Derby News - Week 13, 8/14- 8/21

New Leader in Silver Salmon Derby weighed in at 18.68 lbs.

A new fish has landed on the Silver Salmon Derby leaderboard weighing in at 18.68 pounds. Jack Yakura of Middleburg, Pennsylvania reeled in this hefty silver August 16 aboard a private boat. Lenore Groundwater and the 16.58 pound silver she reeled in during the Women’s Derby were knocked down to 2nd place in the overall standings and Jeannette Wakefield is currently in 3rd with a 16.24 pound silver.

Mike Wells of the Valdez Fisheries Development Association reports that the peak of the silver salmon run is typically mid-August to the third week of the month. Wells said: “Anglers have been working a lot harder, for the fish. The fish are a little smaller [which] may be an indication of less than optimum ocean conditions. What we can hope for is that they are a little late.” Wells reports that most silvers are being caught between Rocky Point and the Valdez Narrows right now, but they are beginning to move in closer. On Friday, anglers at the cleaning tables had good luck fairly close to Valdez just off Gold Creek. Mark Mastakas of Anchorage, Alaska said they drove just 10 minutes out of the Port and hit their limit in just a few hours.

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and Halibut Derby end Sunday, September 4th at noon. Prizes will be awarded at the Spawn ‘til Dawn Derby Awards Party at the Valdez Civic Center at 7pm. The person catching the largest fish in both the halibut and silver salmon derbies will each take home $15,000 cash. For those looking for additional incentive to go out fishing, Big Prize Friday is September 2nd. The person catching the largest silver salmon that Friday, will take home $500 cash, in addition to the daily prizes.

The overall standings in the Valdez Halibut Derby remain the same, with Annette Gutierrez’s 335.7 pound halibut seeing no competition this week. Currently in 2nd place is James Pohlman with a 214.8 pound flat fish he reeled in July 20th. Sam McCallister of Anchorage is currently in 3rd place with the 197.2 pound halibut he caught August 8th aboard the Dan Orion.