Derby News - Kids' Derby

Valdez Pink Salmon Derby Draws Young Anglers

Young anglers from Alaska and beyond were in Valdez Saturday hoping to catch the largest pink salmon in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. Kids cast from boats and lined the shores of Allison Point in hopes of catching a big one, but it was 9 year-old Westley Eastham of Anchorage, Alaska who took top honors with a 6.04 pound pink salmon. Kids Derby Winners Eastham won a longboard skateboard and five year subscription to Fish Alaska magazine for bringing in the largest fish in the 8 to 10 year-old age division. As an added bonus, Eastham also won an Alps Mountaineering tent in the Cub Scout division. Eastham's fish outweighed the runners up by a hefty sum, but it was just a few ounces short of breaking into the top 10 list of pink salmon caught in the Kids Pink Salmon Derby over the last four years.

Eastham said he fished just off Allison Point and knew he had a big one on the line because it was "running like crazy". When asked for advice on how to catch a large fish, Eastham responded, "You just have to believe in yourself". Jonathan Frias of Fairbanks took 1st place in the 5 to 7-year-old age division with a 4.36 pound pink salmon, Morgan Seaman of Valdez took 1st place in the 11 to 13-year-old age division with a 4.84 pound salmon and Avery Soloaga of Fairbanks took top honors in the 14 to 16 year-old division with a 4.58 pound pink salmon. First place winners all took home longboards, 2nd place winners got a skateboard and third place anglers in each division got a fishing pole.

The Valdez Harbor was hopping with excitement as more than 200 young anglers descended on Valdez, bringing their catch to the weigh-in station for a quick picture and a chance to win prizes. Many kids donated their catch to the Valdez Food Bank. Easy Freeze, a local fish processor, donated their processing services to cut and freeze the fish for the organization. Six kids acted as emcee's and ran the Valdez Fish Derbies awards ceremony at Dock Point Saturday night. More than 300 people attended the free barbeque.

Several kids said they plan to fish in the upcoming Valdez Silver Salmon Derby slated to begin this Saturday in Valdez. The stakes are a bit higher in the Silver Salmon Derby where the first place prize can net a lucky angler $15,000 in cash. The Silver Salmon Derby also features daily 1st and 2nd place prizes. 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 set for Saturday, August 13th with opening ceremony Friday, August 12th. The Women's Derby will feature a luau theme this year and Carhartt and Prospector have great prizes for the events.

View our Picasa album of Kids' Derby participants here.