Derby News - 2010 Season Opener
Lots of Fish Weighed In First Weekend of Halibut Derby
VALDEZ – Eight halibut were weighed in the first day of the Valdez Halibut Derby Saturday, May 22nd. “That’s a pretty good number of fish for the first day”, commented Halibut Derby Weigh-In Coordinator Bonnie Woods. The first halibut was weighed in by Don Moreland of Ft. Wainwright. Moreland stopped by the weigh-in station holding his 21.6 pound halibut by the tail; much like one would hold a salmon, to have his picture taken. He said, “I bought a ticket and want to play the game”, quipped Moreland as the shutter clicked and he and his halibut were recorded for the Valdez Halibut derby.
While not all of the halibut were big, the leader after day two of the derby tipped the scales at 117.2 pounds. William Ducasse of Ft. Wainwright weighed in his large flatfish aboard the Otter Dodger to lead the derby after the opening weekend. The end of the first derby week is this Saturday night so Ducasse will have to wait a week to find out if his fish holds on to win the 1st place prize. There are 1st and 2nd place prizes in the halibut derby as well as a $15,000 first place prize for the largest halibut caught. The 2nd place overall prize is $5,000 this year and 3rd place is $2,000.
Currently in 2nd place in the standings is Luke Wadey of Whitehorse who caught a 75.4 pound halibut aboard the Dan Orion. Currently in 3rd place overall is Jim Orem of North Pole who caught a 61.5 pounder aboard a private boat.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reporting good halibut fishing at the outer entrances of Prince William Sound and there are reports of pacific cod and yellow-eye rockfish being caught. The early season wild kings are out there according to Dave Cobb of the Valdez Fisheries and he said the hatchery kings should return to the Port a bit later in the season.
The Valdez Halibut Derby will run May 22nd through September 5th, and will feature an 11-day “Halibut Hullabaloo” tournament. The person catching the largest fish during that period will win two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. The Halibut Hullabaloo started 2 years ago as a 3-day tournament, but was expanded to include two weekends. The tournament just requires a regular derby ticket and standard weigh-in. Derby tickets are available at: Weigh-in station; Fish Central; Prospector; Captain Joe’s and others. Captain Joe’s convenience store is open 24 hours a day, so folks rolling into town late can pick up a ticket anytime. Tickets are $10 per day or $50 for the season. Derby tickets are good for free admission to the “Spawn ‘til Dawn” Derby Awards Party Sunday, September 5th.
Valdez Halibut Derby Overall Leaders
William Ducasse
Ft. Wainwright, AK
117.2 lbs on 5/23
Otter Dodger
Luke Wadey
Whitehorse, YT
75.4lbs on May 22
Dan Orion
Jim Orem
North Pole, AK
61.5 lbs on May 22
Private Boat