Derby News - Week 7, 7/3-7/9

Kid's Pink Salmon Derby this Saturday, July 16th

VALDEZ, Alaska – Pink salmon are being caught off of Allison Point and according to several anglers cleaning their fish at the harbor cleaning tables over the weekend, the bite is best about an hour before high tide. Earlier in the season Dave Cobb of the Valdez Fisheries Development Association predicted Valdez would see about 18 million pink salmon return to Port Valdez, and with anglers catching their limits in a few hours, it should be good fishing for the 4th Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby this Saturday in Valdez.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby will take place this Saturday, July 16th. There is no registration for this free event that's open to kids age 5 to 16, but kids will need to weigh in their fish at the derby weigh-in station by 5pm to be eligible for prizes. There are four age divisions, and the 1st place prize for each division is a long board (skateboard), 2nd place is a short board (skateboard) and 3rd place is a new fishing pole. The largest fish on record in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby was reeled in by Janaea Koch of Valdez. In 2010, the 9 year-old reeled in a 7.78 pound pink salmon.

Here are the Top 10 pink salmon weighed in during the four years of the Kids Pink Salmon Derby:

1st	Janaea Koch (2010)	9 yrs	7.78 lbs.	Valdez, AK
2nd	Janissa Arzie 2010)	14 yrs	7.60 lbs.	Chugiak, AK
3rd	Canyon McAllister(2010)	11 yrs	6.92 lbs.	Valdez, AK
4th	Blake Morrison(2010)	7 yrs	6.80 lbs.	Valdez, AK
5th	Cole Lenart(2008)	11 yrs	6.78 lbs.	Albert Lee, MN
6th	Joshua Curtis(2008)	14 yrs	6.76 lbs.	Tok, AK
7th	Noah McAllister(2010)	12 yrs	6.72 lbs.	Valdez, AK
8th	Jake Becker(2010)	15 yrs	6.54 lbs.	Fairbanks, AK
9th	Annika Hansen(2008)	9 yrs	6.50 lbs.	Seattle, WA
10th	Zach Howard(2009)	11 yrs	6.28 lbs.	Valdez, AK

To participate, kids simply need to go fishing and weigh-in their fish at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station located right next to the Harbormaster's Office at the Valdez Harbor. The weigh-in station will be open from 10am to 5pm. Be sure to weigh in your catch before that 5pm deadline. Participants will be given a ticket once they've weighed-in their fish for a free barbeque at Dock Point immediately following the closing of the weigh-in station.

In week number 7 of the Valdez Halibut Derby, the overall standings remain the same. Annette Gutierrez, with her 335.7 pound halibut holds strongly onto 1st place. In 2nd place is Brad Yates with his 193.4 pounder, and in 3rd place is Charles LaCrosse with his 174 pound flat fish.

For more information on the Kids Pink Salmon Derby as well as pictures of the weekly halibut winners and past winners of the derbies, go to www.valdezfishderbies.com. The Women's Silver Salmon Derby is slated for Saturday, August 13th.