped in a bounce house and obstacle course set up by the Valdez First Baptist Church. The US Forest Service provided a host of fishing-related activities for kids during the event and Connecting Ties served up hot dogs, chips and soda for the Valdez Fish Derbies.
Nine-year-old Janaea Koch reeled in a 7.78 pound pink salmon Saturday to win the overall first place prize in the Kids Pink Salmon Derby. Koch won a long board skateboard and a five year subscription to Fish Alaska for her efforts. Koch said she caught her winning fish off the shore at Allison Point. When asked what advice she had for other anglers Koch responded, “Just have fun."
Janissa Arzie of Chugiak captured first place in the 14 to 16 age division and the distinction of having the 2nd largest fish in the derby with the 7.6 pound pin she caught Saturday. Arzy said she came down to Valdez to go on a shark charter trip and stayed for the Kids Derby. Arzie said her fish was caught at Allison Point using a DuPont Spinner. “Actually it was pretty easy to get that fish up because I've caught way bigger fish than that,” Arzie said at the awards ceremony Saturday evening. I caught a 140 pound halibut the other day. That was hard work".
The Valdez Fish Derbies organization awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes in four age divisions as well as a Cub Scout division. Fish Alaska Magazine provided magazine subscriptions for the top 10 anglers. There was no cost to participate and the first 200 kids to weigh-in a fish got a t-shirt courtesy of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.
Pictures of each of the winners with their fish are available. Just e-mail a request or give us a call at 835-5825. Front Row (Left to Right): Kozmo Roehl, Heidi Schrader, Blake Morrison, Kyler Siddoway, Kassi Howard, Janaea Koch. Back Row (Left to Right): Canyon McAllister, Noah McAllister, Kalen Compehos, Jake Becker, Robert Hanson, Janissa Arzie.